LYRRISE POV...
It was late, and Kaelenna and I were walking together after training. The moonlight washed over the academy grounds, and the silence between us was comfortable.
I let out a small sigh before saying, "You know… I never expected someone like Soryn to be so… attractive. For a man, he's got this sharpness, but also that calm presence. It's almost—"
Kaelenna suddenly burst out laughing, so hard she almost doubled over.
"What?" I asked, blinking in confusion.
"Lyrrise… Soryn's not a man." She grinned wide, shaking her head. "She's a woman. Always has been. She just… well, you know Soryn. She acts tough, carries herself like she owns the battlefield, and her build doesn't exactly scream delicate."
I froze, my cheeks heating up. "Wait—you're serious? But… the way she talks, the way she moves—"
Kaelenna chuckled again, clearly enjoying my embarrassment. "You really thought she was a guy this whole time?"
I covered my face with my hands. "Don't tell her I said anything. Please."
Kaelenna smirked, her eyes sparkling mischievously. "Oh, I won't… but the look on your face is priceless."
I groaned, half dying inside. How could I have gotten that so wrong? No wonder Soryn sometimes gave me that knowing smirk—I must have been the only one in the entire academy who didn't realize.
——
The next day, I tried my best to act normal around Soryn, but the memory of Kaelenna's laughter kept haunting me. Every time I looked at Soryn, all I could hear was "She's a woman, Lyrrise."
I avoided eye contact, focused on sharpening my katana, anything to keep myself busy. But of course, fate hates me.
"Oi, Lyrrise," Soryn's voice cut through the silence. "You've been acting weird since last night. What's your deal?"
My shoulders stiffened. "N-Nothing. Just tired."
Kaelenna smirked from the sidelines, clearly holding back laughter. Deyon was lounging nearby, munching on some fruit, watching the scene like it was the best entertainment he'd had all week.
Soryn tilted her head, arms crossed, muscles flexing under her shirt. "You sure? You've been staring at me like I've got two heads."
Before I could stop her, Kaelenna burst out, "She thought you were a man!"
The room went dead silent. My soul left my body.
Soryn blinked once… then twice… and then a grin spread across her face, sharp and mischievous. "Wait. You thought I—?" She pointed to herself, laughter bubbling up. "You thought I was a guy this whole time?"
I wanted the earth to swallow me whole. "I-I didn't mean— It's just the way you act, and your muscles, and—"
Soryn stepped closer, leaning down until we were eye-level, smirking. "So… you thought I was an attractive man, huh?"
Deyon spat out his fruit, howling with laughter. Kaelenna was doubled over, tears streaming from her eyes. Even Cyril, who usually kept his composure, had the faintest twitch at the corner of his mouth.
My face burned hotter than the blood moon itself. "…I hate all of you."
But Soryn only chuckled, patting my shoulder. "Don't worry, Lyrrise. You're not the first to mistake me. But calling me attractive? I'll take that as a compliment."
And just like that, the team wouldn't let me live it down.
Sparring with Cyril was always a challenge. He never held back, not even a little, and today was no different. His blade swung fast and precise, forcing me to meet him strike for strike. But halfway through, my grip faltered.
My fingers went numb. A sting rushed up my arm.
Cyril paused immediately, lowering his weapon. "Lyrrise, stop. You need to rest."
I shook my head quickly, forcing my katana upright again. "I'm fine. Just one more round."
But my own voice betrayed me; it sounded strained, thin. Cyril frowned, eyes narrowing in that way that made it impossible to lie to him. I turned away before he could press further, forcing myself to focus on the locker room instead.
The metal door clanged shut as I grabbed my towel—only to freeze when the air shifted.
Click. Click. Heels echoed against the floor.
A girl with long, pastel-pink hair and striking blue eyes stepped into the room like she owned it. Two others followed, clearly her lackeys, their smirks already plastered on.
The pink-haired girl tilted her head, examining me as if I were some curious insect under glass. Then she smiled—sweet, but sharp. "So you're Lyrrise."
I blinked. "…And you are?"
Her smile widened. "The daughter of Edric. You've heard of him, I'm sure."
My stomach twisted. Edric. A name whispered with weight in the academy, tied to power, influence, and more rumors than I could count.
"I didn't ask," I muttered, turning back to my locker.
"Oh, touchy," she teased, her voice dripping with mock sympathy. "I just wanted to introduce myself. But… I can already see why people talk about you. Acting so high and mighty. Thinking you're untouchable."
