Chapter 26 - New Method
The next day morning-
The rumors had become even worse.
Lyra didn't understand how.
At this point, she wasn't sure she wanted to.
The academy seemed capable of creating information from absolutely nothing.
Which was impressive but a bit more concerning.
She entered the cafeteria.
Immediately regretted it.
Two nearby students stopped talking.
Another table suddenly became very interested in staring at their food.
Lyra sighed.
"There they are."
Amy sounded delighted.
"Who?"
"The observers."
Lyra sat down.
"You have a name for them."
Amy ignored her.
"Today's rumor is my favorite."
"There are daily rumors?"
"There are schedules."
Lyra stared.
Amy nodded seriously.
"Very organized people I think they will become journalist at this rate..."
Lucian appeared from nowhere.
As usual.
"Good morning."
"No."
Lucian sat down anyway.
"Did you hear the newest one?"
Lyra lowered her forehead onto the table.
"Why do I feel like I'm about to scream if I hear?"
"Because you are."
Amy pointed dramatically.
"Apparently the slap was part of a lovers' argument."
Silence.
Then—
"What?"
Lucian nodded.
"That's the version I heard too."
Lyra slowly considered jumping out the nearest window.
The temptation was growing stronger every day.
The rest of the day passed uneventfully.
Classes.
Notes.
Assignments.
Students pretending not to stare.
Normal.
Unfortunately.
Then evening arrived.
Training.
Lyra found herself standing outside the training hall.
Again.
The last time she had entered—
Everything had changed.
The memories.
The panic.
The slap.
A small part of her still hesitated.
The door opened.
Erix stood inside.
His expression remained unchanged.
"You plan on staying out there?"
Lyra immediately walked inside.
The door closed behind her.
The training hall felt quieter than usual.
Perhaps because she remembered too much.
The circular formation still remained etched into the floor.
Lyra deliberately avoided looking at it.
Erix noticed.
Of course he noticed.
He always notices everything.
Fortunately—
He said nothing.
Instead, he crossed the room.
Picked up two wooden practice swords.
And tossed one toward her.
Lyra barely caught it.
"What is this?"
"A new method."
That explained absolutely nothing.
Erix stepped into the center of the room.
"Synchronization is not the only path toward astral development."
Lyra immediately paid attention.
"There are other methods."
"Such as?"
Erix raised his practice blade.
"This."
Before she could question him further—
He attacked.
Lyra nearly dropped the sword.
The impact jolted through her arms.
"What was that for?"
"You were distracted."
"That's not an answer."
"It is."
"No."
"Yes."
Lyra hated this conversation.
Erix seemed completely unbothered.
"As of today, we'll stop focusing on synchronization."
Relief appeared before she could hide it.
Erix noticed.
Naturally.
Yet he simply continued.
"You've been trying to force awareness."
Lyra frowned.
"What does that mean?"
"You're trying to feel astral flow."
"Isn't that the point?"
"No."
That was unexpected.
Erix lowered his sword slightly.
"Combat comes first."
For a moment—
His gaze remained fixed on hers.
"The body learns faster than the mind."
The words lingered.
Then—
"Again."
Training began.
Hours later—
Lyra was exhausted.
Completely exhausted.
Erix called it training.
Lyra called it abuse.
The difference seemed largely in skill as well as the physical abilities.
Still—
She couldn't deny something.
The new method felt different.
No synchronization.
No strange memories.
No panic.
No fear.
Just movement.
Instinct.
Reaction.
For the first time in days—
She left the hall without feeling dread.
And somehow—
That felt like progress.
The evening sky had begun turning gold.
Students crossed the academy grounds.
Returning to dormitories.
Finishing classes.
Living normal lives.
Lyra was halfway across the courtyard when she noticed them.
A group of second-years.
Standing beneath a large tree.
Talking quietly.
At their center stood a young woman.
Long blonde hair.
Elegant posture.
Confident.
The sort of person who drew attention without asking for it.
Several nearby students greeted her as they passed.
The woman responded politely.
Then—
Her gaze shifted.
Toward Lyra.
Only briefly.
Yet somehow—
It felt deliberate.
Lyra frowned.
The woman simply smiled.
A small smile.
Polite.
Perfect.
Then returned to her conversation.
Weird.
Very weird.
Lyra continued walking.
The next person she encountered was Amy.
Which somehow made things worse.
Amy looked toward the group.
Then immediately stopped walking.
Her expression changed.
Gone was the usual amusement.
Gone was the teasing.
For the first time all day—
She looked genuinely annoyed.
Lyra blinked.
"Amy?"
No response.
Amy continued staring.
Lyra followed her gaze.
The blonde woman.
Again.
"Do you know her?"
Amy's answer arrived immediately.
"I do."
That was fast.
Suspiciously fast.
Before Lyra could ask anything else—
Lucian appeared.
Again.
Nobody knew how he kept doing that.
Lucian looked between them.
Then followed their gazes.
His eyes landed on the blonde woman.
Then returned to Amy.
Then back to the woman.
Then Amy again.
A pause.
"Aha."
Amy immediately pointed.
"No."
"I didn't even say anything."
"I know that look."
"What look?"
"That look."
Lucian looked offended.
"I have many looks."
"You have one."
"I don't."
"You do."
Lucian ignored her.
Instead—
He glanced toward the blonde woman again.
Then back toward Amy.
It became interesting since Amy looked annoyed.
And the blonde woman—
The moment she noticed Amy watching—
Smiled.
Not warmly.
Not coldly.
Just knowingly.
Which somehow felt worse.
Lucian's curiosity doubled instantly.
Possibly tripled.
Far across the courtyard—
Vivienne Evercrest watched the three people.
Interesting.
The rumors surrounding Lyra had caught her attention.
But that wasn't what interested her now.
No.
Her gaze settled briefly on Amy.
Then on Lucian.
The boy was observant.
More observant than most.
That could become troublesome.
Or useful.
Either was possible.
Vivienne turned away.
The conversation behind her resumed.
Yet as she walked—
A small smile touched her lips.
It seemed things at the academy were becoming far more fascinating.
And for the first time—
Lucian found himself wondering exactly why Amy disliked Vivienne Evercrest.
Something told him the answer would not be simple.