Once Hazel opened her eyes, she felt warm white sand and saw a thick forest.

"What the heck?" Hazel thought looking around and see other people waking up.

"What's going on?" A blue-eyed boy asked.

Suddenly a loud roar came from the forest.

"What was that?" A familiar voice asked.

Hazel's attention was snapped at a certain brunette.

"Who cares?" Hazel asked standing up, "I'm gonna check it out!"

After Hazel ran into the forest the other Monster Hunters stood there for a bit before a green haired boy asked, "Is that girl insane?"

"Who cares?" Gabriel snapped, "I'm going after her!"

"Dude!" A boy with brown eyes exclaimed as Gabriel ran into the forest.

Hazel wandered in the forest for a few minutes before she finally stopped walking, "I know you're there Isabella Dark."

"I didn't mean to scare you." Isabella said coming out from a bunch of bushes, "I only meant to give you a teens y-weensy warning~"

"It’s not the greatest time Dark, so leave me alone." Hazel said facing the redhead, "Or do I need to remind you that you're not the boss of me?"

"There's no need for that, like I said I only came to talk." Isabella taunted.

"Well make it snappy, I don't have time for this." Hazel said left hand on her hip.

"Just stay away from Gabriel and I'll leave you alone." Isabella said folding her arms.

"I don't really care who I get as a Kumppani and neither does Gabriel." Hazel said narrowing her eyes.

"Oh, he does." Isabella said walking away.

"........ Who?" Hazel said with slight hesitation.

"You." Isabella growled.

"How would you know?" Hazel asked. "You, stalker?"

"You seriously can't see the way he looks at you?" Isabella asked.

"Well, that's your problem, not mine." Hazel said before walking away.

Ten minutes after Hazel met Isabella, someone yelled, "Watch out!"

Hazel ducked just in time to dodge a fireball aimed at her head.

"You okay Hazel?" Gabriel asked emerging from the bushes.

Hazel was about to reply before a red dragon appeared and set the forest on fire.

"Got any ideas on how we're gonna kill this thing?" Gabriel asked as the two of them hid behind some bushes.

Hazel glanced at the dragon before turning back to Gabriel.

"It’s a little risky but I do." Hazel replied before extending her hand to Gabriel, "You with me?"

Gabriel looked at Hazel's extended hand before grabbing it and smiling at her, "I'm with you Abernathy."

The two nodded at each other as they let go of their hands before sprinting to the dragon's sides. Hazel to its left and Gabriel to its right.

'Here goes nothing.' Hazel thought as she walked in front of the dragon, "Hey ugly!"

Gabriel pulled the string of the bow before an arrow appeared, "Here goes."

'Bulls eye.' Hazel thought as she saw Gabriel's arrow pierce through the dragon's right wing.

"Duck!" Gabriel exclaimed before firing another arrow which hit the dragon's left wing.

"Good job!" Hazel exclaimed smiling a bit before the dragon roared, "On my signal!"

Gabriel nodded before making another arrow appear.

Hazel pulled her dagger out, "Three, two-"

"One!" Hazel exclaimed before both dagger and arrow made contact with the dragon's head.

"That was a close one." Gabriel sighed as Hazel retrieved her dagger from the dragon's head, "That's disgusting."

Hazel chuckled before she sheathed her dagger.

"Impeccable job Monster Hunters." Chancellor Nevermore said emerging from the still burning trees, "I think it’s time for the two of you to wake up."

Chancellor Nevermore snapped his fingers before Hazel found herself laying down on the Estad’s floor.

"What happened?" Hazel asked sitting up.

"You're Gabriel's Kumppani." Rachel explained as her brother and Gabriel walked up to them.

Hazel’s eyes widened for a minute before giving a faint blush.

"This just got interesting." Ace said as he and Gabriel reached them.

"Imagine what Isabella's reaction would be when she finds out that your Gabriel's Kumppani." Rachel said smirking slightly.

"That would be a bit funny." James said as he, Abbey and Matthew walked up to them.

"She'll just have to live with it then." Gabriel said as Hazel rubbed her neck sheepishly.

"So, this is the Abernathy I've been hearing so much about." James said eyeing Hazel.

"Who's your friend?" Gabriel asked.

"This is Abbey's Kumppani, James Snow." Matthew said introducing the white-haired teen, "Hazel, Gabriel I'll show you to your room after the two of you get your stuff from Gabriel's room."

"Alright." Hazel said as Gabriel nodded before they followed Matthew out of the Estad.

*

"Hey Gab?" Hazel asked as they gathered their belongings from Gabriel's room.

"Yeah?"

"When we were on the island, Isabella said something weird."

