Chapter 52 - One Day Away
By Tuesday morning, Valmere Academy barely resembled itself.
The Freshers' Party was tomorrow.
And apparently, the entire academy had decided that meant nobody was allowed to behave normally.
Students rushed through the corridors carrying decorations.
Someone had enchanted a collection of ribbons to float above the main entrance.
A group of second-years were arguing loudly over the placement of a stage banner.
And somewhere in the distance...
Music was already playing.
Lyra walked through the corridor beside Amy.
She looked up at the floating decorations.
"...It's gotten worse."
Amy smiled.
"...Better."
"...Worse."
"You're the only person I've met who can make decorations sound unpleasant."
"They're everywhere."
"That's usually how decorations work."
Lyra glanced at her.
"...You seem excited."
"I am."
Amy's smile widened.
"...Tomorrow."
Lyra sighed quietly.
"...You've said that six times."
"Because tomorrow is important."
"It's a party."
"Exactly."
Before Lyra could respond, Mina appeared from around the corner.
"...There you are!"
Amy immediately looked at her.
"...Why do you sound like you've been searching for us?"
"Because I have."
Mina grabbed Amy's arm.
"...We need to practice one more time."
Amy blinked.
"...Now?"
"Yes."
"We have class."
"After class."
"Mina-"
"And you two are coming too."
Mina pointed at Lyra and Nora, who had just caught up with them.
Nora looked slightly startled.
"...Me?"
"Yes."
"...I don't think I remember all the steps."
"That's why we're practicing."
Celia walked behind them with a stack of papers.
"...She's been planning this since six in the morning."
Mina nodded proudly.
"...Seven."
"She woke me up at six."
"...Details."
Lyra looked at Amy.
"...You agreed to this?"
Amy smiled.
"...I didn't have much choice."
"Exactly."
Mina pulled them toward the activity hall.
"...Come on!"
---
The morning passed quickly.
Classes were shorter than usual because the academy was preparing for the celebration.
Even the instructors seemed to have accepted that keeping everyone's attention was nearly impossible.
By the time Lyra left her afternoon class, students were already filling the corridors again.
She had just stepped outside when a familiar voice stopped her.
"...Ashbourne."
Lyra turned.
Professor Aldric stood near the classroom door.
He held a few papers in one hand.
His expression was as composed as usual.
"...Yes, Professor?"
"You remember the re-examination?"
Lyra nodded.
"...Yes."
"Thursday morning"
"...I know."
"Good."
He glanced at the papers.
"...Be prepared."
Lyra gave a small nod.
"...I will."
She turned to leave.
Then stopped.
Because Amy was staring at her.
So was Mina.
Nora had paused a few steps behind them.
Celia adjusted her glasses.
"...Re-examination?"
Lyra looked at them.
"...Yes."
Mina blinked.
"...What re-examination?"
Lyra glanced back toward Professor Aldric.
He had already walked away.
She sighed.
"...The one for Astral Materialization."
Amy's expression changed.
"...Thursday?"
Lyra nodded.
"...yes"
Mina stared at her.
"...You have an examination and you didn't tell us?"
"It's not really an examination."
"...Professor Altric literally called it a re-examination."
Lyra shrugged.
"...Same thing."
Amy frowned.
"...Lyra."
"I'm fine."
Celia looked at her carefully.
"...What happens if you don't pass?"
Lyra was quiet for a moment.
Then answered simply.
"...I stay in Astral Reinforcement."
Mina blinked.
"...That's it?"
"...That's it."
"And the Materialization Division?"
"...I won't be able to attend those sessions anymore."
Nora looked concerned.
"...So you'd only continue with Combat?"
Lyra nodded.
"...Yes."
Amy stared at her.
"...And you're saying this like it's nothing."
Lyra looked at her.
"...It isn't nothing."
A brief silence followed.
"...But it isn't everything either."
Amy's expression softened slightly.
Lyra looked down the corridor.
"...I knew this was coming."
Mina crossed her arms.
"...But you still want to pass."
"...Of course."
"Then we'll help you."
Lyra looked at her.
"...How?"
Mina pointed toward the activity hall.
"...We're going to practice."
Lyra stared at her.
"...For Astral Materialization?"
"...For the party."
"...That's not helping."
"It will help your mental state."
Celia sighed.
"...She's going to use the party as a motivational tool."
"...It's working already."
"It isn't."
"It will."
Nora quietly smiled.
"...Probably."
Lyra looked at all of them.
Then shook her head.
"...You people are strange."
Amy smiled.
"...You knew that already."
---
By late afternoon, the activity hall was even more crowded.
The stage had finally been decorated.
Floating lights drifted beneath the ceiling.
Students practiced their performances in every available corner.
Mina had somehow convinced the girls to practice their dance again.
Lyra stood at the end of the line.
"...Five, six, seven, eight."
The music started.
This time...
Lyra managed the first sequence perfectly.
Mina looked over.
"...See?"
Lyra kept moving.
"...Don't distract me."
Amy laughed.
The next sequence came.
Lyra turned.
Stepped.
Then-
She went the wrong way.
"...There."
Celia immediately pointed.
"...I knew it."
Lyra stopped.
"...You didn't have to sound pleased."
"I wasn't pleased."
"You looked pleased."
"I was correct."
Mina raised both hands.
"...Again!"
Lyra sighed.
"...Fine."
They started over.
Across the hall, Black Crest were helping with the final decorations.
Riven was standing on a small ladder.
"...Someone move this ribbon."
Seren looked up at him.
"...You're already holding it."
"...That's not the point."
Lucian walked past carrying a box.
"...You're making this harder than it needs to be."
Riven looked down.
"...Then come up here."
"No."
"...Coward."
"I prefer the ground."
Kaelen was arranging the final set of floating lights.
Erix stood nearby, watching the students move around the hall.
His eyes briefly found Lyra.
She was still struggling with the dance.
But she was laughing when Mina complained about her timing.
He looked away.
Seren noticed.
"...You checking whether she's alive?"
Erix glanced at him.
"...She's dancing."
"Exactly."
"...That's worse."
Seren laughed.
"...Fair."
---
Later, as the sun began to lower beyond the academy walls, the girls finally left the activity hall.
Mina stretched her arms above her head.
"...Tomorrow."
Amy smiled.
"...Tomorrow."
Nora looked toward the decorated academy courtyard.
"...It looks beautiful."
Celia nodded.
"...They did a good job."
Lyra followed their gaze.
The floating lights had begun to glow against the evening sky.
Students were still moving around the courtyard.
Laughter echoed between the buildings.
For a moment...
Everything felt normal.
Then Lyra's eyes drifted toward the western side of the academy.
The distant tower stood beyond the other buildings.
Quiet.
Still.
Her steps slowed.
Amy noticed.
"...Lyra?"
Lyra blinked.
"...Nothing."
She looked away from the tower.
"...Let's go."
Amy watched her for a second longer.
Then nodded.
"...Okay."
They continued walking.
Behind the western walls...
Far from the noise of the preparations...
Something struck metal.
Once.
A faint sound.
Almost too distant to hear.
Lyra stopped.
She turned slightly.
Nothing.
The academy remained full of music and laughter.
Tomorrow was the Freshers' Party.
And for everyone else...
That was all that mattered.
Lyra looked ahead.
Then continued walking.