The academy had fallen silent.
Night covered the stone buildings like a calm blanket.
A cool breeze moved through the courtyard.
The moon hung high in the sky.
Most students were already asleep.
But not everyone.
---
Lyra stood near the balcony of her dormitory.
Her silver hair moved slightly in the wind.
Her eyes stared at the distant lights of the city.
But her mind was somewhere else.
Why… did he lie?
She folded her arms slowly.
The memory of their earlier conversation replayed in her mind.
Iren had said clearly that night—
> "My master… is no more."
Yet when everyone asked where he had gone for two days…
He had said something completely different.
> "I went to meet my master."
Lyra's eyes narrowed slightly.
"That doesn't make sense…"
She whispered to herself.
Her mind began connecting the pieces.
If his master is gone…
Then where did he go?
Another memory surfaced.
That rainy night.
The moment when she had secretly watched him awaken the Water Ring.
The power had been real.
Not human magic.
Something far beyond that.
Lyra sighed quietly.
"…You're hiding too many things, Iren."
For a moment she looked toward the training grounds below.
Completely empty now.
Then she made up her mind.
"…Fine."
"I'll just ask him directly."
---
The next morning.
The sun had barely risen.
But the academy training grounds were already alive.
The sound of weapons echoed through the empty arena.
CLANG!
SWOOSH!
THUD!
However, unlike normal days—
Only five people stood on the battlefield.
The official team for the Inter-Academy Tournament.
Iren.
Lyra.
Kael.
Sylven.
Riven.
---
Kael rested his spear against his shoulder.
"So… same training as yesterday?"
Riven cracked his neck lazily.
"Of course."
His grin slowly appeared.
"Let's see if you two improved or not."
Sylven sighed.
"You say that every day."
---
Iren stepped forward.
His black cape swayed behind him.
He looked toward Lyra.
"You ready?"
Lyra unsheathed her twin daggers.
SHING
Her calm eyes met his.
"I was about to ask you the same."
---
Kael pointed his spear toward Sylven.
"Same teams."
Riven stretched his arms.
"Three against one."
Sylven smiled slightly.
"That still sounds unfair."
Riven laughed.
"Not for us."
---
Headmaster Aldaric had allowed them to train this way.
Because their teamwork mattered more than anything.
So the teams remained the same.
Iren & Lyra
versus
Sylven, Riven & Kael
---
Kael raised his spear.
"Ready?"
Riven grinned.
"Try not to lose too quickly."
Sylven sighed again.
"…Begin."
---
The battle exploded instantly.
CLANG!
Iren's sword collided with Kael's spear.
A faint blue barrier flashed around Kael.
WHOOM
At the same moment—
Riven vanished.
WHOOSH
He phased forward like a shadow.
But Lyra's eyes flashed.
"…Three seconds."
Her foresight activated.
She twisted her body instantly.
SWISH
Her dagger deflected Riven's blade.
"Too predictable."
Riven clicked his tongue.
"Tch."
---
Sylven rushed forward.
His spear glowing faintly with reinforcement magic.
THUD!
His strike slammed toward Iren.
Iren spun sideways.
His cape fluttered behind him.
SWOOSH
Their weapons clashed again.
CLANG! CLANG!
---
The battlefield turned intense.
Kael created barriers.
Riven attacked unpredictably.
Sylven reinforced his body with magic.
But Iren and Lyra fought with perfect coordination.
Lyra's foresight guided their movements.
Iren's sword strikes forced the others back.
---
After several minutes—
Everyone stopped.
Panting.
Sweat dripping.
Riven dropped onto the ground dramatically.
"I'm dead…"
Sylven chuckled.
"You say that every time."
Kael leaned on his spear.
"That was good practice."
---
Iren wiped sweat from his forehead.
"We're improving."
Lyra nodded slightly.
"But the tournament opponents won't be this forgiving."
---
Hours passed as they continued training.
Again.
And again.
Until the sun slowly moved toward the horizon.
By evening, exhaustion finally forced them to stop.
---
The sky turned orange.
A cool wind passed through the academy.
Students began returning to their dormitories.
The training ground slowly emptied.
---
Lyra looked toward Iren.
Now's my chance.
He was standing a little away from the others.
Adjusting the sword on his back.
Lyra walked toward him.
"Iren."
He turned.
"Oh… Lyra?"
She hesitated for a moment.
Then spoke.
"I wanted to ask you something."
---
Before she could continue—
A terrifying sound exploded across the city.
WOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!
A massive alarm echoed through the sky.
Long.
Loud.
Urgent.
Everyone froze.
---
Riven slowly stood up.
"…That alarm…"
Kael's expression darkened.
"That's the emergency signal."
Sylven whispered quietly.
"…City defense alarm."
Lyra's eyes widened slightly.
Then reality struck all of them.
---
The city was under attack.
---
Another alarm echoed.
WOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!
From outside the academy walls—
Distant screams began rising.
Smoke slowly rose into the sky.
Students began running toward the main gate.
"Monsters!!"
"Demons are attacking the city!"
"Everyone move!!"
---
Iren stood completely still.
His hand slowly tightened around his sword.
CREAK
Because suddenly—
A memory flashed in his mind.
A burning village.
Flames everywhere.
Screams.
Monsters.
His parents fighting desperately.
---
Iren's grip tightened even more.
"…Not again."
---
Kael stepped beside him.
"Let's go."
Riven smirked slightly.
"Finally… a real fight."
Sylven nodded.
"We need to protect the citizens."
Lyra looked toward the rising smoke.
Her voice turned calm and sharp.
"…Move."
---
The academy gates opened.
RUMBLE
Teachers.
Students.
Hunters.
Guards.
Everyone rushed toward the city.
Beyond the walls—
Chaos had begun.
---
And somewhere in the distance…
A dark presence slowly stirred.
Watching.
Waiting.
For someone it remembered.
---