The sky was overcast when they finally saw the familiar rooftops of Korvan Village. The smell of smoke from the forges, the faint echo of hammer on steel, and the mountain wind brought back memories Hunnt hadn't realized he'd missed.
The guards standing by the gate straightened immediately when they saw him. They didn't ask questions — they simply nodded and stepped aside. No one questioned the Drifter's return.
The twins, walking just behind him, looked around curiously. It was smaller than Vaelstorm, quieter too. Smoke curled lazily from chimneys, and the air carried the scent of ore, sweat, and cooked herbs.
Hunnt led them toward the longhouse.
Inside, Maerin, the village chief, was waiting — as if she had already sensed his arrival.
Her silver hair was tied back, her arms crossed, her eyes as sharp as the first day he met her.
"So," she said with a faint smile, "you're back."
Hunnt nodded. "I am."
Her gaze shifted to the two behind him. "And who are these two?"
Hunnt gestured casually. "This is Will and Willa."
The twins bowed quickly. "Ma'am — it's an honor to meet you," Willa said.
"Thank you for letting us visit your village," Will added.
Maerin chuckled softly. "Polite ones. That's rare." She turned back to Hunnt. "Why have you come back, old friend? I didn't expect to see you so soon."
Hunnt exhaled and set down his pack. "It's a long story."
Maerin grinned. "I've got time."
She turned to the twins again. "Why don't you two look around the village? You've had a long road — get some air."
The twins nodded, bowing again before stepping out of the longhouse.
Once the door closed, Maerin leaned forward on her desk. "So? What happened?"
"It started in Vaelstorm City," he said. "A port city on the western edge — largest one in the Old World. When I arrived, the people were restless. The fishermen said the sea had gone quiet — no fish, no gulls, only ripples and shadow. I thought it was a seasonal migration… until I saw the monsters gathering near the coast."
Maerin's expression sharpened. "A migration that early? That's unnatural."
Hunnt nodded. "That's what I thought. But the Guild there didn't care. Said it was normal. A student hunter — Will — tried to warn them. They mocked him, said he was making excuses for failing his first exam. His sister, Willa, couldn't even take hers — she was sick at the time."
"Ah," Maerin murmured. "So that's where they come from."
Hunnt's eyes drifted to the firelight. "I watched the Guild turn its back on him. Reminded me too much of how things used to be — orders over truth. I decided to stay a while. When the boy's warnings proved right, I joined him. That's when I met his sister — stubborn, bright, all courage and no fear. Together we scouted the coast."
Maerin smiled faintly. "You always find the ones who don't give up."
He huffed a quiet laugh. "Or they find me. Either way, the sea wasn't lying. I found hundreds of aquatic monsters gathering. My gauntlet — the Infernal Fistbreaker — was useless. Fire against water. I fought two of them, barely killed them both. So me and the twins fled back into the city."
"So you adapted," Maerin said knowingly.
"I had to," Hunnt replied. "I bought an iron long sword. No elements — just steel and will. It felt strange at first — disconnected, like holding someone else's arm. But I pushed through. I trained day and night. The twins followed me, asked for guidance. I taught Willa sword and shield. She learned fast — maybe too fast. I taught Will the bow — steadier than his sister, but too hesitant."
"And then?"
"Then," Hunnt said, his voice darkening, "the sky broke."
He leaned back, closing his eyes briefly. "The monsters attacked. Not a migration. An invasion. And at the center of it — Thalazur, the Abyssal Conductor. A Leviathan-Class Wyvern. It could control lesser monsters — command them as if they were one body. When it roared, the sea itself moved."
Maerin's tea cup paused midair. "Control?"
Hunnt nodded. "Like a general to his army. It wasn't instinct. It was intelligence. When it attacked, the city fell apart — hunters panicked, civilians ran. C and D ranks, most of them had never faced a large monster before. I took command. Ordered them into squads — melee, gunners, healers. Forced them to breathe, to focus."
He looked up at Maerin. "It worked. They listened. They fought. And we held."
Her lips curved into a faint, proud smile. "So you became their commander."
Hunnt's expression softened, a rare flicker of warmth crossing his face. "I didn't have a choice. I told them what every hunter forgets after years of Guild orders — that a hunter's duty isn't glory or ranks. It's protection. That day, not one hunter died."
Maerin's hand clenched around her cup. "And Thalazur?"
