Hunter Lesson

The morning sun peeks through the dense trees of the forest, golden beams filtering down and warming the cool earth.

The two are outside.

Raiyo sits lazily in a chair, arms crossed, his oversized blanket still wrapped around him. His golden eyes, half-lidded from exhaustion, watch Jin with mild curiosity.

He's tired—he always is—but today is different. Today, he actually wants to listen.

Jin stands in front of him, arms folded, his sharp gaze scanning Raiyo as if deciding where to begin.

"Alright, since you're always running away from training, I figured we'd do something different today. We're going to talk about Hunters."

At the word 'Hunters,' Raiyo's ears perk up slightly. He's never been outside the forest, never seen the cities, and never met a Nen user except Jin.

His world is small, and yet, Hunters are the one thing that have always fascinated him.

He's read stories—powerful people who explore dangerous lands, take on impossible missions, and hold access to knowledge that most can only dream of.

Jin notices Raiyo's subtle shift in interest and smirks. Gotcha.

"Hunters are more than just fighters," Jin begins, pacing in front of Raiyo.

"They're explorers, scholars, warriors, assassins—whatever they want to be. The Hunter Association is a powerful organization that governs them, giving them licenses that grant access to things normal people could never dream of."

Raiyo tilts his head. "Like what?" 

Jin raises a finger. "Access to restricted information, the ability to travel anywhere without restrictions, access to hidden ruins, ancient texts, forbidden research... the list goes on."

Raiyo lets out a slow, thoughtful hum. "Sounds cool."

Jin chuckles. "That's an understatement."

He sits down on a nearby rock, crossing his arms. "But being a Hunter isn't just about having perks. There's a reason why only one in ten thousand people ever passes the exam. The Hunter Exam is brutal—people die every year trying to earn their license."

Raiyo frowns slightly, shifting his blanket around himself. "So it's not just some fun adventure gig?"

"Far from it," Jin says firmly. "Hunters specialize in different fields. There are Beast Hunters, Ruins Hunters, Bounty Hunters, Gourmet Hunters—even Blacklist Hunters who track down criminals so dangerous that normal law enforcement can't touch them."

Raiyo slowly blinks. "Gourmet Hunters?"

Jin snorts. "Of course, that's what you focus on."

He leans forward, resting his elbows on his knees. "Gourmet Hunters are experts in discovering new flavors, tracking rare ingredients, and even hunting down dangerous food. Some creatures out there could kill you just by looking at you, but they taste like heaven if you survive long enough to cook them."

Raiyo rubs his chin, deep in thought. "I'd die for cream puffs."

Jin groans. "That's not the point."

"Seems like it is," Raiyo mutters.

Jin ignores him and continues. "Hunters need to be masters of combat, survival, and intelligence. The Hunter Exam tests all of that. There are no rules—only survival. If you can't adapt, you die."

Raiyo exhales, slightly impressed. "So it's a death game."

Jin nods. "Basically."

For a moment, the only sound is the wind rustling through the trees. Raiyo stares at the ground, deep in thought. Despite his usual laziness, something about this conversation excites him. Hunters... a world beyond the forest... the unknown.

Jin watches him carefully, then smirks. "You wanna know something interesting?"

Raiyo looks up. "Hmm?"

"To be a real Hunter, you need to master Nen."

Raiyo blinks. He's heard the word before—Jin has mentioned it in passing, always refusing to elaborate.

Jin leans back slightly. "Nen is the key to everything. Every top Hunter has it. If you don't, you're just another weakling walking into a battlefield with a stick."

Raiyo stretches his arms, yawning. "Well, I don't even know what Nen is, so..."

Jin grins. "That's why today's lesson isn't just about Hunters. I'm going to show you what Nen is."

Raiyo's eyes widen slightly before his usual tired expression returns. "Mmm, I dunno... sounds like effort."

Jin suddenly appears behind Raiyo in a flash, placing a firm hand on his shoulder. "No, it sounds like training."

Raiyo stiffens. "...You tricked me."

Jin smirks. "You make it too easy."

He steps back and raises his palm. Within seconds, a faint glow of dark blue aura surrounds his hand—soft at first, then growing into a controlled yet powerful energy.

"This... is Nen."

Raiyo stares, suddenly more awake than before. The energy radiating from Jin's hand is visible and powerful, like something beyond the physical world itself. It's not like a fire or a blade—it's life force in its purest form.

"Woah, it's a nice shade of blue," Raiyo says out loud.

"Hm? You can see it?" Jin asks.

"Uh... Yeah, am I not supposed to?" 

"Well... No, it's actually good that you can see it." Jin clears his throat. He's never seen anyone as young as him being able to see aura for their first time.

Jin smiles, knowing Raiyo is finally ready.

Jin lets the aura fade and crosses his arms. "Nen is the ability to use your own life energy. It enhances your body, strengthens your mind, and—when mastered—allows you to do things that seem impossible. Every Nen user belongs to a specific category, depending on how their aura naturally flows."

Raiyo tilts his head. "And which one am I?"

Jin chuckles. "That's what we're going to find out."

For the first time in a long while, Raiyo feels something he hasn't felt before.

Curiosity.