"What did she say?"

"She said you wanted me to be your Kumppani."

"Why would she think that? Gabriel asked successfully hiding the faint blush on his face.

"She said it was how you looked at me."

'Isabella I’m going to kill you.' Gabriel thought as he zipped his bag, "She's just being paranoid."

Hazel gave Gabriel a suspicious look before she shrugged and the two exited Gabriel's room bags in hand.

"The two of you packed up?" Matthew asked as he saw the two leave Gabriel's former bedroom.

The two brunettes nodded before the three of them started walking.

"Matthew!" Abbey and James called emerging from the shadows, both out of breath.

"What's wrong?" Matthew asked as Abbey leaned on the railing.

You might be reading a stolen copy. Visit Royal Road for the authentic version.

"You have to get Gabriel and Hazel in Ace and Rachel's room." James said breathing heavily.

"Why?" Hazel asked.

"Somebody sneaked in here and started killing level four hunters and below." Abbey explained standing up.

"What!?" Matthew, Gabriel and Hazel exclaimed.

"But nobody has ever found The Hideout, let alone break in." Gabriel replied.

"Maybe someone let them in." Hazel suggested as the five of them headed to the Oliviero's room.

"Either way we need to keep our guard up." Gabriel warned.

"Let's just hope they haven’t killed the Olivieros yet." Matthew said knocking on the door.

"Come in!" Ace called from the inside.

"Gabriel, Hazel?" Rachel said as the two entered, "What's wrong?"

"None of you leave this room, Hazel and Gab will explain everything." James said before closing the door.

"What's going on!?" Ace exclaimed as the two brunettes dropped their bags.

"James and Abbey said that-" Hazel began before covering her ears, "Ahhhhhhhhhhh!"

"What is that!?" Rachel exclaimed as she and her brother covered their ears.

"Gabriel's Claist!" Hazel exclaimed seeing Gabriel blow on the silver instrument.

After two minutes Gabriel stopped playing the Claist before Hazel exclaimed, "What the heck was that for!?"

"Sorry." Gabriel apologized as they uncovered their ears.

"We should probably explain why we're here." Hazel said looking at the twins.

"You think?" Rachel asked raising an eyebrow.

"Hazel and I just went out of my room and met up with Matthew before Abbey and James ran up to us and said that someone broke in and started killing Monster Hunters." Gabriel explained.

"We have to do something about this." Hazel said folding her arms before Josh flew in, "Where did you come from?"

"But how do we get out of here?" Rachel asked.

Ace looked around the room for a bit before smiling, "The ventilation system."

"But the vents only have one exit point." Gabriel explained, "They go out of the volcano. Chancellor Nevermore probably forgot to conceal this one."

The other three looked at him with confused faces before he explained, "Chancellor Nevermore cast a spell on the vents that made them impossible to get into but still function properly."

Hazel wracked her brain trying to come up with a plan before she thought of something her parents told her a few years ago.

"Isn't there a back entrance to The Hideout?" Hazel asked remembering the stories her parents told her about it.

"Yes, but it’s impossible to get into not to mention the final gate." Gabriel replied.

"We don't have any other choice." Ace sighed.

"Alright then." Rachel replied.

*

After about twenty-four minutes of crawling through the vents the four hunters finally made it outside the volcano.

"Where now?" Rachel asked.

Hazel only glanced at the blue-eyed girl before walking down the volcano.

"Hazel wait up!" Gabriel called as he and the twins ran up to her.

"If the three of you don't hurry up, the four of us won’t get back in The Hideout before nightfall." Hazel said rather sternly.

"Hazel just calm down." Ace said as they caught up to her.

Two hours later they reached a rather old Oak tree.

"Woah." Rachel said looking at tree as Hazel touched the tree trunk.

"What's this?" Hazel thought out loud looking at a particular carving.

"What is it?" Gabriel asked walking over.

Hazel looked at the carving for a bit before brushing off a few vines from it. Once the vines were out of the way, the two hunters stared mesmerized.

"Did the two of you find something?" Rachel asked approaching them.

The two of them backed away for a bit to give the black-haired twins a clear view of the carving.

"Woah." The twins mumbled before Hazel touched it.

Once Hazel's left hand made contact with the wood the carving illuminated a silver glow.

"Get back!" Gabriel exclaimed as the four of them backed away.

The glow started glowing brighter and brighter up until Hazel and the others had to cover their eyes.

*

"Is everyone alright?" Gabriel asked as they uncovered their eyes.

"I'm fine." Rachel replied, "You okay Ace?"

"I'll live." Ace said, "Hazel?"

