Chapter 11 - Among Predators
By the time afternoon arrived, Lyra was already exhausted.
The morning magic classes themselves hadn't been difficult.
Complicated, yes.
Overwhelming, definitely.
But manageable.
The real problem was the academy itself.
By lunchtime, Lyra had already crossed half of Valmere twice.
"You look like you got hit by a carriage," Amy observed while sitting across from her.
"I walked for forty minutes to attend a class that lasted eighteen."
"I'm sure by the time academy ends your physical fitness will become extraordinary."
"I'll be lucky if I survive long enough to test that."
Amy laughed before stealing food directly from Lyra's tray.
"You'll survive."
"That word is banned now."
"Fair."
For a brief moment, the atmosphere remained peaceful.
Then Amy suddenly remembered something.
"Oh right," she said while dramatically pointing toward Lyra. "I need to handle something after lunch."
Lyra immediately looked suspicious.
"What kind of something?"
"A thing."
"That sounds trouble."
"It's only trouble if someone notices."
"That somehow made it worse."
Amy ignored her entirely.
"But don't worry," she continued proudly, "I'll come watch your combat class later."
"That sounds unnecessary."
"That's because you fail to appreciate emotional support."
"You mean entertainment."
Lyra already regretted telling Amy about the second-year combat classes.
Unfortunately-
it was far too late now.
After lunch ended, the two separated near the central corridor intersections.
Amy disappeared immediately into the crowded academy halls with deeply suspicious confidence.
Meanwhile-
Lyra headed toward the combat division alone.
And almost regretted every life decision leading to this moment.
The second-year combat training grounds were located far beyond the first-year sections near the western side of the academy.
The atmosphere itself felt different there.
Heavier.
The students crossing the area carried training weapons casually while visible astral energy flickered around nearby practice arenas. The sounds of metal clashing echoed constantly through the massive stone corridors.
Even the students looked different.
Older.
Sharper.
Dangerous.
By the time Lyra finally reached the assigned training hall, her survival instincts had fully activated.
The massive doors stood partially open.
Voices echoed from inside.
And the moment she stepped through-
silence briefly followed.
Lyra stopped near the entrance instinctively.
The hall itself was enormous.
Large enough to fit multiple combat arenas beneath towering ceilings lined with glowing rune formations. Weapons rested along nearby walls while second-year students occupied different sections of the room casually.
Most of them looked terrifying.
Tall.
Broad-shouldered.
Armed.
Several students turned toward her immediately.
And suddenly-
Lyra felt exactly like a small animal that had accidentally wandered into a predator's den.
Wonderful.
She quietly adjusted her hoodie before taking another step inside.
A few students exchanged amused looks.
One of them laughed softly.
"Why's she hiding under that hood like a frightened mouse?"
Another voice replied lazily afterward.
"Maybe because your face is ugly enough to traumatize first-years."
Scattered laughter erupted instantly across the room.
Lyra looked toward the source of the second voice.
Seren.
He leaned casually against one of the nearby training barriers with his arms crossed, looking entirely entertained already.
Then he noticed her properly.
"Oh," he said lightly. "You actually came."
For some reason-
Lyra immediately felt slightly relieved after seeing him.
Which was deeply concerning.
Because he opened his mouth again immediately afterward.
"You genuinely look like a lost child that wandered into a battlefield."
There it was.
The relief vanished instantly.
Was I seriously comforted after seeing this guy?
That realization alone felt too shocking for Lyra.
Seren pushed himself away from the barrier before walking toward her casually.
"Relax," he said. "You're standing there like everyone's preparing a public execution."
Lyra glanced around the hall.
"That still feels possible."
"Fair point."
Several nearby students were still openly staring at her.
Mostly because:
she was a first-year, she was the dual-affinity student, and she looked painfully out of place among the second-years.
Seren noticed immediately.
"They won't bite," he said casually before pausing slightly. "Probably."
"That's not reassuring."
"It wasn't meant to be."
Before Lyra could respond again, another familiar figure approached from nearby.
Kaelan.
Unlike the others, he carried himself calmly even inside the noisy training hall.
"You made it," he said simply.