Her two shadows giggled cruelly, one whispering just loud enough for me to hear: "She doesn't even look that special up close."
The pink-haired girl stepped closer, leaning against the lockers beside me, blue eyes glinting with mischief. "Don't worry, sweetheart. I don't bite. Much."
I clenched my fists, the numbness in my hand replaced by a sharp, irritated heat.
I hadn't even done anything to her. And yet, here she was, picking at me like it was her sport.
The girl finally flicked her hair back, tilting her chin as though this whole room existed for her alone. "Since you're too slow to ask—my name's Selendra. Kaelenna's pair."
Her words came out sweet at first, but the sweetness soured instantly. "Though honestly, I don't understand why anyone cares about her. She's dumb. Not even that pretty. And yet—" she rolled her eyes dramatically "—boys swarm around her like she's some goddess. Always playing the innocent healer, but really, she's just a flirt."
The laughter from her shadows echoed off the lockers, sharp and ugly.
My chest tightened. Insulting me was one thing. But insulting Kaelenna? My teammate. My healer. My friend.
I turned, eyes narrowing into slits. My voice came out colder than I expected. "Wow. You spent all that time rehearsing and that's the best you could come up with?"
Selendra's smile faltered.
"You say Kaelenna's dumb," I went on, taking a slow step closer, "yet somehow she's strong enough to carry you. You say she's not pretty, but you needed to drag in an audience just to convince yourself you shine brighter. And flirt? Please. She doesn't even need to try. People notice her because she's real. Unlike you, Selendra—you're just noise dressed in pink."
The room went silent. Her shadows exchanged a glance, their smirks fading as quick as smoke in the wind.
Selendra's lips parted, but no sound came out.
I leaned in just enough so she could see the edge in my smile. "If you want to insult someone, do it where I can't hear you. Otherwise? Next time I won't just shut you up with words."
For the first time, her perfect confidence cracked.
And for the first time, I smirked.
I had barely stepped out of the locker room when fingers yanked my hair back. Pain stung across my scalp, and I staggered half a step before I spun around.
Selendra stood there, her perfect smile twisted with venom. "You think you're clever?" she hissed. "You need to remember who runs this academy. I'm the queen here, not you."
I straightened, brushing her hand off with a flick. My voice dropped low, steady, edged. "The queen? That's cute. But you clearly forgot what class I'm in."
Her brows furrowed.
"I'm an assassin," I said, smirking. "My entire training is about ending fights before they even begin. You? You're a healer. Which means without people like me, you wouldn't even survive a fight."
Her cheeks flushed with rage.
"Let me give you a fact, Selendra." I tilted my head, words dripping like poison. "Healers are the bandages after the blood. Necessary, sure—but replaceable. Assassins?" I leaned in closer. "We're the reason there's blood at all. Don't forget it."
Her hand whipped back, ready to slap me—
But before she could, a firm grip caught her wrist.
"Now, now," came a smooth voice. Deyon. He stood there, casual as ever, that damn crop top showing off his abs like he was on parade. He smiled, but it didn't reach his eyes. "Picking fights in the hallway, Selendra? That doesn't sound very healer-like."
Selendra glared at him, trying to pull her arm free. "Stay out of this, Deyon."
He leaned closer, his smile sharpening. "Or what? You'll cry to your daddy? Because I can go to Edric myself. And I'll tell him everything. Including how his perfect daughter tried to slap an assassin in front of witnesses."
Her eyes widened, just for a heartbeat. Then she rolled them, yanking her hand away with a dramatic toss of her hair. "Not worth my time," she spat, before strutting off with her minions trailing behind.
As soon as she was gone, Deyon looked at me, grin returning full force. "Damn, Lyrrise. Remind me not to get on your bad side. That tongue of yours is sharper than any blade."
I smirked despite myself. "Good. Keep it that way."
The next day, the cafeteria buzzed like usual, chatter and laughter mixing with the clatter of trays. I sat down with my team, Kaelenna smiling warmly as she pushed a bowl closer to me. I wasn't really hungry, but I forced myself to eat.
That's when Selendra made her move. She sauntered past my table, holding a cup in her dainty healer hands. Her eyes flicked toward me—too quick, too sharp. She "accidentally" set the cup down near my tray, lips curling in a secret smile as she walked away.
I knew better.
