01.05 - Hannah

Glancing over, Luc saw his sister, Hannah, dressed in a similar bathing suit, lowering herself into the steaming water beside him. Her jet-black hair, shorter than their mother’s, framed her face, and her feline ears twitched slightly as she sank into the water with contentment.

Several minutes passed in silence under the starry sky.

Then, Hannah stretched, steam curling around her like a delicate veil as she rose from the hot spring. Her damp hair clung to her neck, and water glistened on her black feline ears as they twitched, catching Luc’s attention.

She tilted her head slightly, her sharp, crimson eyes scanning him. “So… back already?”

Luc leaned back against the smooth stone edge of the spring, letting the heat seep deeper into his sore muscles. He smirked. “Surprised I took out the threats so fast?”

Hannah gave a short, incredulous laugh, tilting her head the other way as her ears flicked. “The big one too?”

“How do you know about the big one?”

“Duh.” Hannah flicked some water with her tail, sending ripples across the surface. “Big meteor equals a big monster. Doesn’t take a genius.”

The air between them grew still, save for the soft bubbling of the spring.

“Dad took it out, didn’t he?”

Luc’s silence was all the confirmation she needed.

“Thought so.” She shrugged, her wet tail swishing lazily behind her.

“Did you know about Dad?” he asked.

Hannah’s lips curled into a sly grin as she crossed her arms and leaned against a nearby rock. “Let’s see… something about ‘your mother not just falling for me because of my good looks and great sense of humor.’”

Luc couldn’t help but chuckle. “More or less.”

Hannah smirked. “The old man’s one-liners suck, but his spells pack a punch.”

Luc straightened slightly, droplets of water sliding down his shoulders. “Have you seen him fight before?”

Hannah nodded. “Once or twice.”

“And you didn’t tell me?”

She gave him a deadpan look. “Because you never asked.”

Luc opened his mouth to retort, then shut it again. She had a point, as annoying as it was.

He shifted, water sloshing around him. “Do you know what type of spell he used?”

“The vacuum one?” Hannah tapped a finger against her chin. “No idea. Might be of Space, Matter, or even Energy domain. Your guess is as good as mine.” She paused, her gaze flicking to the star-filled sky. “Could even be an advanced synthesis of multiple spell domains.”

“Yeah, maybe.”

Hannah gave him a sideways glance. “So… you thought Dad’s skills were subpar because he worked in secrecy as a body double while Mom racked up fame as a hunter, didn’t you?”

“Kinda?” He rubbed the back of his neck. “I mean, with spells like this, he could’ve made a name for himself. He said he had enough fame for a lifetime, but what use are great deeds if no one knows you did them? I mean, if I were in his place…”

“But you aren’t.” Hannah flicked water at him. “Dad had his reasons, and so did Mom. Ask them if you’re that curious.”

Luc nodded slowly, staring at the rippling water. “Know what? I hit all my practice targets today, and Mom agreed to let me join the next hunt!”

Hannah’s eyes narrowed, a mischievous glint appearing as she stepped closer. Before Luc could react, she flicked her finger against his forehead with pinpoint accuracy.

“Ow!” He rubbed the spot, glaring at her. “What was that for?”

Her expression softened. “If you want to join us on hunts, that’s the bare minimum. There’s no place for bad aim out there, especially given your disposition.”

Luc met her gaze, her crimson eyes serious yet protective. He nodded, swallowing the retort on the tip of his tongue.

Seemingly satisfied, Hannah sank back into the water. The warmth of the spring enveloped them once more in steam that rose in lazy spirals into the evening air, stars twinkling above as the night stretched on.

Luc and Hannah sat submerged up to their shoulders in the warm water as the heat soothed their tired bodies after a long day of training.

Luc leaned back against the smooth stone edge of the spring, his head tilted upward as he stared at the stars. Hannah sat across from him, her arms resting on the ledge, her fingers idly tracing patterns on the damp stone.

Then Hannah broke the silence. “So… want me to give you a recap of our last hunt? Might help you prepare if you’re really joining us on the next one.”

“Sure, if you don’t brag too much.”

“I don’t need to brag.”

“Sure don’t,” Luc said and waved his hand for her to continue.

Hannah leaned forward slightly, the steam swirling around her as she began. “Yesterday night, we were up against a pack of Lesser Shadow Fiends,” she said. “Their population’s been growing out of control lately, and the ‘Ruler of the Forest’ gave Mom dibs on the culling quest.”

Luc nodded. “What is fighting them like?”

“So… They’re mostly close-range physical combatants. They’ve got Body Transmutation affinity, basically, they’re fast and strong, and their strength increases over time. On top of that, they can melt into the shadows like Lily does, which makes them tricky to pin down. Their weak point is their Core, embedded in the white masks on their faces.”

“Meaning I could snipe them.”

Hannah gave a small shrug.

“Maybe,” she said. “But if you’re coming along next time, you’ll probably be the rear guard. If you start taking shots at the same targets as Sascha, we’re risking friendly fire, and that’s the last thing we need in a fight like this.”

“But my aim’s gotten pretty good!”

“Pretty good doesn’t cut it when it’s do or die, Luc,” she said. “There are no second chances. You have to be perfect. And practice targets don’t try to evade.”

“Fine. Have it your way.”

“It’s not my way. You won’t be following my orders, anyway. You’ll answer to our Mom, or Sascha’s Dad, or whoever’s leading the hunt.” She gave him a pointed look with her crimson eyes. “And believe me, they’re not as forgiving as I am.”

Luc rolled his eyes but didn’t argue, the warmth of the water doing little to mask his simmering frustration. Before he could respond, Aurelius' voice cut through the silence.