Chapter 54 - The Break
The window shattered.
Glass exploded across the second floor.
Lyra turned.
And froze.
The creature was standing only a few feet away.
For a moment...
She couldn't move.
It was enormous.
Four legs.
Long front limbs ending in curved claws.
Blackened patches covered parts of its body as though something had burned through its flesh.
Pieces of torn cloth hung from its frame.
Restraints.
Lyra's breath caught.
"...No."
The creature's head shifted toward her.
Its eyes locked onto hers.
Then—
It lunged.
Lyra barely had time to move.
A claw tore across her abdomen.
Pain ripped through her body.
Her breath disappeared.
She stumbled backward.
Someone screamed.
Another voice shouted something she couldn't understand.
But everything sounded distant.
Warm blood spread beneath her clothes.
The creature moved again.
Lyra tried to step away.
Too slow.
Its second strike caught her.
She was thrown backward.
Straight through the broken window.
The scream from the second floor finally reached the lower floor.
Students looked upward.
"What was that?"
"Did something break?"
"What's happening?"
Then—
Lyra fell.
She crashed onto the polished floor below.
The impact knocked the air from her lungs.
Her body slid across the floor, leaving a streak of blood behind her.
The music stopped.
Completely.
For one second...
Nobody moved.
Lyra lay on her back, staring blankly at the ceiling.
Her vision blurred.
She tried to breathe.
Nothing came properly.
Then she heard it.
"LYRA!"
Amy.
Lyra forced her eyes open.
The ceiling lights blurred above her.
Students were running.
Tables overturned.
Glasses shattered.
Someone was crying.
And through the chaos...
She saw them.
Black Crest.
Erix had already turned toward her.
Their eyes met.
His expression changed.
Only slightly.
But Lyra noticed.
Then—
A massive shadow fell across the second-floor railing.
Erix looked up.
The creature jumped.
It landed on the ground floor with a heavy crash.
Students screamed.
The creature barely acknowledged them.
Its head turned.
Straight toward Lyra.
It started walking.
Slowly.
One step.
Then another.
Lyra tried to move.
Her arms shook.
Nothing happened.
The creature stopped several feet away.
It lowered its head.
Its nostrils flared.
The scent of blood filled the air.
Lyra's blood.
The creature's eyes seemed to sharpen.
Then it moved.
Fast.
It crossed the distance before anyone could react.
A claw caught the front of Lyra's dress.
The creature lifted her off the floor.
Her feet left the ground.
Pain shot through her abdomen.
Her fingers grabbed uselessly at its limb.
She couldn't breathe.
"LYRA!"
Amy screamed again.
Lyra's vision darkened around the edges.
She could hear footsteps.
Someone shouting.
Someone crying.
But the creature didn't seem to hear any of it.
Its attention remained completely fixed on her.
Then—
It threw her.
Lyra flew across the hall.
Her body struck the opposite side of the room.
She collapsed onto the floor.
A sharp gasp escaped her.
"Lyra!"
Amy started running toward her.
Elias moved with her.
But before they could get far—
"Move!"
Kaelen's voice cut through the chaos.
He stepped forward.
Riven was already moving beside him.
Seren followed.
Erix didn't say anything.
He simply started running toward the creature.
Lucian moved with him.
The creature turned its head.
For the first time...
It looked away from Lyra.
Toward them.
Erix stopped.
His hands tightened.
He had no sword.
Neither did the others.
They hadn't expected to need them tonight.
Lucian glanced at him.
"...You brought nothing?"
Erix didn't look at him.
"...Neither did you."
"...Fair."
The creature lowered itself.
Its claws scraped against the floor.
Kaelen raised one hand.
Astral energy gathered around his fingers.
"...Everyone else, get out."
The remaining students didn't need to be told twice.
They ran.
Chairs overturned.
Doors slammed.
People pushed toward the exits.
Amy didn't move.
She was still trying to reach Lyra.
"Elias—"
"I know."
He stayed beside her.
They took another step.
A sharp burst of Astral energy struck the floor between them and the creature.
Kaelen didn't look back.
"...Stay there."
Amy froze.
"But Lyra—"
"Don't come closer."
His voice wasn't harsh.
It was simply final.
Seren reached Lyra first.
He dropped to one knee beside her.
"Lyra."
Her eyes opened slightly.
She tried to sit up.
Seren immediately stopped her.
"...Don't."
He carefully supported the back of her head.
"You're bleeding."
Lyra looked down.
Blood had soaked through her clothes.
Her fingers trembled.
"...I'm fine."
Seren stared at her.
"...You're really bad at lying."
Another roar shook the hall.
Seren's head snapped upward.
The creature had turned back toward them.
Its eyes were fixed on Lyra.
Not Seren.
Not Kaelen.
Not Erix.
Lyra.
Riven stepped in front of her.
"...It keeps going for her."
Kaelen's expression tightened.
"...I noticed."
Erix stared at the creature.
Something about the way it looked at Lyra bothered him.
It wasn't attacking randomly.
It wasn't even interested in the other students anymore.
It wanted her.
The creature took one step.
Erix moved forward.
Lucian lifted his hand.
Astral energy gathered around his palm.
"...Give me a second."
Erix glanced at him.
"...For what?"
Lucian's expression sharpened.
"...This."
The energy in his hand condensed.
Light twisted.
Compressed.
Then formed into the rough shape of a blade.
Erix stared at it for half a second.
Lucian tossed it toward him.
Erix caught it.
The weapon wasn't a real sword.
But it would have to do.
His fingers tightened around the Astral blade.
The creature growled.
Erix stepped forward.
"...Come on."
The creature lunged.
And this time—
Erix met it head-on.