Chapter 41 - Familiar Rythm
The final bell echoed across Valmere Academy.
Almost immediately, the quiet corridors came alive.
Students streamed out of classrooms in groups, conversations filling the stone walkways as another day of lessons came to an end.
Some discussed assignments.
Others argued over practical classes.
A few simply enjoyed the cool evening breeze that drifted through the academy grounds.
Lyra walked among them in silence.
She no longer lowered her head as she passed.
Neither did she deliberately look around.
She simply...
Walked.
A few students glanced in her direction.
Some recognized her.
Some whispered.
Most continued on their way.
The rumors were still there.
But they no longer seemed to define every conversation.
For the first time in days...
The academy felt almost normal.
Almost.
Without thinking, Lyra slipped a hand into her jacket pocket.
Her fingers brushed against folded paper.
The meal coupon.
Amy's.
She stopped walking for only a heartbeat.
"Tomorrow... let's eat together."
A faint smile touched her lips before disappearing just as quickly.
She still wasn't sure whether she deserved that chance.
But...
She wanted to try.
That thought alone was enough.
She continued toward the training hall.
The large wooden doors opened with a familiar creak.
The scent of polished wood filled the quiet hall.
Golden sunlight streamed through the tall windows, painting long shadows across the training floor.
Only one person was inside.
Standing near the weapon rack, fastening the strap around one of his gloves.
Dark hair.
Straight posture.
Erix.
He didn't look up immediately.
Only after securing the strap did his silver-gray eyes shift toward the entrance.
They met Lyra's.
"...You're late."
Lyra instinctively looked toward the old clock hanging above the doorway.
"...By one minute."
"...Still late."
"...The clock's slow."
"...No."
She stared at him for a moment.
Then quietly shook her head.
"...Welcome back."
Erix picked up a wooden practice sword.
"...You noticed."
The practice sword spun once through the air.
Lyra caught it without thinking.
"...You weren't here."
"...Fair."
That was all.
No questions.
No explanations.
No awkwardness.
Just...
The same conversation they might have had a week ago.
Lyra walked toward the center of the hall.
Her bag came to rest beside the wall.
Erix stepped opposite her.
"...Ready?"
She twirled the wooden sword once before settling into her stance.
"...Whenever you stop talking."
One eyebrow lifted slightly.
"...Confident."
"...Not really."
"...Good."
Before Lyra could ask why—
He moved.
Clack!
Their practice swords collided.
The force pushed Lyra half a step backward.
"...No warning?"
Another strike followed immediately.
"...You knew why you came."
She redirected the blow and circled to his side.
"...That's not an answer."
"...Correct."
Wood struck wood again.
The familiar rhythm returned almost effortlessly.
Unlike Mrs.Bradmore...
Erix never explained what he wanted.
He simply attacked.
If she failed...
She learned.
If she adapted...
He attacked harder.
Another exchange.
Lyra blocked high.
Countered low.
Erix stepped aside just enough for her blade to miss.
"...Slower."
"...You've been gone four days."
"...Exactly."
"...You expected me not to slow down?"
"...I expected more."
Lyra let out a quiet sigh.
"...Your standards are ridiculous."
"...Reasonable."
She almost rolled her eyes.
Almost.
The exchange continued.
Neither spoke for nearly a minute.
Only the steady sound of wood echoed throughout the hall.
Clack.
Clack.
Clack.
Erix's gaze never left her movements.
Not her expression.
Not her face.
Her footing.
Her shoulders.
The way she shifted her weight after every attack.
Another clash.
He stepped back.
"...Bradmore."
Lyra lowered her sword slightly.
"...What about her?"
"...She changed your stance."
"...She did."
"...Finally."
Lyra blinked.
"...Finally?"
"...You stopped leaning away."
She looked down instinctively.
She hadn't even realized it.
Before...
Every attack had ended with her unconsciously creating distance.
Now...
She was staying within striking range.
"...She kept correcting it."
"...Mm."
"...It was annoying."
"...Clearly."
"...Clearly?"
"...It worked."
That was all he said.
No praise.
No congratulations.
Simply...
"It worked."
Oddly enough...
That was enough.
Lyra adjusted her grip.
"...You're terrible at compliments."
"...Observation."
"...That's not even the right use of that word."
"...Probably."
"...You don't care, do you?"
"...No."
For some reason...
A tiny smile tugged at the corner of her lips.
It disappeared almost immediately.
Erix noticed.
He said nothing.
Instead...
He stepped forward again.
The next exchange came faster.
Strike.
Block.
Counter.
Turn.
Lyra barely avoided a strike aimed toward her shoulder.
She immediately answered with one of her own.
Erix caught it.
"...Thinking."
"...I usually do."
"...Too much."
"...Coming from you?"
"...Yes."
"...That's unfair."
"...Combat usually is."
She clicked her tongue.
"...You always have an answer."
"...Usually."
"...I forgot how annoying you are."
Erix looked at her for a second.
"...You know that's disrespectful."
Lyra paused.
Then...
"...Sorry."
"...Accepted."
"...That easily?"
"...You apologized."
"...You're strange."
"...Frequently."
This time...
