Chapter 44 - The Western Tower
The afternoon passed more quietly than Lyra expected.
By the time the final lesson ended, the academy had settled into its usual rhythm. Students moved between buildings, some heading toward the dormitories while others made their way toward the training grounds.
Lyra walked alongside Nora.
Nora carried her books against her chest, her dark curls tied loosely behind her head. Every few steps, a strand slipped free, and she quietly tucked it back without saying much.
"You have training now?" Nora asked.
Lyra nodded.
"Combat."
Nora glanced toward the western side of the academy.
"That's quite a walk."
"It is."
They continued along the stone path.
The western grounds were quieter than the central courtyard. The farther they walked, the fewer students they passed.
Beyond the training grounds, the academy's outer structures gradually gave way to a stretch of dense woodland.
The western forest.
The area was separated from the academy by reinforced barriers and warning markers. Students weren't permitted to enter without authorization.
Nora slowed slightly.
"I don't like this side of the academy."
Lyra glanced at her.
"Why?"
"It's too quiet."
Lyra looked ahead.
She couldn't disagree.
The noise from the main academy had already faded behind them.
Then a familiar voice reached them.
"Well, look who finally decided to leave the cafeteria."
Lyra stopped.
Seren was walking toward them with the rest of Black Crest.
Kaelen led the group, his dark hair neatly brushed back and his thin, round spectacles catching the afternoon light. Lucian walked beside him, looking as relaxed as ever. Riven had his hands behind his head, while Erix followed slightly behind them.
Seren's eyes moved between Lyra and Nora.
"Oh."
His grin widened.
"So you're not alone today."
Lyra gave him a look.
"Apparently not."
Seren's eyes moved toward Nora.
"Nora, right?"
Nora paused for a moment before giving a small nod.
"...Yeah."
"We've met before."
She nodded again.
"I remember."
That was all.
Nora quietly shifted her books against her chest and stayed beside Lyra.
Seren didn't seem bothered by her silence.
Riven, however, glanced between them.
"You two know each other well?"
"Not really," Nora answered softly.
Lyra glanced at her.
"We're classmates."
Nora gave a small nod.
"And we've talked a few times."
Seren smiled.
"That's enough."
Riven looked at him.
"Enough for what?"
"Nothing."
"You were obviously thinking something."
"I was."
"Then say it."
"No."
Riven frowned.
"Why?"
"Because you'll argue."
"I won't."
"You already are."
Kaelen sighed.
"Can we get to the training grounds without turning this into another argument?"
Seren opened his mouth.
Riven did the same.
Kaelen immediately raised a hand.
"Don't."
Both stopped.
Nora lowered her gaze, hiding a tiny smile.
Lyra noticed.
She couldn't help smiling herself.
Erix glanced at her.
"You find this amusing?"
Lyra looked at him.
"A little."
"That's unfortunate."
Her eyes narrowed.
"You sound like Lucian."
Lucian glanced over.
"I'll take that as a compliment."
"It wasn't."
"I'll still take it."
Seren laughed.
"See? We're making progress."
Lyra shook her head and continued walking.
For the next few moments, the conversation settled into something quieter.
The Freshers' Welcome came up.
Seren immediately complained about how much attention Black Crest would inevitably receive.
Riven argued that no one cared enough to make a fuss.
Lucian disagreed.
Kaelen simply walked ahead, looking increasingly resigned.
Nora mostly listened.
Lyra found herself doing the same.
It was strange.
Not long ago, she would have preferred walking alone.
Now she didn't mind the noise.
Then—
She stopped.
Not gradually.
Completely.
Her eyes had shifted past the others.
Toward the western side of the academy.
Far beyond the training grounds stood an old tower.
It was barely visible from where they were.
A tall, weathered structure of dark stone, partially hidden by the trees.
The Western Tower.
Lyra stared at it.
Something was wrong.
She couldn't explain what.
There was no sound.
No movement.
Nothing visibly different.
Yet something inside her tightened.
Her breathing slowed.
For a moment, the world around her seemed strangely distant.
It felt...
Like being watched.
Not by someone standing outside.
Not even from the tower itself.
Something deeper.
Something that had noticed her.
Lyra's fingers curled slightly.
"Lyra?"
Erix's voice pulled her attention back.
She blinked.
