Chapter 47 - Before the Weekend
The training hall was quieter than usual that afternoon.
Lyra stood across from Erix, wooden sword in hand.
They had already gone through several rounds, and the rhythm between them had settled into something familiar.
Strike.
Block.
Counter.
Reset.
Again.
At the edge of the training floor, Riven had claimed a spot for himself.
He was lying on his back, one arm tucked behind his head, lazily spinning a practice sword between his fingers.
He had been there for quite some time.
He had contributed absolutely nothing.
Lyra glanced toward him after another exchange.
"Are you planning to train today?"
Riven didn't open his eyes.
"I'm supervising."
"From the floor?"
"Best position for observation."
Erix lowered his sword slightly.
"You're wasting time."
Riven opened one eye.
"I'm conserving energy."
"You're lying down."
"Exactly."
Lyra shook her head.
"You're unbelievable."
Riven smiled.
"I've been told."
Erix looked at him for a moment before turning back toward Lyra.
They resumed.
A few more exchanges passed before Lyra stepped back and lowered her sword.
"Erix."
"Hm?"
"I won't be here on Saturday."
Erix nodded.
"Okay."
Lyra waited.
Nothing.
She looked at him.
"...That's all?"
"You said you wouldn't be here."
"I thought you'd ask why."
"Why?"
Lyra stared at him for a second.
"...Never mind."
From the floor came an immediate voice.
"Wait."
Riven sat up.
"You're leaving?"
Lyra turned toward him.
"Yes."
"On Saturday?"
"Yes."
Riven looked at Erix.
"You're just letting her?"
Erix gave him a blank look.
"Why wouldn't I?"
Riven slowly stood.
"I'm asking because this is your training partner."
Lyra folded her arms.
"I'm also a person who happens to have weekends."
Riven looked at her.
"Since when?"
"Since always."
"Interesting."
"What's interesting?"
"You suddenly discovering free time."
Lyra narrowed her eyes.
"I've always had free time."
"Not according to your schedule."
"My schedule isn't your concern."
"True."
Riven nodded.
Then added,
"But it does look suspicious."
Lyra sighed.
"Why are you making this into a problem?"
"I'm not."
"You are."
"I'm simply trying to understand why you'd willingly miss training."
"Because I have somewhere to be."
Riven glanced at Erix.
"See? This is serious."
Erix said nothing.
Riven turned back to Lyra.
"Where?"
"I'm going into town."
"Why?"
"Shopping."
"For?"
Lyra hesitated.
Riven immediately noticed.
"Oh."
"What?"
"Nothing."
"You're making that face again."
"What face?"
"That one."
Riven smiled.
"I don't have a face."
"You have several."
"That's impressive."
Lyra rolled her eyes.
"For the Freshers' Party."
Riven nodded.
"So you are taking it seriously."
"Not really."
"You're going shopping."
"Yes."
"For clothes."
"Yes."
"For the party."
"Yes."
Riven looked at her.
"And you're saying you don't care."
"I don't."
"Right."
Lyra narrowed her eyes.
"Stop saying 'right' like that."
"I'm not saying anything."
"You're clearly saying something."
Riven shrugged.
"Maybe I just find it interesting."
"What?"
"That you suddenly care about what you're wearing."
"I didn't say I cared."
"Then why are you shopping?"
"Because I need something to wear."
"You have clothes."
"Not for a party."
Riven considered that.
"Fair."
Lyra looked almost relieved.
Then he added,
"So who's the dress for?"
Lyra stared at him.
"...What?"
"You heard me."
"It's for me."
"Obviously."
"Then why did you ask?"
"Just checking."
She gave him a suspicious look.
Riven's grin widened.
"Unless there's someone you're trying to impress."
"No."
"Someone you want to notice you?"
"No."
"A boyfriend?"
Lyra's expression flattened.
"No."
"Future boyfriend?"
"Riven."
He laughed.
"Fine."
Lyra shook her head.
"You sound like Seren."
Riven's smile vanished.
He looked genuinely offended.
"Don't compare me to him."
Lyra raised an eyebrow.
"Why?"
"Because I have standards."
A pause.
Then Riven shuddered dramatically.
"I would pay money to see Seren's face if he heard you say that."
Lyra almost smiled.
"You're ridiculous."
"I prefer entertaining."
"You're not."
"That's cruel."
"I'm going with Amy, Mina, Celia and Nora."
Riven nodded.
"Ah."
Lyra immediately knew that tone.
"What?"
"So that's the group."
"Yes."
"The one you made after everything with Amy?"
Lyra's expression softened slightly.
"They're my friends."
Riven looked at her for a moment.
Then shrugged.
"Didn't say they weren't."
Lyra stared at him.
"Then why did you ask?"
"Because I was curious."
"You could've just asked."
"Where's the fun in that?"
Lyra sighed.
"There."
She pointed toward him.
"That's exactly why you sound like Seren."
Riven looked offended again.
"I take that back."
"You can't."
"I just did."
"Too late."
Riven opened his mouth to argue.
