Chapter 35 - What Remains
The afternoon sun had begun its slow descent.
Long shadows stretched across the academy grounds as students drifted toward the dormitories in small groups.
Some headed for the library.
Others made their way to the training fields.
Life at Valmere Academy continued as though nothing had happened.
Only for a few people...
Everything had changed.
...
Amy walked aimlessly through the stone pathways.
She wasn't trying to reach the dormitory.
Or the cafeteria.
Or anywhere at all.
Her feet simply carried her forward.
Her conversation beneath the maple tree replayed endlessly inside her mind.
"Why didn't you tell me?"
"I'm sorry..."
"I can't."
"I don't know how."
"I've tried..."
Amy closed her eyes.
She could still see Lyra standing in front of her.
Her hands trembling.
Her voice breaking.
The fear in her eyes.
It hadn't looked like someone making excuses.
It had looked...
Real.
"...Why?"
Amy whispered to herself.
"I just wanted to understand..."
She had gone there wanting answers.
Instead...
She had come away with even more questions.
...
Without realizing it, she wandered into one of the academy's quieter courtyards.
A small fountain rested beneath a cluster of flowering trees.
The gentle sound of flowing water echoed softly through the empty space.
Amy sat on the stone edge surrounding the fountain.
She stared at the water.
Minutes passed.
She didn't move.
"...You're an idiot."
A weak laugh escaped her.
"I was so sure..."
"So sure I'd finally get the truth."
She rested her elbows on her knees.
Instead...
She remembered Lyra desperately trying to speak.
Opening her mouth.
Only for silence to answer.
Amy lowered her head.
"...Why did you look so scared...?"
Her voice trembled.
"I wanted to be angry."
"I really did."
"But..."
A tear slipped onto her hand.
"...I couldn't."
She quickly wiped it away.
Another followed.
Then another.
"I don't even know what I'm crying about."
"I'm hurt."
"I'm angry."
"I'm worried."
She laughed softly through her tears.
"...Can't you make anything easy?"
The quiet courtyard answered with nothing but the sound of water.
...
"...Amy?"
She froze.
Quickly brushing her eyes, she looked up.
Lucian stood at the entrance of the courtyard.
For once...
There wasn't the slightest trace of his usual playful grin.
"...Didn't go well?"
Amy gave a small shake of her head.
Lucian walked over.
He sat beside her.
Neither too close.
Nor too far.
He didn't ask what had happened.
He already knew.
Silence settled between them.
The fountain continued to trickle softly.
After several moments...
Amy spoke first.
"...She couldn't tell me."
Lucian listened.
"I asked her why."
"I asked her why she hid everything."
Amy stared into the rippling water.
"...She tried."
"I know she tried."
"But..."
"She couldn't say anything."
Lucian lowered his gaze.
"I've never seen someone look that frightened."
Amy's voice became quieter.
"It wasn't like she didn't want to answer."
"It was like..."
"The words wouldn't come."
Neither of them spoke.
Finally...
Lucian let out a slow breath.
"...Then maybe..."
"It isn't something she can explain."
Amy looked toward him.
"I know."
"And that makes me feel even worse."
She hugged her knees.
"If she had lied..."
"I could've stayed angry."
"If she had ignored me..."
"I could've walked away."
She looked back at the fountain.
"But she didn't."
Lucian nodded quietly.
"I know."
Another silence followed.
Neither tried to fill it.
After a while...
Lucian smiled faintly.
"You know..."
"I think you're the first person she's ever wanted to tell."
Amy looked at him.
"What makes you think that?"
"Because she tried."
He shrugged.
"Someone who doesn't trust you..."
"Wouldn't even do that."
Amy thought back to Lyra's trembling voice.
To the way she'd desperately searched for words that never came.
A quiet sigh escaped her.
"...Maybe."
Lucian looked up at the evening sky.
"You don't have to forgive her today."
"You don't even have to understand everything."
He smiled.
"But..."
"You don't have to figure it all out by yourself either."
Amy blinked.
Then...
For the first time that afternoon...
A tiny smile appeared.
"...Thanks."
Lucian grinned.
"There."
"I was wondering where that smile went."
Amy rolled her eyes.
"Don't ruin it."
"I'll do my best."
A small laugh escaped her.
Weak.
But genuine.
...
From the covered walkway above the courtyard...
Seren slowed his steps.
He had been looking for Amy.
Instead...
He found Lucian sitting beside her.
Neither of them spoke very much.
They simply sat together.
Amy looked calmer than before.
Seren smiled to himself.
"...Good."
There was no reason to interrupt.
He quietly turned away.
"...Seren!"
He looked back.
Elias jogged toward him.
"There you are."
Seren waited.
Elias scratched the back of his neck awkwardly.
"...Have you seen Amy?"
Seren nodded.
"I have."
"I heard about what happened."
Elias hesitated.
"...I was worried."
"I thought maybe I should check on her."
Seren glanced back toward the courtyard.
Amy and Lucian were still talking quietly.
He looked back at Elias.
"...She's talking with someone."
"Oh."
Elias smiled awkwardly.
"...Maybe that's better."
"I don't want to interrupt."
Seren nodded.
"I think she'd appreciate a little time."
"...Yeah."
Elias adjusted the strap of his bag.
"If you see her later..."
"...Could you tell her I was looking for her?"
"I will."
"Thanks."
With a small wave...
Elias continued toward the dormitories.
Seren watched him disappear into the distance.
Then he glanced toward the courtyard one last time.
Amy seemed...
Lighter.
Not because everything had been solved.
But because she no longer carried it alone.
Satisfied...
Seren slipped his hands into his pockets.
"...She'll be alright."
With that...
He continued down the corridor.
Elsewhere...
Lyra wandered through the academy without a destination.
Her feet moved on their own.
One corridor.
Then another.
Past the Combat Division.
Down the familiar stone staircase.
Only when she stopped before a familiar wooden door...
Did she realize where she was.
The private training hall.
Her hand rested on the handle.
For several seconds...
She simply stared at it.
Then slowly pushed the door open.
The hall was empty.
Golden evening light poured through the tall windows.
Practice swords rested neatly against the wall.
Wooden dummies stood silently in their usual places.
Everything looked exactly as it always had.
Except...
There was no one waiting for her.
Lyra stepped inside.
The door closed softly behind her.
She walked to the center of the room.
"...I'm early..."
The words slipped out instinctively.
Silence answered.
She stood there for a long moment.
Waiting.
Only then...
Did she remember.
Erix had left on his mission.
Yesterday.
"...Right..."
She lowered her gaze.
The hall suddenly felt much larger than before.
A quiet creak echoed behind her.
The door opened once more.
Mrs. Bradmore stepped inside.
She looked at Lyra.
Then at the untouched practice swords.
She understood immediately.
"...You came to train."
Lyra nodded softly.
"...Yes."
Mrs. Bradmore walked toward the weapon rack.
She picked up two wooden swords.
Holding one out...
She said,
"...He'd be disappointed if you skipped today's training."
Lyra accepted the sword.
For the first time since leaving the maple tree...
Her grip steadied.
Mrs. Bradmore smiled faintly.
"I'm not here to replace Erix."
She stepped back toward the wall.
"...Show me what he taught you."
Lyra looked down at the practice sword.
Then slowly walked to the center of the hall.
She took her stance.
Raised the blade.
And swung.
The sound of wood cutting through the air echoed across the empty room.
Again.
And again.
And again.
Outside...
The sun dipped below the academy walls.
Inside the quiet training hall...
For the first time...
Lyra continued training without waiting for someone to tell her what came next.