Chapter 29 - Forgotten Announcement
Lyra was tired.
Not the normal kind of tired.
Not the kind that disappeared after a meal or a nap.
This was the kind of exhaustion that came from spending several weeks being dragged through reinforcement exercises, combat training, magical theory classes, and Amy Valen's existence.
Mostly Amy Valen's existence.
"...And therefore, reinforcement output must remain stable throughout the practical examination."
Professor Aldric continued speaking from the front of the classroom.
Lyra blinked slowly.
Practical examination?
That sounded important.
Probably.
Unfortunately, her body had already decided that consciousness was optional.
"...Teams will be assigned before the assessment. Any student unable to maintain the astral construct for the required duration will receive deductions."
A student nearby groaned.
Several others immediately began whispering.
Apparently it was important.
Lyra made a sincere effort to pay attention.
A very sincere effort.
Then—
Her eyes closed.
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"...Lyra."
Nothing.
"...Lyra."
Still nothing.
"...Lyra."
Something struck her shoulder.
Not hard.
Just enough.
Lyra opened one eye.
The classroom was empty.
Mostly.
Amy stood beside her desk holding a textbook.
"...Class ended?"
"Ten minutes ago."
"I see."
"You were sleeping."
"I was resting."
Amy looked unconvinced.
"Through the entire announcement."
"..."
"..."
Lyra stood.
"Was it important?"
Amy stared at her.
That was answer enough.
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The afternoon sun hung high above Valmere Academy.
Students filled the courtyards and walkways.
Most conversations seemed strangely similar.
Practicals.
Assessments.
Teams.
Strategies.
Panic.
Lots of panic.
Lyra ignored all of it.
Amy did not.
"You really slept through everything."
"I was tired."
"You missed an entire explanation."
Lyra thought about that.
"That sounds unfortunate."
"It is unfortunate."
Lyra nodded.
Then immediately returned to reading.
Amy stared.
"...That's it?"
"What?"
"You're not even curious?"
"If it becomes important, you'll tell me."
Amy looked personally betrayed.
"Manipulative."
"Efficient."
"That's worse."
"Learning from the best."
Amy tried very hard not to look pleased.
She failed.
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Eventually they settled beneath a large tree overlooking the courtyard.
A peaceful location.
Quiet.
Comfortable.
Far away from professors.
Unfortunately—
Not far away enough from Lucian and Seren.
"What do you mean that's not normal?"
Amy sounded offended.
Lyra didn't even look up from her book.
"Nobody creates a chart for cafeteria desserts."
"It wasn't a chart."
"It was a chart."
"It was data collection."
"You ranked pudding."
"It deserved ranking."
"It was pudding."
Amy pointed accusingly.
"That attitude is exactly how civilizations collapse."
Lyra lowered her book.
"...Civilizations."
"Yes."
"Because of pudding."
"Because of standards."
"You need help."
Amy gasped.
"That's rude."
"It's accurate."
"It's slander."
"It was a chart."
"It was an important chart."
Lyra sighed.
There was no saving this conversation.
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A short distance away—
Lucian found himself looking in Amy's direction.
Again.
Not intentionally.
At least—
That was the explanation he intended to use.
Unfortunately, Seren existed.
"Oh."
Lucian immediately regretted hearing that word.
"What?"
Seren's grin slowly appeared.
"Nothing."
That was a lie.
A terrible lie.
Lucian knew it.
Seren knew it.
Neither acknowledged it.
"You've been looking over there a lot."
"I haven't."
"You have."
"I haven't."
"You definitely have."
Lucian ignored him.
A mistake.
Seren only became stronger when ignored.
"Interesting."
"What is?"
"You."
Lucian sighed.
"I hate that tone."
"I know."
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As if sensing danger—
Amy suddenly looked up.
Directly toward them.
Their eyes met.
A pause.
Then Amy narrowed her eyes.
Immediately suspicious.
"Why are you staring at me?"
"I wasn't."
"You were."
"I wasn't."
"You were."
"I was looking at the tree."
Amy looked upward.
Then back at him.
"The tree."
"Yes."
"The tree I'm sitting under."
"..."
Amy pointed dramatically.
"Suspicious."
"It isn't."
"It is."
"It isn't."
"It definitely is."
Before Lucian could continue—
Seren betrayed him.
Without hesitation.
"He has been staring for several minutes."
Traitor.
Amy gasped.
"Oh my gods."
"It isn't what you think."
"That sentence has never helped anyone."
Even Lyra looked interested now.
Which somehow made everything worse.
Amy crossed her arms.
"So."
"So?"
"Why were you staring?"
Lucian opened his mouth.
Then paused.
Because strangely enough—
He genuinely didn't know.
Amy immediately noticed.
"You don't even have a reason."
"I do."
"You don't."
"I do."
"You really don't."
Amy nodded.
"Weirdo."
Then she turned back toward Lyra.
As if nothing had happened.
Lucian remained standing there.
Slightly stunned.
"What just happened?"
"You lost."
"I didn't lose."
"You absolutely lost."
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Later—
As the sun slowly began disappearing beyond the academy walls—
Lucian and Seren walked through the grounds.
For nearly a minute, Seren remained silent.
Which was deeply concerning.
Then—
"So."
There it was.
Lucian sighed.
"What now?"
"You never told me."
"Told you what?"
"The archive incident."
Silence.
Seren's grin widened.
"Oh."
"No."
"Oh yes."
"No."
"You knew about the patrol records."
"..."
"You knew about the documents."
"..."
"You knew where it happened."
Lucian immediately tried to smack the back of Seren's head.
Unfortunately—
Seren wasn't Rivan.
He sidestepped effortlessly.
The attack missed.
"Violence."
"You deserve it."
"You accidentally admitted everything."
"I know."
Seren looked delighted.
"So let me get this straight."
"Seren."
"You found Amy."
"Seren."
"Alone."
"Seren."
"At night."
"Seren."
"Near the archives."
"Seren."
"Holding confidential documents."
"It wasn't like that."
"It sounds exactly like that."
"It wasn't."
"Oh, it absolutely was."
Lucian suddenly understood Amy's desire to throw textbooks at people.
It felt surprisingly reasonable.
surprisingly
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Thank you for reading!
I have a very important question.
At what point does "accidentally looking in someone's direction" become "staring"?
Asking for a certain second-year student.
No particular reason.
Feel free to share your verdict in the comments.
See you in the next chapter!
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