She couldn't stop the quiet breath of amusement that escaped her.
Not quite a laugh.
Just...
Something lighter than before.
For a brief moment...
The hall felt exactly as it always had.
Before the expedition.
Before the rumors.
Before everything had changed.
Erix watched another exchange.
Then suddenly changed the rhythm.
He feinted high.
Lyra instinctively raised her sword.
The real attack came from the side.
Tap.
The wooden blade rested lightly against her shoulder.
"...Again."
She frowned.
"...You planned that."
"...Yes."
"...I hate when you do that."
"...Observation."
"...Stop saying that."
"...No."
Lyra shook her head.
"...One day I'm banning that word."
"...Good luck."
Without waiting for her reply...
He attacked again.
This time...
Lyra didn't retreat.
She stepped forward instead.
Closing the distance between them.
Their wooden swords locked together.
For a heartbeat...
Neither moved.
Erix's eyes narrowed ever so slightly.
There it is.
The hesitation that had lingered in every movement before the expedition...
Was gone.
Not completely.
But enough.
She wasn't pulling away anymore.
She wasn't fighting invisible memories.
For the first time in weeks...
She was simply fighting the opponent standing in front of her.
He pushed her sword aside.
"...Finally."
Lyra blinked.
"...You really like that word."
"...Recently."
"...You could've said 'good.'"
"...Could have."
"...But?"
"...Finally is more accurate."
She stared at him.
Then let out a long sigh.
"...One day..."
"...I'm going to make you give me an actual compliment."
Erix adjusted his grip on the wooden sword.
"...Unlikely."
"...We'll see."
"...We will."
For the first time since he had returned...
The silence between them didn't feel heavy.
It felt...
Familiar.
And neither of them realized that the next exchange would be interrupted.
Neither of them moved for a moment.
The silence lingered between them, broken only by the evening breeze drifting through the open windows.
Then...
Erix raised his practice sword once more.
"...Again."
Lyra let out a quiet sigh.
"...I was wondering how long it'd take."
She settled back into her stance.
This time...
She attacked first.
The wooden sword cut cleanly through the air.
Erix met it head-on.
Clack!
Another strike.
Another block.
The pace increased.
Neither spoke.
There was no need.
Every movement carried an answer.
Every adjustment became another lesson.
Lyra stepped inside his reach.
Their swords locked.
She twisted her wrist, trying to force an opening.
Erix shifted his weight.
The pressure disappeared.
Her balance went with it.
"..."
The polished wooden floor betrayed her for half a step.
Instinctively...
Her free hand reached forward.
She caught the sleeve of Erix's training jacket before she could stumble.
The two of them froze.
They were suddenly far closer than either had intended.
Lyra immediately let go and stepped back.
"...Sorry."
Erix glanced at the sleeve she had grabbed before looking back at her.
"...Footwork."
"...I know."
"...You're rushing."
"...I slipped."
"...Excuses."
Lyra narrowed her eyes.
"...You really came back just to criticize me."
"..."
"...Maybe."
Before Lyra could answer—
The doors of the training hall swung open.
"...Well..."
A familiar voice echoed across the room.
Seren stood in the doorway, one hand resting against the frame as he looked between the two of them.
His grin grew wider with every passing second.
Behind him stood Lucien, Riven and Kaelen.
Seren slowly looked from Lyra...
To Erix...
Then back again.
"...We disappear for one hour..."
He paused dramatically.
"...And you two decide to start flirting?"
Lyra stared at him.
"...What?"
"We're training."
Seren looked unconvinced.
"...Really?"
He pointed toward the space between them.
"...Because from where I'm standing, that looked considerably less professional."
Lyra glanced at Erix.
Then immediately took another step backward.
"...I lost my balance."
"...That's what they all say."
Kaelan walked past Seren without even looking at him.
"...You interrupted a spar."
"...You're no fun."
Seren sighed dramatically.
"...I had three more jokes prepared."
"...Keep them."
"...That hurts."
Riven ignored the conversation entirely.
Instead, he looked directly at Lyra.
"...Who won?"
"...Nobody."
"...So Erix."
"...That's not how sparring works."
"...Convenient answer."
"...It's the truth."
"...Sounds like losing."
Lyra folded her arms.
"...Didn't I beat you during practical training?"
Riven frowned.
"...You got lucky."
"...Twice?"
"...Exceptionally lucky."
"...Keep telling yourself that."
"...I plan to."
"...Good."
Seren looked between the two of them.
A slow grin spread across his face.
"...You know..."
"...This feels familiar."
Riven looked at him.
"...What does?"
"...The arguing."
He pointed toward Lyra.
"...She's starting to sound like Lucien and you as me."
"...Impossible."
"...Very possible."
"...She's the one arguing."
Lyra raised an eyebrow.
"...Did you say something?."
"...Well you did."
"...You started it."
"...Debatable."
"...Not really."
"...Agree to disagree."
"...No."
"...See?"
Seren laughed.
"...There it is."
Lucien crossed his arms.
"...Congratulations."
Riven frowned.
"...For what?"
"...You've found someone who refuses to let you have the last word."
"...I always get the last word."
