Chapter 48 - A Day out
Saturday morning arrived quietly.
The academy grounds were noticeably calmer than usual.
Most students had taken advantage of the weekend to sleep in, study, or simply disappear from the dormitories.
Lyra stood near the main entrance with her bag hanging from one shoulder.
She checked the time.
Then looked around.
No one.
She sighed.
A familiar voice came from behind her.
"You're early."
Lyra turned.
Amy was approaching with a small smile, her hair loosely tied behind her.
"You're late."
Amy looked at the clock.
"I'm two minutes late."
"Still late."
Amy stared at her.
"...You've been spending too much time with Erix."
Lyra looked away.
"I've been told."
Amy laughed.
Then another voice called from across the courtyard.
"Wait!"
Mina came hurrying toward them, carrying a small handbag and looking far too energetic for this early in the morning.
Behind her walked Celia at a much calmer pace.
She had her usual composed expression, her glasses catching the morning light as she adjusted the strap of her bag.
Nora followed a few steps behind them.
She looked exactly as she usually did.
Quiet.
Reserved.
Almost expressionless.
Almost.
Her eyes kept drifting toward the town road beyond the academy gates.
Lyra noticed.
"Are you excited?"
Nora immediately looked at her.
"...No."
Mina turned around.
"She is."
"I'm not."
"You've looked at the road six times."
Nora's expression remained perfectly calm.
"I was checking the surroundings."
Celia adjusted her glasses.
"She was."
Nora looked relieved.
Celia continued.
"Every thirty seconds."
Nora's relief disappeared.
"...Celia."
Mina burst out laughing.
Amy covered her mouth, trying not to laugh too loudly.
Even Lyra felt the corner of her mouth lift.
Nora looked at all of them.
"...I don't understand what's funny."
"Nothing," Celia replied.
"Everything," Mina corrected.
Nora sighed.
Lyra looked at her.
"You really are excited."
A tiny pause.
"...Maybe."
It was barely audible.
But Lyra caught it.
She smiled.
"Good."
Nora looked at her for a moment before quietly smiling back.
Mina clapped her hands.
"Alright! Everyone's here."
Celia immediately checked them.
"Amy."
"Here."
"Lyra."
"Here."
"Mina."
"Obviously."
"Nora."
Nora raised one hand.
"Here."
Celia nodded.
"Good."
Mina stared at her.
"Why are you checking us like we're going on a field trip?"
"Because someone forgot their wallet last time."
Mina pointed at Amy.
"That was one time."
"It was yesterday."
"...Still one time."
Amy laughed.
Lyra watched them quietly.
It was strange.
Not unpleasant.
Just strange.
A few weeks ago, she would have never imagined standing at the academy entrance with four girls, waiting to spend the weekend together.
Now...
It somehow felt normal.
"Are we going?" Mina asked.
Celia sighed.
"Yes."
Mina immediately started walking.
Amy followed.
Nora hesitated for half a second before going after them.
Lyra remained where she was.
Amy noticed.
"Lyra?"
Lyra looked up.
Amy smiled.
"Come on."
Lyra nodded.
"Coming."
The walk toward the town was quieter at first.
The academy walls gradually disappeared behind them as the road opened toward Asteron's busier streets.
Mina was the first to break the silence.
"So."
Mina clasped her hands behind her back as they walked.
"What are we buying?"
"Something appropriate for the party," Celia answered.
Mina groaned.
"You're making it sound like we're attending a meeting."
"We're attending an academy event."
"Exactly. We need to look good."
Amy laughed.
"I thought you said you weren't taking it seriously."
"I changed my mind."
Lyra glanced at Nora.
"What about you?"
Nora looked ahead.
"I already know what I want."
Mina immediately turned toward her.
"Of course you do."
Nora blinked.
"...What?"
"Don't tell me you've already chosen another one of those."
Nora's cheeks turned slightly pink.
"It's a normal dress."
"You said that last time."
"It is."
"With the corset?"
Nora became quiet.
Mina grinned.
"See?"
Celia sighed.
"Leave her alone."
"I'm not doing anything."
"You are."
"I'm just reminding everyone that Nora has very specific taste."
Nora looked away.
"...I like the style."
Amy smiled.
"We know."
Lyra nodded.
"It's nice."
Nora glanced at her.
"...You think so?"
"Yeah."
A small smile appeared on Nora's face.
Mina immediately pointed at her.
"There! She smiled!"
Nora's expression disappeared.
"I didn't."
"You did."
"No."
"You absolutely did."
Celia shook her head.
"Can we please reach the town before Mina starts another argument?"
"I'm not arguing."
"You've been arguing since we left."
Mina thought about it.
