Chapter 37 - The Line She Couldnt Ignore
The academy was quieter than it had been a few days ago.
The whispers hadn't disappeared.
They had simply become routine.
Students no longer stopped to stare when Lyra passed.
Instead...
They lowered their voices.
Or waited until she had walked by.
It was almost worse.
Amy sat through the morning lectures without hearing a single word.
The professor's voice faded into meaningless noise.
Every now and then...
Her thoughts drifted back beneath the maple tree.
"I can't."
The words echoed in her mind.
She remembered Lyra's trembling hands.
The fear in her eyes.
It hadn't looked like someone making excuses.
It had looked...
Real.
Amy sighed quietly.
"...Then why couldn't you tell me?"
No answer came.
Only silence.
The bell rang.
Students immediately began gathering their books.
Amy remained seated for another moment before slowly standing.
Outside the classroom...
The corridors were already crowded.
Students moved from one lecture to the next in small groups.
Amy walked without paying much attention to where she was going.
"...Amy."
She looked up.
Elias stood a short distance away, a notebook tucked beneath one arm.
He smiled when he saw her.
"I've been looking for you."
Amy blinked.
"...For me?"
"You've been disappearing after every class."
He rubbed the back of his neck.
"I figured I'd see if you were avoiding everyone..."
He paused with a sheepish grin.
"...Or just avoiding me."
Despite everything...
Amy let out a quiet huff.
"I wasn't avoiding you."
"I know."
"You just looked like you needed some space."
His tone was gentle.
No pressure.
No questions.
Just concern.
Amy looked away.
"...Sorry."
Elias shook his head immediately.
"I'm not asking for an apology."
They began walking together down the corridor.
For a while...
Neither of them spoke.
The silence wasn't uncomfortable.
It was simply...
Peaceful.
"You look tired."
Amy laughed weakly.
"Do I?"
"A little."
"I didn't sleep much."
Elias nodded.
"I guessed."
He didn't ask why.
Instead...
He looked out one of the corridor windows.
"The weather's nice today."
Amy looked at him.
"...That's a strange thing to say."
"It is."
"But I figured talking about homework wasn't going to help."
That earned the faintest smile.
"...Thanks."
"For what?"
"For... not asking."
Elias smiled.
"When you're ready..."
"You'll tell someone."
"If you want to."
Amy looked at him for a long moment.
"...You're patient."
"I've been told I'm stubborn."
"I think they're similar."
Amy couldn't help smiling a little more.
As they turned the corner toward the central courtyard...
Several familiar voices drifted across the stone pathway.
"...Seriously?"
"I still don't understand why Professor Bradmore keeps her in the second-year class."
Another student shrugged.
"Maybe because of Erix."
A girl shook her head.
"I doubt it."
"I heard she only beat Darius because he underestimated her."
Someone laughed.
"Really?"
"That's the story now?"
Amy slowed her steps.
Elias noticed.
"...Amy?"
She didn't answer.
Her attention remained fixed on the group gathered beneath one of the large oak trees.
Among them stood two girls Amy recognized immediately.
They often followed Vivienne around the academy.
Vivienne herself wasn't there.
But somehow...
Her name still found its way into the conversation.
"Vivienne was right."
One of the girls sighed.
"It's just disappointing."
"I thought Erix finally found someone worthy of training."
Another nodded.
"So did I."
"I almost admired her."
A boy folded his arms.
"Honestly..."
"If she couldn't even use Astral Materialization..."
"Why keep pretending?"
Another student shrugged.
"Maybe she liked the attention."
A few students chuckled.
Amy's fingers slowly tightened around the strap of her bag.
Elias quietly glanced at her.
He could see the change in her expression.
One of the girls continued.
"I just feel bad for Erix."
"He spent all that time training her."
"And for what?"
Another student added,
"If I were him..."
"I would've given up weeks ago."
Someone else laughed.
"Maybe he just pitied her."
The group laughed together.
Amy stopped walking.
Completely.
Elias stopped beside her.
"...Amy."
She still didn't move.
One of the students finally noticed her.
"...Oh."
"Amy."
The conversations quieted.
Another girl smiled awkwardly.
"You heard us?"
Amy met her eyes.
"...I did."
The girl hesitated.
Then forced a laugh.
"I mean..."
"You know how people talk."
Another student shrugged.
"It's not like we're saying something wrong."
After all...
"You and Lyra aren't exactly together anymore."
Silence.
Everyone waited.
Certain Amy would simply walk away.
Or perhaps...
Agree.
Instead...
Amy quietly asked,
"...How do you know?"
The group blinked.
"...Know what?"
Amy took one slow step forward.
"...How do you know she wanted attention?"
No one answered.
"...How do you know Erix pitied her?"
Still nothing.
"...How do you know any of the things you've been saying?"
The smiles slowly disappeared.
Amy's voice remained calm.
But every word carried unmistakable weight.
"You weren't there."
"You don't know what happened."