"Hazel?" Gabriel asked seeing the brunette standing there motionless.

The girl pointed to the tree trunk before the other three Monster Hunters saw a strange staircase around the base of the trunk.

"Who's going in first?" Ace asked looking at the others.

Gabriel rolled his eyes before he walked down the stairs.

"Gabriel, be careful!" Hazel exclaimed as she and the other two ran up to him.

"Not my fault you guys were scared." Gabriel replied smirking.

"Why you little-" Hazel began before they reached a room.

"Woah." The twins said as they saw the portraits of famous Monster Hunters.

"Where are we?" Hazel asked walking to a picture of her parents.

"Looks like were in the archives." Gabriel answered looking at a Monster Hunter with red hair.

"Well how do we get out of here?" Ace asked looking at a blue-eyed girl.

"Matthew told me stories about this place." Hazel said tearing away from the portrait of her parents, "He said that only someone with the pure awareness of a true Monster Hunter can get out."

"The heck does that mean?" Rachel asked.

Gabriel hummed in thought before something shiny caught his attention.

"Found something?" Hazel asked as Gabriel walked towards a portrait labeled "Wattana Hills".

"Maybe." Gabriel mumbled seeing a crack in the frame.

Gabriel hesitated for a moment before he slipped his hand into the frame and pulled out a golden plate with writing on it.

It sleeps at day and wakes with the setting of the sun

They feed off the souls of snakes and mice

They soar high in the night sky but at daybreak they hide from the light

You've heard them sing now sit and think, what bird symbolizes wisdom and can rarely be seen?

"Anyone understand this?" Rachel asked as they all finished reading.

Ace and Hazel shrugged before turning to Gabriel.

"For once I'm completely stumped, I only know that it’s a bird that eats snakes, mice and is nocturnal." Gabriel explained.

The others sighed before Gabriel turned to Hazel and asked, "Didn't you say animals were your friends growing up?"

"Yeah, you wouldn't believe what some of the birds get up to when it’s a Saturday." Hazel replied chuckling at a memory.

"Were there any birds that were awake at night but slept when its sunrise?" Ace asked.

Hazel thought for a moment before slapping her forehead, "An owl."

Once the words came out of her mouth everyone groaned.

"I'm an idiot." Gabriel said giving himself a deadpanned look.

"So which Monster Hunter here had an owl?" Rachel asked.

(A/N: Welp since I wanted Hazel to have a talking bird I'll be putting 'these' whenever the bird talks.)

"That would be Evangeline Grant." A voice said.

"Who's there!?" Hazel asked turning around.

"Show yourself!" Gabriel exclaimed pulling the string of his bow back.

"No need for violence." The voice said as a Barn Owl landed on Kayla Bell's portrait.

"Y-you can talk?" Ace asked.

"Of course, I can talk!" The owl snapped, "Evangeline Grant was the only Monster Hunter that had an owl in this room. I suggest you try her portrait."

"So, this one?" Rachel asked putting her hand up against a portrait of a male Monster Hunter with a brown beard.

"Correct." The owl replied.

The girls inspected the portrait before Hazel pressed a secret button on the back of it to reveal a door.

"Wicked!" The boys exclaimed.

"Would you like to come with us?" Hazel asked turning to the owl, "You seem to know this place more than we do."

The owl stared at Hazel for a while before answering in a happy voice, "I would be delighted to Ms. Abernathy."

The young Monster Hunter gave a surprised expression before the owl explained, "You have your father's eyes as well as your mother's smile."

Hazel gave the owl a smile before it landed on her shoulder, "Luna at your service Ms. Abernathy."

They walked for a few minutes before stopping at another room.

"Where are we?" Gabriel asked turning to Luna, who was still on Hazel's shoulder.

"We're in at the Final Gate." Luna explained, "Most Monster Hunters die trying to find a way to break through it.

"We're doomed." Rachel sighed.

"There must be some sort of instructions for this." Ace said looking at a nearby rune.

"Found something?" Gabriel asked.

"Yeah, but I can’t make it out." Ace said sighing.

"Let me take a look at it." Hazel said before Luna flew off her shoulder.

"It’s written in Ognira." Hazel replied.

"So, what does it mean?" Rachel asked.

"A hundred years ago four hunters once stood here." Hazel translated, "One from the north, one from the south, one from the west, and one from the east. Each one hidden a rare artifact of Monster Hunter history. Now another four must find these artifacts to once again protect the secrets of the founders four."

"Let's get searching then." Gabriel said smiling while folding his arms.

"Bet I can find it before either of you." Ace challenged.

"You are on." Rachel said smirking before they all darted towards different directions.