Chapter 30 - No time to prepare
One week passed.
Much faster than Lyra would have liked.
Classes continued.
Combat training continued.
And every evening—
"So."
Erix stood with his arms crossed.
"Again."
Lyra raised her hand.
Astral energy gathered around her fingers.
She guided it carefully.
Slowly.
Steadily.
Just as he had taught her.
Control.
Flow.
Shape.
A faint outline shimmered before her.
For a heartbeat—
It held.
Then the outline rippled.
Collapsed.
And disappeared.
Silence.
Lyra lowered her hand.
"...Sorry."
Erix shook his head.
"Don't apologize."
He stepped closer.
"What happened?"
"...I lost it."
"When?"
She thought for a moment.
"...When I tried to give it form."
Erix nodded.
"Again."
Lyra inhaled.
Astral energy flowed through her pathways once more.
This time she didn't rush.
She let the current move naturally.
The outline appeared again.
Fainter than before.
Unstable.
Her breathing slowed.
She concentrated.
Just a little more—
The construct shattered into countless particles.
Lyra closed her eyes.
"..."
"...Better."
She looked up.
"...Really?"
"It lasted longer."
"...Only for a second."
"A second is longer than before."
He crouched to pick up one of the wooden practice swords lying nearby.
Without warning—
He swung.
Lyra's eyes widened.
Instinct.
Her body reacted before her mind could.
She raised her own sword.
Clang.
The impact echoed across the training ground.
For the briefest instant—
Astral energy reinforced the blade.
The wood didn't crack.
It held.
Erix stopped immediately.
"...There."
Lyra blinked.
"...What?"
"You did it."
She stared at her sword.
"I..."
"I didn't..."
"You reinforced it."
"...I wasn't trying to."
"I know."
Silence settled between them.
Lyra looked at the sword in her hands.
She hadn't even noticed.
It had happened on instinct.
Not by choice.
Not consciously.
Erix sighed.
"Your body remembers."
"..."
"Your mind doesn't."
Her fingers tightened around the hilt.
The familiar weight settled inside her chest.
The invisible wall.
Still there.
Still refusing to move.
Erix rested the practice sword on his shoulder.
"That's enough for today."
"...Already?"
"You've reached your limit."
Lyra nodded.
"...Thank you."
As she turned to leave—
"Lyra."
She looked back.
"You've made progress."
She remained silent.
"You don't believe me."
"..."
"I know."
Erix smiled faintly.
"But progress doesn't disappear just because it feels small."
...
She wanted to believe him.
She truly did.
Yet every night ended the same way.
Every attempt.
Every failure.
Every step forward felt so small that it vanished beneath everything she still couldn't do.
The following morning arrived quietly.
Sunlight filtered through the dormitory window.
Amy stretched lazily.
"...Morning."
"Morning."
Lyra had already finished getting dressed.
"You really do wake up early every day."
"I've become accustomed to it."
Amy yawned.
"I envy that."
"You shouldn't."
"Hm?"
"It means I've had less sleep."
Amy laughed.
"...Fair point."
Breakfast passed peacefully.
Students chatted about assignments.
Weekend plans.
Combat classes.
Lyra listened without really listening.
Her thoughts drifted back to the previous evening.
A second
It had lasted a second.
Longer than before.
Perhaps...
Perhaps she truly was improving.
Just slowly.
Very...
Very slowly.
The academy corridors buzzed with unusual excitement.
Groups of students gathered outside classrooms.
Some reviewed notes.
Others compared spell formulas.
Several carried unusually serious expressions.
Amy glanced around.
"...Everyone seems nervous."
"They do."
"I wonder why."
Lyra looked around as well.
She couldn't think of anything scheduled for today.
Perhaps another announcement.
Or an inspection.
As they turned the corner—
She noticed something.
Students weren't walking toward their usual classroom.
Instead—
They were heading toward one of the academy's larger practical halls.
Amy slowed.
"...Oh."
"What is it?"
"I forgot today's class was moved."
"Moved?"
"Mm."
She pointed ahead.
"The practical halls."
