The air after combat class always carried a sting of iron and sweat. Gray left the training courtyard, his hands still faintly trembling from the sparring match. He had caught glimpses of Lucian watching him during the session again—always from the corner of his eye, always expressionless. When the class ended, Lucian slipped through one of the side corridors without a word. That alone was enough for Gray to follow.
The corridors were quiet at this hour, the sound of footsteps softened by the red-gold light pouring in through the tall windows. Lucian walked ahead, posture relaxed, his hands in his pockets as if he had nowhere important to be. But every so often, he would glance toward the glass, catching his own reflection, and Gray could swear there was the faintest curve of a smile.
Lucian stopped by an empty chamber — one of the older ones, used for private lessons or duels. The door creaked as he stepped in. Gray waited a moment before entering, his heartbeat quickening. The place was dim, dust rising in the slanted light from the windows. Cracks ran along the floor tiles, and scorch marks from past training matches streaked the walls. Lucian stood near the center, as though he had expected Gray all along.
"You can come out," Lucian said without turning.
Gray froze for a second, then walked forward slowly. "You knew I was here?"
"You're not very subtle, Gray. Then again, I doubt you meant to be." Lucian turned to face him, his usual lazy grin back in place. "So. What is it? Did I offend you somehow?"
Gray kept his distance. "Don't play dumb with me. You know exactly what."
Lucian raised an eyebrow. "Do I? I have no idea what your talking about, honestly."
"Don't bullshit me, you've been stalking me. Sending your little helpers to take care of me."
"That's a strange thing to accuse someone of you know that Gray? And why would I be stalking you?"
"Say it," Gray said. "What is it you want from me?"
Lucian smiled faintly, stepping closer. His voice was soft but carried easily in the silence. "Maybe I'm just curious. Maybe I don't want anything. You and I both know why I'm after you. There's no reason to hide it, really."
Gray's pulse quickened. "You sick bastard... I knew something sbout you was off the moment I set my eyes on you."
Lucian chuckled as he clapped his hands. "I must applaud you Gray, not many people see it on first sight. But the same can be said about you. I can tell just from a glance, your not like the others...not at all."
Gray took another step forward, the tension in the air thick enough to feel. "What are you trying to say?"
Lucian's smile lingered, but something behind it cracked. His tone shifted, the playful edge flattening into quiet menace. "You really don't understand, do you, Gray?" he said softly. "You keep chasing answers you shouldn't, as if chasing a ghost."
Gray's jaw tightened. 'Does he know about the Apple? The whispers?'
Lucian stepped closer, the air around him seeming to still. "For your own sake," he whispered, "stay away from the others. Stop pretending you belong here. Accept what's coming to you."
Gray's pulse quickened. "And if I don't?"
Lucian's expression hardened, the faint glow in his brown eyes deepening until they were almost black—then slowly, unnaturally, bleeding into a dark red. "Then you'll die trying to find your answers." he said. "And trust me, Gray… it's not worth it."
The words hung in the air like frost. Gray felt the temperature drop, a biting cold pressing against his skin and crawling into his chest. For a heartbeat, the world around them seemed muted, color fading, the light bending away from Lucian's presence.
Then, as if nothing had happened, Lucian turned his back. "Enjoy your little preparations," he said lightly. "You won't get far."
Gray didn't respond. It was like he couldn't. The warmth slowly returning to the room, leaving only that echoing chill and the faint smell of iron lingering behind.
Lucian brushed past him, the faintest whisper of Vyre stirring in his wake. "Be careful what you chase, Gray. Sometimes what looks back isn't kind."
Ashe walked by, Gray caught him scratching his neck. But he failed to catch what exactly was there. Lucian's steps were loud and echoing.
The door creaked shut behind him, leaving Gray standing in the empty room. The torchlight flickered against the cracked walls, and for a moment, the shadows seemed to stretch toward him like reaching hands. He exhaled slowly, forcing the thought away.
When he finally left the room, the corridors felt colder. His steps echoed faintly as he made his way toward the eastern wing, where Seraphine usually worked. He needed to see someone steady, someone who understood him. Someone to trust.
He found her door slightly open.
