The corridor was quiet.
Tap…
Tap…
Tap…
Their footsteps echoed against the cold stone walls.
Moonlight slipped through the tall windows, stretching long shadows behind them.
Neither spoke.
Lyra walked ahead.
Iren followed.
After turning past the west wing, they stepped outside.
Cool night air brushed against their faces.
The open training ground behind the academy building lay silent — silver under the moon.
---
Iren stopped.
"…What made you bring me here?"
Lyra didn't turn immediately.
For a moment, only the wind answered.
"…Nothing important," she said quietly. "I just wanted to know something."
Iren tilted his head slightly.
"Know what?"
Now she faced him.
Her eyes were sharp.
"When we fought… and you said you wouldn't give up no matter what it takes…"
She paused.
"…That struck me."
Iren didn't react.
"You were injured. Exhausted. Cornered."
Her gaze tightened.
"Yet you didn't hesitate."
A faint breeze passed between them.
"I want to know," Lyra continued, "what makes you like that? In your toughest situations… why do you refuse to give up?"
---
Silence.
The moonlight touched Iren's face.
He looked away.
"…It's because of my training."
"With your master?" Lyra asked softly.
"…Yeah."
She stepped closer.
"What did you go through… to become like this?"
Iren's shoulders stiffened.
"…That's none of your concern."
Lyra didn't back down.
"Please."
He remained silent.
"Just tell me."
"…No."
"Why?"
"…Because it doesn't matter."
Her voice lowered.
"It matters to me."
The words hung in the air.
Iren closed his eyes briefly.
Tch…
"…You heard during the finals, right?"
She nodded slowly.
"…About my family."
His jaw tightened.
"It's true."
The wind grew heavier.
---
"I was fifteen."
His voice had changed.
Flat. Controlled.
"A group of monsters attacked our village."
His fingers curled slightly.
"They destroyed everything."
Flames. Screams. Smoke.
The memories flickered behind his eyes.
"I was the only one left."
Lyra didn't move.
"I was badly injured. Could barely stand."
He looked at the moon.
"Then… a man appeared."
His voice softened faintly.
"He saved me. Treated my wounds. Took me in."
Lyra whispered—
"…Your master."
"Yeah."
A faint warmth crossed Iren's expression.
"He adopted me. Trained me. Day and night."
Sweat. Bruises. Blisters.
Falling. Rising.
Again. And again.
"I promised him," Iren continued, "that I'd become strong."
His eyes sharpened.
"Strong enough to protect others. So no one else suffers like I did."
Silence.
Lyra stood there as if she had witnessed it herself.
Her fingers tightened slightly.
---
"Then," she said softly.
Iren shook his head.
"No."
"Why?"
"…It's his order."
She blinked.
"Order?"
"I don't speak more about him."
A pause.
Then—
"…Could he train me too?"
Iren froze.
"…What?"
"If he made you this strong… I want to learn from him."
For the first time that night—
Iren looked genuinely shaken.
Aetherion.
No.
He couldn't reveal that name.
"…He's not here anymore."
Lyra's eyes widened slightly.
"…Not here?"
"He's… gone."
The lie felt heavy.
Silence followed.
Lyra's expression dimmed.
Hope flickered out.
"…I see."
The moonlight felt colder.
---
"I'm going back," Iren said quietly.
He stepped past her—
But suddenly—
She moved in front of him.
"Iren."
He stopped.
"…What now?"
"Then you train me."
He blinked.
"…Huh?"
"You trained under him."
Her voice was steady.
"So train me."
Iren stared at her.
"I can barely manage my own training."
"That's fine."
"I'm not a master."
"I don't need a master."
Her eyes were unwavering.
"I need someone who refuses to give up."
Iren opened his mouth—
Closed it.
Opened it again.
"I—I can't—"
"You can."
She stepped closer.
"Please."
The word was quiet.
But firm.
Silence stretched.
Finally—
"…Fine."
Lyra's eyes widened.
"I'll help you train."
For a second—
She didn't react.
Then—
"Really?!"
Before Iren could answer—
She stepped forward impulsively and wrapped her arms around him.
Thump.
Iren froze.
"…W-What are you—?!"
His entire body stiffened.
Brain stopped functioning.
Is this real?
He didn't move.
Didn't breathe.
Then—
"L-Leave me!"
He whispered urgently. "If someone sees—"
Lyra snapped back instantly.
Her face turned red.
"I—I'm sorry!"
She stepped away at lightning speed.
"That was stupid! I didn't mean— I just—"
She looked down, flustered.
Iren rubbed the back of his neck awkwardly.
"…Tomorrow."
She looked up.
"Same time. Battle arena."
Lyra nodded quickly.
"Thank you."
Her voice was genuine.
---
Iren turned and began walking back toward the hall.
In his mind—
Such a silly girl…
When we fought, she didn't seem like this at all.
He exhaled lightly.
I hope no one saw that.
---
From the upper floor of the academy building—
Three silhouettes stood near a window.
Riven leaned against the wall.
"…Well."
Sylven adjusted his glasses slightly.
"…Interesting."
Kael crossed his arms.
"I didn't expect that."
Riven smirked.
"So… five minutes, huh?"
Below—
Iren continued walking, unaware.
The moon remained silent.
But the academy… was not.
---