Lyra tilted her head.
"...Practical?"
Amy frowned.
"...Didn't you hear Professor Aldric?"
"...No."
Amy laughed softly.
"You really were asleep."
"...Probably."
"You somehow slept through the entire announcement."
"I remember sitting down."
"I remember you snoring."
"I do not snore."
"You absolutely do."
"I breathe enthusiastically."
Amy burst into laughter.
"I can't believe you just said that."
They continued walking.
Students streamed past them.
Most looked focused.
Some looked anxious.
Others quietly rehearsed incantations beneath their breath.
Lyra watched them.
"...Why is everyone preparing?"
Amy blinked.
"...Because of the practical."
Lyra stopped walking.
"...Practical?"
Amy turned.
"...Yeah?"
"...What practical?"
Amy's smile slowly faded.
"...The Astral Materialization Test."
...
Silence.
Lyra stared at her.
"...Today?"
Amy frowned.
"...Yes."
"...Today."
The words echoed inside her mind.
Today.
Her heartbeat stumbled.
"No..."
Amy tilted her head.
"...Lyra?"
"I..."
She looked toward the practical hall.
Students continued entering.
Professor Aldric wasn't there yet.
There was still time.
Wasn't there?
"...No..."
Amy stepped closer.
"What's wrong?"
Lyra's lips parted.
No words came out.
She had slept through it.
Completely.
The announcement.
The explanation.
Everything.
She had planned—
If there had ever been a practical...
She would speak with the professor beforehand.
Explain her condition.
Ask...
Anything.
Anything that would avoid—
"...Lyra?"
She looked at Amy.
For the first time since arriving at the academy—
Fear showed plainly on her face.
"I..."
"I can't take this test."
Amy blinked.
"...What?"
"I can't."
"...Why not?"
Lyra lowered her eyes.
"...Because..."
She swallowed.
"I can't perform Astral Materialization."
Amy laughed.
"...Good one."
Lyra didn't answer.
"..."
Amy waited.
"...Lyra?"
Still nothing.
The smile disappeared from Amy's face.
"...You're joking..."
"No."
Amy searched her expression.
Nothing.
No teasing smile.
No awkward laugh.
Only quiet panic.
"...Wait..."
"You mean..."
"I've never successfully materialized an astral construct."
Amy's eyes widened.
"...What?"
The words escaped louder than she intended.
Several nearby students turned toward them.
Lyra noticed immediately.
Too late.
Amy lowered her voice.
"...You've... never?"
Lyra slowly shook her head.
"Not once."
Amy stared.
Unable to process what she'd just heard.
"You..."
"You train with Erix every evening."
"I do."
"And you're..."
She hesitated.
"...You're a dual-affinity mage."
"...Yes."
"So how..."
"I don't know."
"..."
"I've tried."
Every day.
Every night.
Every lesson.
Every failure.
"I just..."
"I can't."
Amy felt her thoughts collide.
None of it made sense.
Not a single part.
Her roommate.
Her closest friend.
The girl she'd proudly defended whenever people questioned the rumors surrounding the dual affinity...
Couldn't perform the most fundamental technique every first-year student learned.
"...Why..."
Her voice barely rose above a whisper.
"...Why didn't you tell me?"
Lyra couldn't answer.
She simply lowered her head.
Around them—
The hallway had grown quieter.
A few curious students glanced their way before pretending not to.
But pretending wasn't enough.
The whispers had already begun.
And neither of them noticed the figure approaching from the end of the corridor.
Professor Aldric.
He carried a register beneath one arm.
Completely unaware that, within moments, the examination he was about to supervise would become something neither he—nor the entire class—would ever forget.
And for Lyra, there was no turning back.
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Thank you for reading!
Lyra has spent the past week training every evening, slowly making progress... but sometimes, life has terrible timing.
And now, the practical exam has arrived.
What do you think will happen next?
Will Professor Aldric let Lyra explain her situation, or is she about to face the exam unprepared?
I'd love to hear your predictions in the comments!
As always, thank you for reading, voting, and supporting Valestra. See you in the next chapter!
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