"I fought it alone," Hunnt said. "Its lightning shattered the port. I used everything — every move I remembered from my first life. But my sword couldn't pierce its scales. Not until I coated it with Armament Haki. Then… it screamed."
Maerin whispered, "You used Haki in front of others?"
"No," Hunnt said. "They were too busy surviving. But the Leviathan… it spoke. Not words, not clearly, but I heard it. Thought it was imagination at first. It called me 'human' and promised to kill me. The more it roared, the more I understood. Its intelligence is beyond what we've seen before."
He leaned back, quiet for a moment. "It retreated. I could've chased it, but not in water. So I let it go. The hunters rallied. The city survived."
Maerin nodded slowly. "And now you're back."
Hunnt finally took a sip of his tea. "I needed to lay low. The sea's no place for me now. Besides…" He glanced toward the door. "The twins needed more than what I could give them on the road. Korvan will do what I can't."
Maerin smiled, her gaze softening. "You've done enough for one man, Hunnt."
"Never enough," he muttered.
---
Maerin poured another cup, sitting back. "You've missed a lot since you left. The village's grown. We've got a new scholar, Myr, and an artisan named Orrin — Kael approved both. And we've got two new Drifters in training — Rogan and Lyssara."
Hunnt's eyes lifted. "I sensed them earlier."
Maerin nodded. "Rogan's strong — too strong. Every swing chips his blade. He's a hammer without balance. Lyssara's the opposite — sharp, controlled, but lacks strength. I was hoping Kael could fix them, but since you're here…"
Hunnt gave a low chuckle. "You want me to break them down and build them back up."
"Something like that."
He nodded. "I'll look at them tomorrow."
Maerin tilted her head. "And the twins? Are they new members of the Eternal?"
"Not yet," Hunnt said. "They've passed the first and second trials. They're close, but not ready for the third."
Maerin smiled, eyes twinkling in the firelight. "You work fast, Elder Hunnt."
He smirked, setting his cup down. "I work efficient, Chief Maerin."
The two shared a quiet laugh — the kind only old friends who had seen too much could share.
---
Meanwhile, outside, Will and Willa wandered through the village streets.
They were in awe of how peaceful Korvan was — children running past with wooden swords, the blacksmiths hammering metal in rhythm, the smell of stew and smoke drifting through the air.
"This place…" Willa whispered. "It's nothing like Vaelstorm."
Will nodded, looking around. "It feels… alive."
When they reached the training ground, they stopped in surprise.
Two hunters were sparring — one a massive man, his swings so powerful that every cut split the air with a whoosh, and the other a slender woman, her movements light, agile, and graceful. She weaved through his attacks with effortless speed, her blades flashing in arcs of silver.
Will's mouth opened slightly. "She's… beautiful."
Willa turned to him slowly, eyebrow raised. "Is she beautiful, brother?"
"Yes," he said instantly, eyes still locked on the woman.
The sparring stopped. Both Rogan and Lyssara turned, clearly having heard.
Willa leaned closer. "Do you like her, brother?"
"Yes," Will said again, completely mesmerized.
"Who's more beautiful? Me or her?" Willa teased, smirking.
"Yes," Will replied again without thinking.
Willa folded her arms, clearly enjoying the moment. "So, brother, you like her, then?"
Will snapped back to reality, face red. "What—? Wait, what are you talking about?!"
Willa said innocently, "Don't worry, only me and the two people training heard you."
A calm voice came from behind. "We heard it too."
Will turned around — Kael and Seren stood there, amused smiles on their faces.
Willa added cheerfully, "So that's me, the two training, and the two who just arrived. Only six people, brother."
Will turned pale. "Nooo, that's not what I meant!"
Seren tilted his head. "So you're saying Lyssara isn't beautiful?"
Will froze. "No! I mean—yes! I mean—uh—wait—"
Lyssara glared at him, flustered. "Then what are you saying, hunter?"
Will stammered helplessly. "I mean—you're beautiful!"
Rogan howled with laughter, nearly falling over. Lyssara turned even redder, staring at the ground. Kael crossed his arms, grinning. "Ah, young love. Always entertaining."
Willa nodded proudly. "My brother's first love. I'll remember this day forever."
Will groaned, covering his face. "Can the ground just swallow me already?"
Seren chuckled. "No chance. This is way too good."
Outside, the laughter of the young hunters echoed through the village — light, human, and alive.