Chapter 38 – Night at the Camp

The campfire crackled softly in the center of the makeshift encampment. The night sky was clear, studded with thousands of stars, and the moonlight washed the grasslands in silver. Crickets chirped faintly, and the wind carried the cool scent of dew across the field.

Zareen sat cross-legged near the fire, his staff resting across his lap. His party occupied one side of the circle, while the Academy students, still catching their breath from the earlier battle, sat on the other.

At first, no one spoke. The Academy students seemed hesitant, sneaking glances at Zareen as though unsure how to approach him. He wasn’t the same timid student they remembered—there was something different about him now, a quiet presence that carried weight.

As usual, it was Sari who broke the silence.

“Hey, don’t just stare like that,” she said with a teasing grin, poking the fire with a stick. “We’re not monsters, you know. Stop looking at Zareen as if he’s some kind of legendary beast.”

Zareen flushed. “Sari…” he protested softly, but his tone was more embarrassed than angry.

The students giggled at the exchange, and the tense atmosphere melted. The circle began to feel warmer—not just from the fire, but from the sudden sense of camaraderie.

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### Nostalgia and Lighthearted Talk

Zara shifted closer to the fire and sat near Zareen. The glow lit up her features, highlighting the dirt smudges on her cheek and the streaks of sweat in her hair.

“So,” she said, tilting her head, “after leaving the Academy… you joined the Hunter’s Guild?”

Zareen nodded. “More or less. I started out alone, but now…” His eyes moved to Yuna, Sari, and Doni. “…I have a party.”

Doni puffed out his chest, grinning proudly. “And I’m the newest member—and obviously the coolest one.”

One of the students whispered to another, “He talks a lot, doesn’t he?”

Zareen sighed. “You don’t know the half of it…”

The group burst into laughter, and for a moment, it felt like they were all back at the Academy again—young, inexperienced, joking after a long day of practice.

---

### News About Gino

The laughter faded when one of the students, a girl named Lira whom Zareen recognized from Zara’s class, leaned forward.

“By the way… have you guys heard about Gino?”

Zareen straightened, his expression suddenly serious. “Gino? What about him?”

Zara nodded. “The last report we heard from the Academy said he’s no longer considered just a ‘student.’ He’s been moved to the main Academy headquarters… and he’s officially listed as an elite NPC.”

“An elite NPC?” Zareen repeated, confused.

Lira explained, her tone filled with awe. “Yes. The system marked him as the **Strongest Native**. He can even spar with top-tier veteran players and fight them on equal ground.”

Sari gave a low whistle. “Whoa. So he’s basically… a world boss now?”

“Not a boss,” Zara quickly corrected. “He still stands with humanity. In fact, they say he helps train new recruits. But his strength… it’s beyond what normal players can handle.”

Zareen fell silent, staring into the fire. The crackling flames reflected in his eyes. *So Gino… you’ve really climbed that high.*

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### Zareen’s Thoughts

Memories stirred—late nights in the Academy dorm, heated arguments, the smug grin Gino always wore after winning a sparring match, and the quiet moments when Zareen caught him training long after everyone else had gone to bed.

“He always worked hard,” Zareen murmured. “Sometimes he was arrogant, sometimes irritating… but he never slacked off.”

Zara smiled softly. “You two still see each other as rivals, don’t you?”

Zareen chuckled under his breath. “Maybe. But now… it feels like the gap between us is way too wide.”

That was when Yuna, who had been silent until now, finally spoke. Her voice was calm but carried weight.

“If he’s truly at the level of top-tier veterans,” she said, “then it’s only a matter of time before your paths cross again.”

Zareen glanced at her. “And when that day comes… I’ll need to be ready, won’t I?”

Yuna simply nodded, her eyes as sharp as ever.

---

### A Night of Laughter

The tension didn’t last long. As the night went on, the conversation turned lighter. The Academy students shared funny stories from class—like the time someone accidentally summoned a goat instead of a fire elemental—and Sari laughed so hard she nearly fell over.

Doni, never one to be outdone, decided to show off one of his archery tricks. “Watch this,” he said confidently, grabbing a burning stick from the fire and nocking it like an arrow.

“Doni, don’t—” Zareen started, but it was too late.

The flaming “arrow” sailed through the air… and landed on the edge of one of the tents.

“FIRE!” one of the students shouted, sending everyone scrambling. Buckets of water were thrown, Sari used wind magic to blow out the flames, and Yuna glared so hard at Doni that he didn’t dare open his mouth again for the rest of the night.

When the commotion settled and everyone sat back down, breathing heavily, the camp fell into laughter again. Even Yuna’s scowl softened—just a little.

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### Quiet Reflection

Later, when most of the camp had grown quiet and some students had already fallen asleep, Zareen stayed awake by the fire. He sat with his staff propped against his shoulder, staring up at the starry sky.

*Zara, Gino, the Academy… it feels like I’m living in two worlds now.*

On one side was his new life as an adventurer, with his new party and the path he had chosen as a support mage. On the other was his past—his old friends, rivals, and the Academy that had shaped him.

Yet somehow, those two worlds were starting to connect again, weaving together into something bigger.

A faint smile touched his lips. *This journey… it’s only just beginning.*

The fire crackled softly, sending sparks into the night sky. The grassland wind carried the scent of ash and earth, and for the first time in a long while, Zareen felt at peace. Tomorrow would bring new battles, new trials, and maybe new reunions.

But for tonight, he let the calm embrace him, and simply watched the stars.