The others had stopped as well.
Kaelen looked at her.
"What happened?"
Lyra didn't answer immediately.
Her gaze returned to the tower.
Erix followed it.
He studied the structure for several seconds before looking back at her.
"What are you looking at?"
Lyra swallowed.
"That tower."
Everyone followed her gaze.
Nora tilted her head.
"Oh."
Lyra looked at her.
"What is it?"
Nora thought for a moment.
"I think it's abandoned."
Riven nodded.
"It is."
Lyra turned toward him.
"You know it?"
"Everyone knows it."
Seren shrugged.
"Old tower. Barely used. It's too far from the main academy."
Lucian added,
"And it's close to the western forest."
"Which makes it a terrible place to build anything important," Riven said.
Kaelen glanced toward the tower.
"The western structures haven't been used in years."
Lyra's eyes remained fixed on it.
"Is there something inside?"
The question slipped out before she could reconsider it.
Silence.
Only for a moment.
But Lyra noticed.
Kaelen's expression remained composed.
Lucian's gaze shifted briefly toward him.
Riven's posture straightened slightly.
Even Seren's smile faded.
Erix simply watched Lyra.
"What makes you ask?" Kaelen said.
Lyra hesitated.
She didn't have an answer.
How could she explain a sensation she couldn't even understand herself?
"I just wondered."
Her gaze lingered on the tower.
"It felt strange."
Kaelen studied her.
"The tower has been abandoned for years."
"Abandoned?"
"That's what I know."
Riven shrugged.
"It's old and too close to the western forest. No one has much reason to use it."
Lyra nodded slowly.
"I see."
She didn't sound convinced.
But she didn't ask anything else.
There was no point.
Not yet.
Whatever she had felt, she couldn't even be certain it had been real.
She turned away from the tower.
"Forget I asked."
Seren's smile returned.
"Done."
They resumed walking.
The conversation moved on.
Lyra didn't bring up the tower again.
But Erix noticed that she didn't look back.
Not once.
That was what made him glance toward it again.
For someone who had supposedly lost interest...
Lyra was trying very hard not to think about it.
And somehow, he doubted that would last.
The training grounds came into view.
Nora stopped near one of the stone pillars.
"I'll go from here."
Lyra nodded.
"See you later."
Nora hesitated before giving her a small smile.
"Good luck."
She turned and headed back toward the main academy.
Lyra watched her leave.
When she turned around again, most of Black Crest had already moved ahead.
Except Erix.
He stood a few steps away, waiting.
Lyra approached.
"You didn't go."
"You weren't coming."
She looked toward the others.
Then back at him.
"...I told them I was mistaken."
Erix's expression didn't change.
"You were."
Lyra frowned.
"You don't believe me."
"I didn't say that."
She studied him.
"I don't know what happened."
Erix waited.
Lyra looked back toward the tower.
"I just..."
She paused.
"I felt something."
"What?"
"I don't know."
She pressed a hand lightly against her chest.
"It was like..."
The words refused to come.
"...Like something was looking at me."
Erix remained silent.
Lyra expected him to dismiss it.
Instead, he looked toward the tower again.
Then back at her.
"Did it happen before?"
Lyra's eyes flickered.
For half a second, she remembered the strange lights she had noticed around the western side of the academy several nights ago.
She didn't mention them.
"I don't know."
Erix studied her.
She wasn't telling him everything.
He didn't push.
"Then don't ignore it."
Lyra looked at him.
"You believe me?"
"I believe you felt something."
That answer was enough.
Erix turned toward the training grounds.
"Come on."
Lyra remained still for another moment.
Her eyes drifted back toward the distant tower.
Nothing moved.
Nothing revealed itself.
Yet that feeling remained.
Faint.
Almost buried.
But there.
She finally followed Erix.
Behind them, the Western Tower stood silent among the trees.
Watching.
Waiting.
And Lyra had no idea why.
Not yet.
A little late, but Chapter 44 is finally here!
I know I said I'd be releasing two chapters a week, and this one was supposed to be out on Monday. Thank you for being patient with me! University has been keeping me busy lately, so I'm still figuring out a schedule that I can actually keep up with.
And now... the Western Tower.
Something tells me Lyra's instincts are going to matter here.
What do you think is waiting there? Let me know your theories!