At first glance, the room looked like it had been overturned by a storm. Books lay scattered on the floor, papers torn and crumpled. A half-shattered glass flask glimmered beneath a table, leaking faint blue residue. The familiar scent of her incense was overwhelmed by something sharper—smoke, maybe, or burnt Vyre.
"Miss...Seraphine?" Gray stepped carefully between the mess.
She was kneeling by her desk, gathering papers into neat stacks. Her usual composure was cracked at the edges—her hair slightly unkempt. When she looked up, her voice was calm but distant. "Don't step there. The floor's still unstable."
Gray stopped. "What happened here?"
"My assistant happened." She set down the papers with a soft thud. "He's...gone. Vanished without a trace."
Gray lowered his head. "It can't be...was he..."
"On a corpse of the man from the library. The exact burn mark was on his back. I just never noticed, not until it was too late." She gestured to a torn note on her desk. Ignoring Gray's question. "By the time I figured it out, he was long gone. Took some of my research files with him. Nothing critical, but still."
Gray's brow furrowed. "What was he researching?"
"Vyre resonance stability. He handled most of the archival work. But… there was something else. He always asked questions about you, Gray."
The air seemed to still. "About me?"
"Yes. About your tests, your strain readings, your progress." She met his eyes. "I thought it was harmless curiosity. But now I'm not sure. He wasn't who I thought he was."
Gray knelt, picking up a stray parchment. The ink was smeared, but he could make out faint runic patterns—spirals, fractured circles, and a symbol that matched what he had seen on Lucian's face. His pulse thudded in his ears. "Seraphine… there's another thing...Lucian he..."
Just then, a large dining noise was heard. Followed by a deep voice. One Gray recognized as the Council Head. The older one.
"All fresh strained, please report to the assembly hall. I repeat, please make your way to the assembly hall." The voice cut off.
"Assembly?"
She stood, dusting off her hands. "They're gathering everyone in the main hall again. Important announcement, must be."
Gray sighed and slowly made his way out. "I'll tell you later, I should make my way. Goodbye."
Seraphine nodded and closed the door behind him.
Gray walked down the ocrridors in silence. His thoughts tangled and heavy. The corridors were emptier than before, the faint hum of Vyre lines in the walls almost inaudible. The Academy felt quieter, thinner —as if something unseen had drawn breath and was waiting to exhale.
By he time he reached the great hall, most of the students were already assembled. The massive chamber stretched high, banners of deep blue and silver hanging from the arches. It was the same place where Gray had first arrived not long ago, when everything had still felt strange but safe. Now the air carried a different weight.
An old man stood at the dais, his expression grim. A ripple of whispers ran through the students before silence settled.
"Students," he began, his voice resonant and measured, "your time of study and peace will soon be interrupted once more. In three days, the next expedition will commence."
A murmur spread like wildfire. Gray felt his heart skip, even though he knew it was coming. Hearing the words still chilled him to the core.
"This expedition," the Director continued, "will be similar to your last. No information regarding the destination or nature of the territory will be provided beforehand. This is to ensure fairness of preparation and test adaptability. You will move in designated teams, under supervision, but expect no direct guidance once the field operations begin."
The hall buzzed with uneasy energy.
"Furthermore," the Director said, "a review of internal security is underway. Certain irregularities have been discovered within our ranks." His eyes flicked briefly toward Seraphine in the crowd. "For now, I ask for composure. Focus your preparations, and do not let rumors guide your actions."
Lucian stood near one of the pillars at the edge of the room, silent among the crowd. He didn't look at Gray directly, but Gray could feel it—that faint pull of attention, sharp as a thread drawn taut.
As the Director's speech ended and the hall began to disperse, Gray lingered near the back. The conversations around him blurred together—fragments of speculation, excitement, fear. He barely heard them.
Something brushed past him—a voice, low and amused. "The expedition will sort evrything out, Gray."
When he turned, Lucian was already gone.
Gray stood there for a long time, the torches flickering against the high stone walls. The air seemed thinner, like the whole Academy was holding its breath again. He didn't know whether the coming expedition would reveal the truth he sought—or bury it for good.
And as he left the hall, the last thing he saw was the faint pattern of a fractured sun glowing where Lucian had stood, already fading into shadow.