Chapter 43 - The Seat Beside Her
Morning settled over Valmere Academy with its usual rush.
Students crossed the courtyard in groups, some still finishing breakfast while others hurried toward their classrooms before the bells.
Lyra walked through the familiar corridors with her bag over one shoulder.
Her steps were steady.
Her hoodie remained folded inside her bag.
She hadn't felt the need to put it on.
The thought was strange enough that she almost stopped to consider it.
Instead, she kept walking.
The doors to the Magic Division classroom were already open.
Students were settling into their usual seats, voices filling the room with scattered conversations.
Lyra stepped inside.
Her eyes moved instinctively toward the rows near the windows.
And stopped.
Amy was already there.
She had placed her bag on the seat beside her.
The moment their eyes met, Amy smiled.
"Lyra."
She lightly tapped the empty chair.
"Come sit."
Lyra stood there.
She had expected this moment.
Somewhere.
At some point.
She just hadn't expected it to feel so difficult.
It was only a chair.
Only Amy.
Only sitting beside the person she had known how to talk to before everything became complicated.
And yet Lyra suddenly had no idea what to do with her hands.
"...Okay."
She walked over.
Amy moved her bag to the floor.
Lyra sat.
Then she straightened.
Then adjusted her sleeves.
Then looked at the desk.
Then at the board.
Then back at the desk.
Amy watched her for a few seconds.
A tiny smile appeared on her face.
Lyra noticed.
"...What?"
"Nothing."
"...You're smiling."
"I am."
"Why?"
Amy rested her chin on her hand.
"You look nervous."
"I'm not."
"You are."
"I'm not."
"You've adjusted your sleeve three times."
Lyra immediately stopped touching it.
"...It was uncomfortable."
"Sure."
Lyra looked away.
She felt ridiculous.
This was worse than facing a combat instructor.
At least with a sword, she knew what she was supposed to do.
Amy leaned slightly closer.
"You can relax."
Lyra nodded.
"...I'm trying."
"I know."
That somehow made it worse.
A few seats ahead, someone whispered.
"Are they sitting together?"
"I thought they weren't talking."
"I heard Amy moved out of their room."
"Really?"
"So they made up?"
"I guess so."
Lyra heard every word.
Her fingers tightened slightly around the edge of the desk.
A few days ago, she would've lowered her head.
Pulled her hood up.
Pretended not to hear.
But she didn't.
She simply looked toward the students whispering behind them.
Her faded amber eyes met theirs.
The conversation stopped.
One student immediately looked down at their notes.
Another suddenly became very interested in the window.
Lyra turned back.
Amy had seen it.
She didn't say anything.
She only smiled faintly.
There was something different about Lyra.
The girl who once hid beneath her hood whenever attention became too much was sitting there with her face uncovered, listening to every whisper without shrinking away.
Amy felt something warm settle in her chest.
She was proud of her.
And Lyra...
Lyra noticed the way Amy had looked at her.
She didn't need to ask what it meant.
Then another whisper came from behind.
"I can't believe she's sitting with her again."
Amy's expression changed.
Only slightly.
She turned her head.
One sharp look.
Nothing more.
The student immediately went quiet.
Lyra stared at Amy for a moment.
Then something soft settled inside her.
There she was.
Her protector.
Not because Lyra couldn't defend herself anymore.
Not because she needed someone to stand between her and everyone else.
Amy simply...
Stayed.
The thought made Lyra's chest ache in a strangely pleasant way.
She looked toward the front of the classroom.
I have my protector with me.
A pause.
She always was.
The professor entered before either of them could say anything else.
"Good morning."
The classroom gradually settled.
Books opened.
Chairs shifted.
The lesson began.
Lyra listened.
Or at least tried to.
Her attention kept drifting toward the person sitting beside her.
Amy was taking notes.
Her handwriting was slightly messy whenever the professor moved too quickly.
Every now and then, she would glance sideways.
Their eyes would meet.
And Amy would smile.
Nothing dramatic.
Nothing that needed an explanation.
Just...
Normal.
Lyra lowered her gaze to her notes.
A small smile touched her lips.
Maybe this was what she had been missing.
Not some grand apology.
Not a perfect conversation.
Just having someone beside her again.
When the bell finally rang, chairs scraped against the floor.
Students began gathering their books.
Amy stretched her arms.
"Are you hungry?"
Lyra looked at her.
"...A little."
"Good."
Amy stood and picked up her bag.
"Lunch?"
Lyra hesitated for half a second.
Then nodded.
"...Together?"
Amy smiled.
"Obviously."
They left the classroom side by side.
The whispers followed them into the corridor.
But this time...
Neither of them cared.
---
The cafeteria was already crowded by the time they arrived.
Amy led Lyra toward their usual section.
Lyra followed quietly.
She glanced around the room.
Nothing had really changed.
The same tables.
The same noise.
The same students pretending not to stare.
Yet somehow...
It felt different.
Amy placed her tray down.
"Sit."
Lyra sat.
Amy took the seat beside her.
For a moment, neither spoke.
Then Amy pushed one of the side dishes toward Lyra.
"You like this."
Lyra looked at it.
"...You remembered."
"Of course."
Lyra stared at the food for a moment.
Then quietly smiled.
"...Thanks."
Amy smiled back.
And just like that...
Lunch began.
Not as strangers trying to repair something broken.
Not as two people carefully measuring every word.
Just Amy and Lyra.
Sitting beside each other again.