𝗠𝗢𝗧𝗛𝗘𝗥 ʳᵃⁱᵈᵉⁿ ᵉⁱ ʳᵉᵃᵈᵉʳ

ㅤ 18. declaration x declaration

"i've lived long enough to see all kinds of hunters," he finally said, voice calm yet edged with intrigue.

"masters of nen, prodigies of combat, even those born with gifts that defy explanation." he glanced at you from the corner of his eye. "but you… you are something else entirely, aren't you?" 

"what makes you say that?" your gaze remained steady, unreadable.

"intuition." he smiled, though it didn’t reach his eyes. "and experience." 

he turned fully toward you now, arms still tucked inside his sleeves, the usual lightness in his posture replaced by a quiet intensity. 

"i watched your fight with illumi zoldyck. not once did you use ren, ten, or even the faintest trace of nen." he tilted his head slightly. "yet, you wielded power unlike anything i've encountered." 

you hummed, unconcerned. "is that a problem?" 

"not at all," he admitted. "but it does make me wonder… what are you, raiden y/n?" 

his words hung in the air, heavy with curiosity and something deeper—an unspoken challenge, as if daring you to reveal a truth even he had yet to grasp.

the words didn’t unsettle you, nor did they amuse you. it wasn’t the first time someone had looked at you with that mix of curiosity and wariness, as if searching for something beyond human comprehension.

your gaze remained fixed on the fountain, watching the water ripple endlessly, caught in an eternal cycle of motion. never stopping, never fading, yet never truly changing.

“does it matter?” you asked, your tone even as you watched him closely, waiting to see how he would respond. 

netero chuckled, the corners of his lips twitching upward as he stroked his beard. “i suppose it does. at least in this moment, you remain a mystery.” 

“mysteries exist because mortals seek answers,” you mused, eyes drifting toward the fountain. the water moved in endless cycles, much like the questions humans asked, always searching, always reaching.

“but some things are better left unknown.” he didn’t respond immediately, letting your words settle. his silence told you enough—he understood, even if he didn’t fully grasp what you were implying. it wasn’t a direct answer, but it was clear enough. 

you were not like them. not bound by their rules, nor by their limitations. 

netero exhaled softly, then spoke again, his tone light yet laced with something deeper, something almost cautious. 

“i see.” he paused for a moment, then with a small smile, added, “then i just need one assurance—you're not here to destroy this world, are you?" 

his words carried a trace of humor, but there was an undeniable weight beneath them. 

“that is far from my goal.” 

the truth lingered between you, unshaken and absolute. whatever conclusion he reached from this conversation was his own to make.

as you wandered through the halls in search of gon, kurapika, and leorio, your steps came to an abrupt halt at the sound of two familiar voices in conversation. curiosity piqued, you turned the corner, and there they were.