Still, I picked it up. Took a sip. The bitterness spread across my tongue instantly, a metallic taste laced with something acrid. Poison.
For a second, the cafeteria seemed to still, my body waiting to react. But nothing came. My blood didn't burn, my vision didn't blur. Instead, I felt… fine. Almost too fine.
I lowered the cup slowly, realization dawning. She tried to poison me.
Across the room, Selendra watched, expecting me to crumple, expecting victory. But when I looked up at her, perfectly unharmed, I let the faintest smirk tug at my lips.
I shrugged, as if it were nothing more than bad tea. And then—deliberately—I took another sip.
Selendra's face drained of color, her confident smirk shattering into shock.
I tilted the cup toward her, mouthing silently: Nice try.
Her fists clenched at her sides, fury barely contained as she stormed out, her minions scrambling after her.
My team blinked at me, confused. Cyril frowned, Kaelenna asked what was wrong, but I just leaned back casually, setting the poisoned cup aside.
Immune, I thought, my chest tightening with a strange satisfaction. She can't break me with venom. Not now. Not ever.
I froze mid-step when I saw them. Cyril… and Selendra.
She leaned close to him, twirling her pink hair around one finger, smiling that sickly-sweet smile she wore whenever she wanted something. The way she touched his arm made something twist inside my chest, a pang sharp enough to steal my breath.
Why am I feeling this? I asked myself. It's not my business. I don't care.
And yet, I did.
I forced myself to look away, to focus on the stack of gear in my hands. My voice was calm when I called out, "Jacob, give me a hand with these."
But before Jacob could even get close, Cyril was already there. He wordlessly took half the load from me, his sleeve brushing against mine. Selendra's smile faltered, her voice rising in protest, but Cyril didn't even glance back at her. He walked beside me instead, leaving her standing there, abandoned in her own shadow.
The pang in my chest deepened, but this time it wasn't jealousy. It was something softer… something scarier.
Later, in my dorm, the quiet was broken by a familiar meow and a low woof. Rael, curled neatly as a cat on my pillow, and Lior, sprawled like a loyal hound by the door. Their eyes found mine the moment I stepped in, heavy with something I couldn't quite place.
"We'll leave by Dris," Rael said suddenly, his voice firm despite being in cat form. "We're going to talk to Aralin."
My heart dropped. "What? No—you can't. It's too dangerous."
Rael's tail flicked, his golden eyes holding mine. "We need to, Lyrrise. For you. For the city. He's your father… maybe, just maybe, he'll have empathy. Maybe he'll listen if it's us."
Lior nodded slowly, her voice gentler. "We can't just stand by while he spreads destruction. If there's even the smallest chance to reach him, we have to try."
I shook my head, throat tightening. "I don't want you to. He's dangerous, he—he won't understand…"
But Rael stepped forward, his body shimmering as he shifted into his human form. Without hesitation, he wrapped his arms around me, pulling me into a hug that caught me off guard.
"We'll be back," he whispered against my hair. "I promise."
Tears stung at the corners of my eyes as I clutched him tightly, not wanting to let go.
And when I finally did, it felt like the world was already colder.
The entire day felt like a blur.
I went through the motions—training, drills, meals—but my mind wasn't there. My hands moved, my feet followed, but my thoughts were always drifting back to Rael and Lior. Were they safe? Did Aralin even give them the chance to speak? Or… had they already been devoured by the darkness he created?
The fear pressed against my chest so tightly that sometimes I forgot to breathe.
I must have been staring at nothing for too long because Kaelenna's voice broke through softly, "Lyrrise? You okay?"
I blinked and forced a smile, but it felt hollow. "Yeah. I'm fine."
But her sharp eyes said she didn't believe me.
—
Later, while we regrouped in the courtyard, I caught them all watching me. Kaelenna's worry was written plain on her face, Soryn's brows furrowed as if trying to solve a puzzle she couldn't understand, and even Deyon—usually carefree, usually joking—was quiet, his arms crossed as though guarding me from something unseen.
And then there was Cyril. His gaze lingered the longest, dark and unreadable, like he wanted to demand answers but didn't know how.
I wanted to tell them. To unburden myself. But the words got stuck in my throat, locked away by fear. If I told them about Rael and Lior… about Aralin… would they still see me the same way? Or would everything change?
So I stayed quiet. Pretending. Smiling when I had to. Zoning out when I couldn't help it.
And the silence between me and my own heart was louder than all of them combined.