**Chapter 122 – From the Other Side of Friday**
Lysithea knew something had happened on the ranking field long before she saw any of the eight.
Not because someone from the group had gone to tell her. But because the movement of the academy changed at the end of the afternoon. More students returning together, louder conversations in the corridors, some irritated faces, others far too excited. And because, when she finally spotted the group from a distance, they were walking with that peculiar energy of people who had just pulled something off and were satisfied with the result.
At that moment, she wasn't alone.
She was near the entrance of the companions' building, talking with two other companions who also had youths in the 1st Year. One of them, a woman with brown hair named Sora, laughed quietly when she noticed Lysithea's expression.
— There come yours, huh?
— They do — Lysithea answered, still looking in the group's direction.
— Mine had a sour face the whole day — the other commented. — Lost both fights. Your group seems to have done better.
— Seems so — Lysithea said, without going into details.
The three still exchanged a few more words about the ranking, about how the academy's food continued to be bad, and about how noisy Friday had been, before saying goodbye. Only then did Lysithea stay watching the group truly move away.
Joker and Harley in front. Astrid and Rina right behind. Marina and Sylvara side by side. Lirien a little quieter. Kuroe and Elowen walking close.
She felt her chest tighten slightly. Relief mixed with that old worry that never completely went away.
— Of course they entered the ranking — she murmured.
— Of course what? — Graciela's voice sounded behind her.
Lysithea looked over her shoulder. Graciela was coming from the kitchen side, still taking off her apron, hair tied any which way and the usual expression: irritated with the world, but not enough to leave.
— They entered the ranking — Lysithea repeated.
Graciela stopped beside her and followed her gaze.
— I knew it. I spent the whole afternoon hearing the kitchen helpers talking about a new group that won several fights way too fast. One of them even asked if I knew them. I said I didn't know anyone. Barefaced lie.
— You stayed the whole day in the kitchen?
— I did. But I didn't stay silent. There's a dwarf from the second shift who complains about the food as much as I do. We spent a good while talking badly about the seasoning and the head cook. It was the most pleasant moment of my day.
Lysithea let out a low laugh.
— At least you socialized.
— I do socialize, yes. I just don't socialize with boring people. There's a difference.
The two stayed for a while observing the already emptier courtyard. The group had disappeared toward the dormitories.
— Did you manage to see any fight? — Lysithea asked.
— None. Every time I tried to step away, someone appeared asking for something. In the end I gave up. And you?
— Neither. I spent most of the day dealing with companion things and talking with other people from the building. When they released us, it was already over.
Graciela huffed.
— So the two of us stayed out. Great.
— They seem fine — Lysithea said, lower. — That's already something.
— They seem too fine. And that makes me suspicious.
---
Later, in the internal corridor of the building, Mirella appeared talking with another instructor. The two were speaking about the organization of the next week's classes and about how full the ranking field had been. When the man said goodbye, Mirella finally approached Lysithea and Graciela.
— You two also found out?
— We did — Graciela answered. — We just didn't see anything.
— I saw a little from a distance — Mirella said. — I couldn't stay until the end because I had a meeting with the practice sector. But I heard people commenting about a 1st Year group that won easily and then simply stopped climbing.
— Them — Lysithea completed.
— Them — Mirella confirmed.
Elara arrived a few minutes later, still with some papers in her hand. She had spent the afternoon in orientations with other new teachers and only now had managed to free herself.
— Sorry for the delay. The meeting ran long.
— You missed the best part — Graciela commented. — Or the worst. Depending on the point of view.
Elara looked at the three of them.
— I found out through the corridors. They said a new group drew attention and then disappeared from the ranking as if they didn't want to continue.
— Because they don't want to continue now — Lysithea said. — I know Joker and Harley. If they only passed through the ranking instead of dominating, it's because there's a reason.
— A bad reason — Graciela murmured. — Or a fun reason. With them it's usually both things together.
Elara crossed her arms, her gaze a little distant.
— The ranking freezes until next Friday. If they want to climb for real, they still have time.
— Or they're waiting for something — Mirella said.
— They are — Lysithea answered, with a quiet certainty. — I just still don't know what.
The four of them stayed there in the corridor for a while longer. Outside, the academy was gradually turning off the lights. The noise of the students decreased. Friday was coming to an end.
Lysithea looked toward the window.
— Sometimes I get the impression that we only exist in function of them.
— Nonsense — Graciela answered right away. — I spent the whole day arguing about seasoning with people from the kitchen. Mirella was in a meeting. Elara too. You were talking with other companions. We have our own lives in here. It's just that, at the end of the day, we still look to see if they're in one piece.
Mirella shrugged.
— She's right. It's not like we live locked up waiting for them to appear.
— I know — Lysithea murmured. — But even so…
— Even so we worry — Elara completed, lower. — That won't change.
None of the four contested it.
Because, deep down, all of them already suspected the same thing:
That first Friday had only been the beginning.
And the group's real move… was still being saved.
**End of Chapter 122**