"...Fair."
Lyra couldn't help smiling.
She glanced at Nora again.
The girl was still trying to hide her amusement.
She wasn't very good at it.
And somehow...
That made Lyra smile even more.
By the time they reached the town, the streets were already lively.
Small shops lined both sides of the road.
Students from the academy mixed with ordinary townspeople, and the sound of conversations blended with the occasional passing carriage and street vendor calling out from nearby.
Mina immediately looked around.
"There!"
She pointed toward a clothing shop.
Celia caught her by the sleeve.
"Not yet."
"Why?"
"We haven't even decided where we're going."
"That one looks good."
"You said that about the last three."
"Exactly. I'm consistent."
Amy laughed.
Lyra smiled faintly.
Then—
She stopped.
Her smile disappeared.
Amy noticed almost immediately.
"Lyra?"
Lyra didn't answer.
Her eyes were fixed on the other side of the street.
An elderly woman sat beneath the awning of a small shop.
Silver-white hair framed her weathered face.
A faded shawl rested around her shoulders.
She was watching the passing crowd quietly.
Lyra knew that face.
She had seen it before.
Long before the academy had become familiar.
Back when she had been standing alone on an unfamiliar road, unsure which direction to take.
The woman who had pointed her toward Valmere Academy.
Lyra's steps slowed.
The old woman lifted her head.
Their eyes met.
For a moment, neither moved.
Then the woman's lips curved into a small smile.
"You found your way after all."
Lyra's eyes widened slightly.
"...You remember me?"
The old woman gave a quiet chuckle.
"Some faces are difficult to forget."
Amy looked between them.
"You two know each other?"
Lyra hesitated.
"She helped me once."
"Ah."
The old woman looked at Lyra again.
"You looked rather lost that day."
"I was."
"You don't look lost anymore."
Lyra didn't know how to respond.
Her gaze drifted toward the four girls waiting behind her.
Amy.
Mina.
Celia.
Nora.
The old woman followed her gaze.
A knowing smile touched her face.
"It seems you found your way quite well."
Something warm settled quietly in Lyra's chest.
She nodded.
"...I think so."
Mina waved from a few steps away.
"Lyra! Are you coming?"
Lyra turned.
"Yeah."
She looked back toward the old woman.
"Thank you."
The woman simply smiled.
"Enjoy your day."
Lyra nodded.
Then crossed the street to join the others.
Mina immediately hooked her arm through hers.
"What took you so long?"
"I met someone."
"Who?"
"Someone I knew."
Mina looked disappointed.
"That's all?"
Lyra glanced at her.
"Yes."
"You're becoming mysterious."
"I'm not."
"Definitely mysterious."
Celia sighed.
"Leave her alone."
Amy smiled.
"Come on. We have shopping to do."
The five girls continued down the street.
Lyra walked with them.
After a few steps, she glanced back.
The old woman was still beneath the awning.
But she wasn't watching them anymore.
Her gaze had shifted toward the distant academy.
Lyra followed her eyes.
The academy walls stood far beyond the town streets.
For a brief moment...
That strange uneasiness returned.
A faint pressure settled somewhere beneath her ribs.
Lyra frowned.
Then Mina tugged at her arm.
"Come on!"
Lyra looked back at the girls.
The feeling disappeared.
She followed them.
The conversation quickly returned to clothes, shoes, and accessories.
Mina wanted something dramatic.
Celia wanted something practical.
Amy wanted something that actually suited her.
Nora quietly offered occasional opinions while pretending she wasn't interested.
And Lyra mostly listened.
But every now and then...
She found herself joining in.
At one point, Nora stopped in front of a shop window.
Her expression barely changed.
But her eyes lingered on the display.
Lyra noticed.
"...You found something."
Nora immediately looked away.
"I didn't."
"You did."
"No."
Lyra smiled.
"Let's go look."
Nora hesitated.
Then quietly nodded.
Mina turned around.
"Why did you two stop?"
Lyra pointed toward the shop.
"Nora found something."
Nora's face reddened.
"I did not."
Mina's eyes lit up.
"Oh, this is going to be fun."
Celia sighed.
"Please don't scare her."
"I'm not!"
Amy laughed.
"Let's just go."
The five girls crossed the street together.
Lyra walked beside Nora.
For once...
She wasn't thinking about training.
Or rumors.
Or examinations.
Or the strange uneasiness that had followed her since returning from the expedition.
She was simply walking.
With friends.
And somehow...
That was enough.
Author's Note:
A little break from all the academy chaos. ????
Lyra finally gets a proper day out with the girls... and somehow, Nora's dress preferences become the main event. ??
And yes... that little encounter with the old woman was intentional.