The Magician's Dilemma (Hisoka x Reader) (Hunter x Hunter)

Chapter 3

(Y/N)'s Point of View

Boom!

My eyes swiftly opened themselves. My head ricocheted back onto the top of the seat which I occupied. My hands braced themselves by gripping the humble armrests.

It took me a moment to realize what was going on. The airship had just landed, and it was anything but smooth.

As the rickety aircraft slowed to a bumpy stop, I couldn't help but think about the unknown surroundings outside. The airship was small; it had no windows and even if it did, there was little to no chance I would be able to recognize where we were. Prior to the flight, I managed to overhear the navigators discussing the Yorbian Continent, but that was the lone piece of information I had regarding my current location. 

The hinge of the door to the main compartment squealed as it was opened from the exterior. I quickly stood up in a defensive stance, on guard in case of attack. Ever since boarding the airship, I had been on edge because of the exam. I had to be cautious and defend myself, or risk being injured, killed, or worse, taken back by my father. Luckily, my wariness was for nothing. It was only Aldis, the female examiner. She gave me and Tonpa a quick smile and gestured for us to exit the vehicle before stepping out herself. I quickly followed suit, anxious to see what awaited outside.

Upon seeing my location, I was astounded. There were trees. Pine trees. As far as the eye could see. The large, towering plants covered the hills that lay before us, before disappearing into the distance. There was no path throughout the lush forest, nor any clearings beside the one where we landed. This forest may have seemed beautiful, but there was something ominous about it, as if a monster would jump out and snatch someone up without a moment's notice.

The sea of greenery continued on in all directions, with only one interruption. In the direction opposite the airship was a single mountain. It towered over the forest, casting its malevolent shadow over the Earth. The trees paled in comparison to its size. I had never seen something so gigantic in my life.

There were practically no animals in the area, or at least, there were practically no animals that allowed themselves to be seen in the area. The terrain was lifeless, somehow dull and vast all at the same time. However, unlike the environment, the sky itself was anything but dull. It was full of life, clouds of all shades forming shapes of all sizes. Some were big, dark, and imposing, others were small, light, and meek, but they all cast their misty gaze down upon the forest area.

I breathed in the cool air, realizing just how hard this exam would be. The examiners had chosen to begin at a difficult location, and I was sure the first phase would be anything but easy. Yet, somehow I felt as though I could do it. I had made it much too far to fail now. Failure here would be unacceptable.

The navigators pointed Tonpa and I in the direction of the examinees already present as they boarded their airship, presumably to return back to York New City. Tonpa quickly scurried off, without even sparing a glance behind him. I wasn't sure if he was more scared of me, or more scared of the fact that I could, in theory, tell every single rookie about his laxative plan. Lucky for him, I wasn't in a particularly giving mood. I had my reasons to be here, and making friends was not one of them.

I walked assertively to the group of potential hunters, focusing my mind as I remembered my reason to be here.

"Mom was a hunter. It's all I've wanted for the past 18 years. I can do this! I have to do this!"

My thoughts were put on hold by a small, rather strange looking green man. He extended a hand to me with a small, white badge.

"This is your badge for the Hunter Exam!" he stated in a squeaky voice. "Please wear it at all times."

I nodded in understanding before making my way to the edge of the lonely clearing. I sat down under a tree, resting my back against the rough bark and resting my legs on the soft grass in front of me. I knew the exam involved extreme physical exertion, so I had to utilize every opportunity for rest I had. I examined the badge, spinning it lazily in my fingers, before pinning it to my top. 34.

"So... only 33 were here before me huh? Not bad. I guess I had some serious motivation to get away from my father as quickly as possible..." I thought to myself.

While waiting for other participants to show up, I continued to reside under the tree. It was a constant cycle. An airship would arrive, typically depositing one or two applicants before returning back into the sky where it came from. Then another would arrive and the whole cycle would start once again. By nightfall, there were around 80 applicants in all.

I studied my fellow aspiring hunters from the sideline, trying to gauge who was strong and who was weak. Some applicants were obviously not prepared for the exam. Their numbers and faces I forgot almost immediately. Other applicants showed some potential. For instance, I could tell that a tall, dark-skinned man with hair tied up into two Afros seemed to possess a decent amount of strength. He carried a large weapon, a blowgun of sorts, and wore the number 48 on his chest.

Another applicant exhibiting average strength was a man accompanied by snakes. As they moved, they hissed in synchronization, tails slithering in a hypnotizing manner. That amount of snakes alone could prove deadly, regardless of the owner's competence. The applicant carried a badge with the number 73.

To be blunt, I was surprised by the lack of skill. These people had managed to find the site of the exam in a fairly short amount of time, yet very few actually seemed to be prepared, especially when it came to the other rookies. I figured that Tonpa's soda trick would be an utter failure, but it actually managed to work on some applicants. More than one potential hunter had accepted the drink, only before scurrying into the forest without any signs of return. Despite my distaste for Tonpa, I had to admit that his antics were slightly entertaining to watch, after all, there wasn't much else to do.

A few hours after sunfall, I decided to go to sleep. No one new seemed to be arriving, and many of the other applicants were finally shutting their eyes and settling in for the night. Plus, I was bored, and sleep seemed to be the best option.  I let out a yawn and closed my eyes slowly...

... only to open them moments later.

I couldn't put a finger on why exactly I woke back up. The atmosphere had suddenly grown even more dark, and even more ominous. The feeling in the air was malevolent, evil, and full of blood lust. I didn't know how to begin to describe it. My eyes darted as I searched for the sudden presence.

It took me but a second to find where the evil intent originated. Despite the late hour, one final airship had arrived. The door to the airship slid open, and a man climbed out without hesitation. As he entered the clearing, I grew confident that the aura was emanating from him. For the first time since escaping my father, I felt truly afraid. My brain told me to look away, to stay away as far as possible from the man, but my body was no longer under my brain's control. I examined him from afar.

He had pale skin, with wild red hair that defied gravity. He was lean and tall, with muscles that showed he had the body of a fighter. He wore clothing similar to that of a jester: a dark tank top paired with pale, periwinkle pants, and heels. Upon his chest were white card suits, a diamond accompanied by a spade. His ears were adorned with earrings which dangled and danced in the wind, and his nails were sharpened to a deadly point. His face was contorted into a smirk, and his cheeks bore a small tear and star. He oozed danger.

I turned away, as to not catch his attention, but it was too late. His yellow eyes pierced into me like the sharpest of daggers, as he licked his lips. He headed towards me, ignoring the other applicants around us. It was as if it was just me and him. I tried my best to conceal myself, but it was no use. The clown swiftly seated himself directly beside me, our sides brushing lightly. I looked down in avoidance, but it was no use. His cunning voice cut through my uninterested facade.

"Who are you?"

Chapter 3 is done! I actually finished this a lot sooner than I thought I would to be honest. I think I'm just excited to write about the exam already! Now that Hisoka's a part of the story, you know things are gonna take a turn for the unexpected ;)

Anyways, hopefully you liked this chapter! Expect more soon!