Lyra nodded once.
"You recommended it afterall ," she replied. "It would've been awkward if I never showed up."
"Don't worry," Seren interrupted immediately. "That would've been entertaining too."
Kaelan ignored him effortlessly.
Seren looked disappointed.
"That was an incredibly normal conversation. You people are ruining my enjoyment."
"No one asked for your enjoyment," Kaelan replied calmly.
"Kaelan senior, I'm genuinely happy that you are here, it gives me a sense of encouragement" Lyra admitted before realizing she actually meant it.
Both of them looked slightly surprised.
Meanwhile, Lyra noticed something else.
Kaelan was wearing combat training gear despite technically belonging to the magic division.
"You really attend both sections," she observed.
"A portion of them," he corrected calmly.
Seren immediately pointed dramatically toward him.
"Kaelan is a fraud."
"That sounds inaccurate."
"He's technically a magic student," Seren continued shamelessly, "but he likes pretending he's mysterious with swords."
Kaelan remained completely unbothered.
"I'm a magic swordsman," he explained toward Lyra instead. "My combat training supports how I use astral techniques. It's different from dual affinity."
Lyra listened carefully.
"My primary focus is still magic," he continued. "But directing astral flow through weapons requires physical conditioning and combat synchronization."
"That sounds complicated," she admitted.
"It is," Seren answered for him. "Kaelan enjoys academic suffering."
"Better than someone who avoids studying entirely," Kaelan replied calmly.
"I study," Seren argued. "Just through experience."
"That sounds like an excuse."
"It's a gift."
Lyra almost sighed.
Almost.
Nearby, another group of second-years entered the hall.
And instinctively-
the atmosphere shifted slightly.
Lyra noticed immediately.
So did Seren.
"Oh," he muttered lightly. "Speaking of emotionally unavailable people."
Lyra followed his gaze automatically.
Erix Valehart stood near the far side of the hall beside several weapon racks.
Tall.
Composed.
Entirely uninterested in human interaction.
Rivan stood beside him enthusiastically talking about something while Erix only half-listened with visible exhaustion.
Even from a distance-
he somehow looked difficult to approach.
Lyra frowned slightly without realizing.
Seren noticed that too.
"You're staring."
"I'm observing."
"That sounds like an excuse"
"It isn't.."
Strangely-
Erix looked up at that exact moment.
Their eyes met briefly across the hall.
And immediately-
Lyra remembered why she disliked him already.
That same cold expression.
That same unreadable gaze.
Like he silently evaluated everything around him and found most of it disappointing.
Erix's eyes briefly moved across her combat uniform.
Then toward the training hall.
Then back toward her.
"...You're actually attending second-year combat classes?"
The question itself sounded flat.
But something underneath it irritated her instantly.
Like disbelief.
Like doubt.
Lyra crossed her arms slightly.
"I was given permission."
"I heard that part."
There it was again.
That tone.
Seren immediately looked interested.
Kaelan quietly looked tired already.
Meanwhile, Lyra narrowed her eyes slightly.
"If you have a problem with it," she said calmly, "you can discuss it with the administration."
Rivan looked between them nervously.
Seren looked moments away from enjoying life too much.
Erix remained completely expressionless.
"I'm wondering whether you can keep up," he replied simply.
And somehow-
that irritated her more than outright arrogance would have.
Not because he sounded mocking.
But because he sounded genuinely unconvinced.
Like he had already decided the answer.
Lyra felt her annoyance rise instantly.
"I don't remember asking for your evaluation."
"And I don't remember volunteering for extra responsibility if you collapse during training."
Silence.
Oh.
That was worse.
Much worse.
Because somehow-
he still sounded calm.
Which made it infinitely more irritating.
Seren slowly turned toward Kaelan.
"...This is already becoming entertaining."
Kaelan closed his eyes briefly like someone enduring unavoidable disaster.
Meanwhile-
Lyra officially decided she disliked Erix Valehart.
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Thank you for reading!
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Lyra's first day in the second-year combat class has officially begun... and Erix already seems convinced she won't last.
Do you think their rivalry will make them stronger, or just create even more problems?
See you in the next chapter!