The young staff member led him down a corridor and stopped at a door that looked like any other in the building, pushing it open to reveal a small room.
It was clean. Almost too clean.
White walls, clinical lighting, and nothing else except for a single object resting on a low platform at the centre of the room. It looked like a slab of crystal, clear in a way that felt almost unnatural, like looking through still water into nothing.
"Place your hand on the surface," the staff member said, gesturing towards it.
Kael stepped forward without hesitation and pressed his palm against it. Warmth surged through him instantly, rushing from his hand through his entire body as if something was scanning him from the inside. Then just as quickly, it pulled back, flowing into the slab again.
It didn't hurt. It wasn't even uncomfortable. Just… intrusive.
A moment later, the crystal glowed with a soft blue light.
The staff member gave a small nod and scribbled something down on his clipboard. "Alright. Come with me."
Kael pulled his hand away and followed. They exited through another corridor, quieter than the last, before stopping in front of another identical door.
"This is the waiting room. You'll be called when it's your turn for the next stage. Listen for your registration number." He said nothing after that. The silence itself was the dismissal.
Kael took the hint as he nodded and stepped inside.
The space opened up far wider than he expected. High ceilings, bright lighting, enough room for a large gathering, though only a portion of it was occupied. He glanced around, counting out of habit. Thirty people, maybe a few more, all around his age.
A few heads turned when he entered, curious for a moment before looking away again.
Kael didn't mind. He moved toward a corner and settled in, letting the silence stretch.
It didn't last.
Heavy footsteps broke through the stillness.
Kael looked up as someone approached. A boy around his age, broad-shouldered with a solid build that hinted at strength without trying. But what stood out wasn't his physique.
It was his face.
He looked happy. Not just relaxed or friendly, but genuinely, almost strangely happy, as if nothing in the world had ever given him a reason not to be.
Their eyes met, and the boy flashed a wide, easy smile. It wasn't forced. It came naturally.
"You look green. First time taking the exam?"
Kael paused briefly, then nodded. "Yeah. First time."
The boy's face split into a grin like a child whose guess had just been confirmed by a trusted adult. "Called it."
Then his grin slowly died of as he scratched the back of his head before extending his hand. "My bad. Adam."
Kael took it. "Cool name. Kael."
"Kael…" Adam repeated, like he was testing the sound of it. "Sounds good."
For a brief second, something in his tone shifted, subtle but noticeable.
Is he insecure about his own name or something?
Before the thought could settle, Adam was already back to normal. "You seem pretty nervous."
Kael blinked. Nervous?
He was about to respond, but Adam stepped closer and gave him a firm pat on the back, like they'd known each other for years.
"Relax. Failing isn't the end of the world. You can always try again next year. It's not a big deal."
Kael just stared at him.
First of all, who was nervous? And second… who was planning to fail?
If anything, his only concern was how well he would perform.
His silence seemed to confirm whatever Adam had already decided, because the pats on his back grew even more encouraging.
Before Kael could stop him, a voice cut in.
"Adam, get away from him. Don't jinx it."
Kael turned to see a girl approaching. Blonde hair tied into neat pigtails, light leather armor fitted comfortably over her frame, with gloves, boots, and a bow resting across her back alongside a quiver of arrows. She looked prepared.
Adam placed a hand over his chest in mock offense. "Come on, Zoey. I was just encouraging my buddy here."
Kael raised a brow. Buddy?
Zoey didn't look convinced. "You're not encouraging him. You're crowding him."
Then she turned to Kael. "Don't mind this airhead. He does this all the time."
"I noticed," Kael said. "He seems… friendly."
"Maybe a little too friendly," she replied.
She extended her hand. "Zoey."
"Kael."
He glanced between them. "You guys seem close."
"Pretty much," she said. "We met here last year."
Kael raised a brow. "Here?"
"Right here in this room." She nodded toward Adam with a small shrug. "We both sat the exam last year. Both failed. I didn't pass the physical assessment and he struggled with the written test, so we started training together after that, each of us filling in the other's weak spots."
She nudged Adam lightly. "His idea."
Kael chuckled. "Looks like it worked. You both seem prepared."
Zoey shrugged slightly, while Adam wore a proud grin that she quickly noticed and ignored.
"What about you?" she asked. "How long have you been preparing?"
"A few days."
Both of them froze.
"That's reckless," Zoey said.
"Bold," Adam added.
Kael just shrugged.
Before they could say more, a loud voice cut through the room.
"Attention!"
Everyone turned toward the front as a staff member stepped forward, posture straight and voice firm.
"I'll be calling registration numbers. When you hear yours, make your way forward."
No delay. He began immediately.
Numbers echoed across the room one after another. When Adam and Zoey's were called in the same batch, they quickly got ready to leave.
"See you around," Adam said.
"Good luck," Zoey added.
Kael nodded as they left with the group.
The room grew quieter after that, though not for long as new arrivals trickled in. Time passed, slow and steady, until the staff member returned and started calling another set of numbers.
Kael's was among them.
He stood and joined the group, following them into another room. This one was much smaller, arranged like a classroom with rows of desks.
They took their seats as papers were distributed.
Kael glanced down.
Simple.
Strategies for hunting goblins. Common herbs for stopping bleeding. Basic properties of materials. Standard knowledge.
For someone with twenty years of hunters experience etched into his memory, it was almost effortless.
He finished within minutes, submitted his paper, and left without hesitation.
The next stage awaited.
The physical assessment.
Or rather, the combat test.
Instead of an arena, he was led into a room lined with sleek pods. VR units.
The staff helped him set everything up, and the world faded.
Then—
A vast clearing stretched out around him, surrounded by tall trees swaying gently. A screen flickered into existence in front of him.
[Welcome to Hunter Exam Stage Three.]
[Please select your weapon.]
A list appeared. Blades, spears, bows, axes. At the bottom, an option to use a personal weapon.
Kael didn't bring any weapon with him so he selected a standard sword from the option.
The next moment light gathered in his hand, forming into shape as the weapon materialized. He gripped it, testing the balance. Not perfect, but usable. Slightly off, enough to strain his wrist if he relied on one hand too much.
Still… good enough.
The screen flashed again.
[Stage Three Beginning. First monster wave in 5…]
Kael adjusted his stance, tightening his grip as his breathing slowed and his focus sharpened.
The countdown ticked down in silence.
Time to see if the past few days training had been enough.