Then stopped.
He felt it.
A stare.
Directly at the back of his head.
He didn't turn immediately.
His shoulders stiffened slightly.
"...Why do I suddenly feel like someone's trying to stare a hole through my head?"
Lyra blinked.
"What?"
Riven slowly turned.
Erix stood several steps behind him.
His expression hadn't changed.
Calm.
Unreadable.
But his eyes were fixed on Riven.
Riven stared back.
One second.
Two.
Then he turned around again.
"...Nothing."
Lyra frowned.
"You just said—"
"I changed my mind."
"About what?"
"Everything."
She looked at him suspiciously.
Riven lowered his voice.
"I think I've talked enough."
Lyra glanced behind him.
Erix was still standing there.
She looked back at Riven.
"...Did Erix say something?"
"No."
"Then why did you suddenly become quiet?"
Riven rubbed the back of his head.
"Instinct."
Lyra frowned.
"You're strange."
"Thank you."
"That wasn't a compliment."
"I'll take it anyway."
Erix finally spoke.
"Are you finished?"
Riven looked at him.
"...Yes."
"Good."
Lyra picked up her bag.
"I'll see you tomorrow."
Erix nodded.
"Okay."
She started toward the doors.
Riven called after her.
"Don't forget something for me."
Lyra stopped and looked back.
"What?"
"Bring me something."
"Why?"
"You're going to town."
"So?"
"You could bring your favorite sibling a gift."
Lyra stared at him.
"Since when are you my favorite?"
Riven placed a hand over his chest.
"That's hurtful."
"You have never been my favorite."
"Then why do you keep talking to me?"
"Unfortunately, I don't have a choice."
Riven grinned.
"See you Saturday."
"I'm not seeing you Saturday."
"Exactly."
Lyra shook her head and walked out.
The doors closed behind her.
Silence settled over the hall.
Riven glanced toward Erix.
Erix was putting the practice swords back in their rack.
Riven waited.
Then—
"You really weren't going to ask where she's going?"
"No."
"Not even curious?"
"No."
Riven nodded slowly.
"You're boring."
Erix shut the rack.
"You're still here."
Riven paused.
"...Fair."
He picked up his own sword.
"So, are we training now?"
Erix looked at him.
"No."
"Why?"
"Because you spent the last half hour lying on the floor."
Riven frowned.
"I was supervising."
"You were sleeping."
"I was supervising with my eyes closed."
Erix started toward the door.
"Come on."
Riven followed.
"Where?"
"Class."
Riven sighed.
"Right."
They disappeared into the corridor.
Lyra had barely made it halfway across the academy grounds when another voice stopped her.
"Ashbourne."
She turned.
Professor Aldric was approaching from the opposite walkway; a thin file tucked beneath one arm.
Lyra straightened slightly.
"Professor."
"I need to update you regarding your evaluation."
Her expression shifted.
She already knew what he meant.
Aldric stopped a few steps away.
"The examination body has finalized the rescheduled evaluation."
Lyra waited.
"When?"
"After the Freshers' Party."
Her gaze lowered for a moment.
So it was finally coming.
Aldric continued.
"I've already raised the concerns surrounding your case. The Headmistress is aware, and the faculty members involved have been informed."
Lyra remained quiet.
"We've also received Mrs. Bradmore's observations regarding your recent progress."
Her eyes lifted.
"Reinforcement?"
"Yes."
Aldric glanced briefly toward the training hall behind her.
"Your recent combat sessions have been reported."
Lyra didn't know what to say.
"You've made measurable progress."
The words sounded strange.
She hadn't thought of her training as anything more than training.
"But that doesn't change the requirement for your Materialization evaluation."
Lyra nodded slowly.
"I still have to take it."
"Correct."
"And if I can't materialize?"
Aldric paused.
"Then the academy will have to remove you from the Materialization track."
The words settled heavily.
Lyra's fingers tightened around the strap of her bag.
"But I can continue with Reinforcement."
"Yes."
Aldric's answer came without hesitation.
"Your progress there is sufficient for you to continue."
Lyra exhaled quietly.
At least there was still a path forward.
Aldric closed the file.
"You have until the examination."
"How long?"
"Not long after the party."
Lyra nodded.
She understood.
The Freshers' Party wasn't the end of anything.
It was simply what came before it.
Aldric gave her a final nod.
"That's all."
He turned and walked away.
Lyra remained where she was.
Her Astral Materialization still frightened her.
That hadn't changed.
But her Reinforcement had.
She looked down at her hand.
A faint sensation of Astral still lingered beneath her skin.
Something that had once felt impossible.
Something she was finally beginning to control.
Maybe that meant something.
Maybe it didn't.
Either way...
The examination was coming.
And this time, she couldn't avoid it.
Riven really knows how to make a training session entertaining ??
And Erix's stare was enough to finally make him remember he had somewhere else to be.
But more importantly... Lyra's evaluation is officially back on the calendar.
After everything she's been through, she finally has a little time to prepare—but can she face the
part of Astral that still scares her?