Awakening A New Generation of Hunters

Zoe's P.O.V

Her mistakes replay over and over, a constant torment. She had chosen love, and that love had betrayed her. The man she gave everything to used her and planned to sell her for power. The betrayal left her shattered, a shell of the girl her family once knew.

Her father hands her a thick packet of papers, the weight of it feeling like more than just paper—it feels like a burden she hasn't earned and isn't sure she wants to carry. "These are your forms for Sturgeon Academy—The Ivy League School of Potential," he announces, his tone steady but expectant, as if this alone will set her life back on track. "Your father and I went there," he adds, almost as if he's handing down a legacy she should be proud of.

Zuria takes the papers silently, the embossed emblem pressing into her fingertips like a brand. The parchment is thick and pristine, smelling faintly of ink and old money, carrying a formality that feels suffocating. It isn't an opportunity—it's a sentence. An exile dressed up in ambition. The Academy has a reputation that borders on legend: a fortress for the gifted and the broken alike, its sprawling campus shrouded in mist and secrets, hidden away behind gates that seem to groan with the weight of the expectations they protect.

Her father's voice softens as if he can sense her walls going up. "We're not sending you away to punish you," he says gently, stepping closer, his large frame casting a shadow over her. "This is your throne, Zuria. Don't be afraid to claim it. You've always belonged to something greater than what you see now. And you won't be alone—Cain and Abel will go with you."

The mention of Cain and Abel shifts something inside her. Her eyes flick to where the brothers stand, like matching sentinels: Cain's golden aura as cocky as ever, and Abel stoic, almost indifferent storm-gray aura a quiet reassurance that whatever storm comes next, he'll weather it beside her. They aren't just companions—they're anchors, lifelines she doesn't yet know she needs.

"Sturgeon is different now," her father continues, a faint edge of pride in his voice. "The campus has expanded. Their advanced combat halls, tech divisions, and elemental training grounds rival any government facility. Every generation of leaders, warriors, and innovators comes out of Sturgeon. You're not just going there to study—you're going to become something." He leans in, his gaze steady on hers, a whisper of the man who used to lead armies. "Something the world has no choice but to respect."

Zuria swallows the rising lump in her throat, her thumb brushing over the Academy's engraved crest again—two dragons wrapped around a flame, their wings stretched out as if daring the sky to challenge them. The school's motto etched below in braille it reads: Power Through Purpose. It's fitting, she thinks bitterly. She doesn't feel like power or purpose—just a girl fraying at the edges, barely holding herself together. But they want her to stand on a throne she hasn't earned? Fine. She'll try. Not for herself, but for them. For Cain and Abel. For the family that hasn't given up on her, even when she already had.

She nods, a curt, almost mechanical motion that she hopes satisfies her father. "When do we leave?"

Her father exchanges a look with the brothers, an unspoken conversation passing between them. Cain grins like he's been waiting for this moment all along. "Tomorrow at dawn," he answers, his voice full of mischief and promise. "Pack light, Z. Sturgeon doesn't coddle its students."

Abel steps closer, his presence like a mountain at her side, grounding and unyielding. "And don't forget your weapons," he murmurs, his deep voice steady. "You'll need it sooner than you think."

Zuria raises an eyebrow. "I thought this was school, not war."

"At Sturgeon," Cain interjects, slinging an arm around her shoulder like this is just another game, "school is war. And I can't wait to see you in action again."

Her father watches the exchange, a small smile tugging at his lips, though his eyes betray the weight of his hopes. "This is a chance for you to prove to yourself who you really are, Zuria. Sturgeon doesn't just train warriors—it builds legends."

Zuria stares down at the papers again, the flickering flame crest seeming to burn brighter under her gaze. A school that molds warriors. A place filled with secrets, trials, and expectations so high they might shatter her completely. But part of her—some small, stubborn piece—thrums with anticipation. Maybe this is what she needs: a battle to fight, a new mountain to climb, a chance to shape her fractured self into something unbreakable.

"Fine," she says finally, meeting her father's gaze. "I'll go."

And somewhere in the distance, as if the universe heard her decision, the faint rumble of thunder shakes the sky.

.

Before leaving, Zuria runs into her cousins, Drew and Jess. The two boys are inseparable, despite their chaotic personalities.

"Zuria. Our moms told us that you are here." 

Although Jess is less than two years older than drew, physically she's been told you would never tell. They have always been close, Jess literally waited for his brother before even thinking about class. Since their parents are a sets of twins they somehow produced children, with an aura quite identical and the only reasons she does not get their names wrong is because of their elements intensity. 

"We weren't going anywhere, we love training." 

Drew's goofy personality coupled with Jess guilt made her chuckle. She gave them bear hugs, she missed the wind of disaster these two geniuses get themselves into. Combat training is a standard for everyone before moving to different fields. And since headquarters prioritize education, every trainee had to study a field. These two tech geniuses must have definitely chose to pursue IT down the line but right now they had to get through training the only thing they clearly never liked. 

"Stop sneaking out or else I will make they hold you back for more years until you serious." 

The two boys who clearly had no intentions of being hunters ran back inside the room they. both attempted to exit. She wants to ensure they at least know how to defend themselves in this cruel unholy land. 

She walks through the Headquarters, her hand brushes against the high-tech walls, their smooth surfaces humming with energy. The place feels impenetrable, just like the walls around her heart.

This place should feel like home, but she can't escape the pull of her darker instincts. The addiction, the betrayal, the pain — they're all a part of her now.

But for the first time in a long time, she feels the faintest flicker of hope. Maybe Sturgeon can be the fresh start she desperately needs. Maybe she can find her way back to herself.