"...No, you don't."
"...Yes, I do."
"...You just proved his point."
Riven opened his mouth.
Then stopped.
Seren burst out laughing.
"...That was beautiful."
"...Shut up."
"...See?"
"...I said shut up."
"...Still proving it."
Lyra couldn't stop the small smile that appeared.
"...You really walk into every trap."
Riven looked at her in disbelief.
"...You're enjoying this."
"...Maybe."
"...You're definitely enjoying this."
"...Observation."
Riven pointed accusingly at her.
"...Don't start using his words."
Lyra glanced toward Erix.
"...Apparently I've picked up a few habits."
"...Unfortunate."
"...Hey."
"...Observation."
"...You're both impossible."
Lucien answered without missing a beat.
"...Correct."
Seren clutched his chest dramatically.
"...I'm so proud."
Kaelen, who had remained silent the entire time, finally let out a quiet sigh.
He looked toward Seren and Lucien.
Then toward Lyra and Riven, who had somehow started arguing again.
"...One pair wasn't enough."
Everyone looked at him.
Kaelen rubbed his forehead.
"...I already spend enough time stopping Seren and Lucien from causing trouble."
Seren looked offended.
"...That's unfair."
Lucien looked at him.
"...He's right."
"...Traitor."
Kaelen continued as though neither had spoken.
"...Now I apparently have another pair to keep apart."
His gaze settled on Lyra and Riven.
Neither of them had even noticed.
"...What?"
Riven asked.
Kaelen answered calmly.
"...The two of you have been arguing for five minutes."
Lyra blinked.
"...Have we?"
"...Yes."
"...He started it."
"...Did not."
"...You literally did."
"...No you."
Kaelen closed his eyes for a brief moment.
"...I need fewer children."
Seren immediately grinned.
"...Congratulations."
"...You're officially the father of Black Crest."
Silence.
Kaelen slowly looked at him.
"...That's the worst sentence I've heard this week."
"...But not inaccurate."
"...Take it back."
"...Can't."
"...Why?"
"...Because now every time those two argue—"
Seren pointed toward Lyra and Riven.
"...You'll have to stop them too."
Lucien nodded once.
"...He's not wrong."
Kaelen sighed again.
"...I dislike all of you."
"...You say that every week."
"...Because you keep giving me reasons."
Even Erix looked away for a moment.
Not because of the joke.
Because...
For the first time since returning to the academy...
The training hall sounded normal again.
Riven looked back at Lyra.
"...Rematch."
"...You'll lose."
"...Confident."
"...Experience."
"...Excuses."
"...Scared?"
"...Of you?"
"...Answer the question."
"...No."
"...Coward."
"...That's not how that works."
"...It does now."
"...Who decided that?"
"...I did."
"...Completely unreasonable."
"...Thank you."
"...That wasn't a compliment."
"...I'll take it anyway."
Seren laughed so hard he leaned against Lucien's shoulder.
"...She's actually keeping up with him."
Lucien watched the two continue bickering all the way toward the doorway.
"...She's adapting."
"...Poor Riven."
"...He finally met someone just as stubborn."
"...Impossible."
"...Apparently not."
The argument continued into the corridor.
Their voices gradually grew quieter.
"...You started it!"
"...You answered!"
"...Because you were wrong!"
"...Prove it!"
"...Gladly!"
"...Tomorrow!"
"...You're on!"
Their voices disappeared around the corner.
Silence settled over the training hall once again.
Seren watched the doorway for another second before quietly turning toward Erix.
The grin on his face softened.
"...There it is."
Lucien already knew what he meant.
"...Mm."
"...You noticed too."
"...He finally stopped looking tense."
Seren glanced toward the corridor where Lyra and Riven's distant argument could still barely be heard.
"...I thought he was worried she'd gotten weaker."
Lucien shook his head.
"...No."
"...He was waiting."
"...For what?"
Lucien's eyes remained on the doorway.
"...For her to be herself again."
Seren was quiet.
Then...
A slow smile spread across his face.
"...Yeah."
"...She's back."
Erix didn't respond.
He simply walked toward the weapon rack and carefully returned both practice swords to their places.
Exactly as he always did.
As he turned to leave, his gaze drifted briefly toward the open doorway.
The faint echoes of Lyra and Riven arguing still floated down the corridor.
For the briefest moment...
The corner of his mouth lifted.
Almost too small to notice.
Then it was gone.
Without another word...
He walked out of the training hall.
The familiar rhythm had returned.
Not just to their sparring.
But to the academy itself.
Thank you so much for reading this chapter!
This one was a little different from the previous few. After several heavy chapters, I wanted to give everyone (including Lyra) a chance to breathe. Seeing her slowly return to herself, even if it's only through a simple spar or a small argument, meant a lot to write.
Sometimes healing isn't shown through big dramatic moments. It's hidden in familiar routines, old conversations, and the little things that quietly start feeling normal again.
I also hope you enjoyed seeing Erix back. As always... he's still terrible at giving compliments.
Thank you for all your comments, votes, and support. They genuinely motivate me to keep writing, especially now that university has started and my schedule has become much busier.
See you in the next chapter!