"You don't know what she's been through."
The courtyard had fallen completely silent.
Even students passing nearby had slowed to watch.
Amy looked from one face to another.
"...So stop pretending you do."
The courtyard fell silent.
Amy's words lingered in the air.
No one spoke for several long seconds.
One of the girls finally folded her arms.
"...We're just saying what everyone else is saying."
Amy met her gaze.
"...Exactly."
The girl frowned.
"...What?"
"Everyone keeps repeating the same story."
"But no one actually knows if it's true."
Another student spoke up.
"She admitted she couldn't perform Astral Materialization."
"I know."
Amy didn't deny it.
"I was there."
The student looked relieved.
"Then what's the problem?"
"The problem..."
Amy took a slow breath.
"...is that you've turned one fact into a hundred lies."
The group exchanged uncertain glances.
One boy clicked his tongue.
"We're not making things up."
"No?"
Amy asked quietly.
"You said Erix only trained her because he pitied her."
"You said she wanted attention."
"You said she pretended."
She looked around at each of them.
"...Which one of you heard her say any of that?"
Silence.
"...That's what I thought."
One of the girls looked away.
"We were only talking."
Amy's voice hardened.
"...Then talk about what you know."
"Not what you imagine."
Another student frowned.
"But she's always hiding things."
Amy froze.
For a brief moment...
The image beneath the maple tree flashed through her mind.
"I can't."
The trembling voice.
The fear in Lyra's eyes.
Amy closed her eyes for the briefest second.
When she opened them again...
Her expression had changed.
"...Maybe she was."
"...Maybe she wasn't."
"I don't know."
She admitted it honestly.
"And neither do you."
The words struck harder than anger ever could.
Because they were true.
No one there actually knew.
They only knew the rumors.
One of the boys muttered,
"...You're defending her?"
Amy was quiet for a moment.
Then she answered.
"...I'm defending what's fair."
"I don't know why Lyra kept it from me."
"I don't even know if I can forgive her yet."
A few students looked surprised.
Amy continued.
"But..."
"That doesn't give any of you the right to decide who she is."
The courtyard remained silent.
Beside her...
Elias hadn't spoken once.
He simply stepped forward until he stood beside Amy.
Not in front of her.
Not behind her.
Beside her.
One of the students looked toward him.
"...Elias?"
He smiled politely.
"...I think she's already said everything that needs to be said."
His voice was calm.
There was no challenge in it.
No hostility.
Just quiet certainty.
No one argued.
The group gradually looked away.
One by one...
They began leaving.
Some looked embarrassed.
Others remained unconvinced.
But none of them continued the conversation.
Within moments...
Only Amy and Elias remained beneath the oak tree.
Amy let out a slow breath.
She hadn't realized she'd been holding it.
"...You okay?"
Elias asked softly.
Amy stared at the ground.
"...I don't know."
"You didn't have to stand there."
"I know."
"...Thank you anyway."
Elias smiled.
"I didn't do much."
Amy gave a small shake of her head.
"...You didn't leave."
He understood what she meant.
Sometimes...
That was enough.
Neither of them noticed...
Just beyond the stone walkway...
A familiar figure stood hidden behind the corner of the academy building.
Lyra.
She hadn't meant to stop.
She had only recognized Amy's voice.
Then...
She'd heard everything.
"...You don't know what she's been through."
"...That doesn't give you the right to decide who she is."
Every word echoed inside her chest.
Her fingers tightened around the books she carried.
She wanted to step forward.
To thank Amy.
To apologize again.
To tell her...
Everything.
But then...
The memory of the maple tree returned.
"I wish you had trusted me."
Lyra's feet refused to move.
She remained hidden.
Watching Amy from a distance.
Amy adjusted the strap of her bag.
"...I think..."
"...I need some time alone."
Elias nodded immediately.
"Of course."
"I'll walk you..."
Amy gently shook her head.
"...Not this time."
There wasn't rejection in her voice.
Only exhaustion.
Elias smiled faintly.
"...Alright."
"If you need me..."
"You know where to find me."
Amy nodded.
"...Thanks."
He watched until she disappeared around the corner before quietly heading back toward the main building.
Several moments later...
Lyra finally stepped out from behind the wall.
The courtyard was empty now.
The breeze stirred the leaves overhead.
She looked toward the path Amy had taken.
"...Amy..."
The whisper barely escaped her lips.
She took one hesitant step forward.
Then stopped.
The distance between them...
Still felt too great.
She lowered her gaze.
"...Thank you."
This time...
No one was there to hear it.
High above...
The afternoon sun slipped behind drifting clouds.
For the first time in days...
The whispers around the academy hadn't been the loudest voices.
Kindness had been.
Even if only for a moment.
And for Lyra...
That moment was enough to remind her...
She hadn't lost everyone.
Author's Note
Finally... Amy took the first step. Sometimes, understanding someone isn't about getting all the answers—it's about choosing to stay. I hope you enjoyed this chapter!