The vines tightened around the nobles' mouths and hands, but Arthur noticed something else happening at the same time. Water was seeping up from the stone floor itself, wrapping around the plant matter and reinforcing it. The moisture made the vines significantly stronger and harder to break, almost like living rope instead of simple plants. The combination of both elements working together was seamless and natural, like she'd been doing it her entire life.
The blonde noble's eyes went wide as he finally got a proper look at who had bound him. His struggling stopped immediately. The other four nobles froze as well, recognition and fear replacing their earlier arrogance.
The vines and water released all at once, retreating back into the floor and leaving the nobles standing there, soaked and humiliated.
"Princess Lyria," the blonde noble stammered, his voice shaking slightly as he tried to bow while also backing away. "We didn't realise—we weren't—"
"I don't care what you were doing," Lyria said, her tone flat and utterly uninterested. "Leave. Now. Before I decide to make those vines permanent."
The nobles practically ran for the exit, their expensive boots slipping slightly on the wet stone floor. The cafeteria remained dead silent as they disappeared, then slowly the normal sounds of conversation began filtering back in. Students were returning to their meals, though plenty of eyes kept glancing toward Lyria with a mixture of awe and nervousness.
Arthur and Ren both moved to bow instinctively. She was royalty after all, an elven princess, and there were protocols about these things that even commoners and low-ranking nobles were expected to follow.
"Don't," Lyria said immediately, cutting them off before either of them could complete the gesture. "Seriously, don't do the whole bowing thing. That formal nonsense is exactly why I came here instead of staying back home. I didn't spend my entire childhood dealing with suffocating palace protocol just to have people treating me like I'm made of glass at the academy, too."
Ren blinked, clearly surprised by the blunt response. "You... don't want us to show respect?"
"I want you to treat me like a normal person, which is basically impossible back in Sylvaria." Lyria's expression shifted slightly, showing genuine frustration. "Everyone there either bows and scrapes like I'm going to have them executed for breathing wrong, or they're other nobles playing political games and trying to use me for connections. It's exhausting. That's the whole point of coming here."
Arthur studied her carefully, comparing the person standing in front of him to what he remembered from the novel. The appearance matched perfectly. Dark hair with green streaks, shimmering green eyes, pointed ears, and piercings. But her personality seemed different somehow. More direct. Less formal. The Lyria from the novel had been polite and proper, if somewhat reserved. This version seemed almost rebellious.
'Or maybe the novel just never showed her real personality because she was always surrounded by Lloyd's group and their expectations.'
"I'm Lyria, by the way," she continued, as if introducing herself to people she'd just saved from a confrontation was completely normal. "First year. Though I'm guessing you already figured that out from those idiots using my title."
"Arthur Reinhart," Arthur said, recovering from his surprise. "Also, first year. This is Ren Caldwell."
"Baron and commoner," Lyria observed, not making it sound like an insult, just a statement of fact. "That's an unusual friendship for the Academy. Most nobles won't even sit with commoners in the cafeteria, let alone actually defend them."
Ren shrugged, his earlier tension from the confrontation already fading. "Arthur's not like most nobles, apparently."
"I can see that." Lyria's eyes moved between them, clearly assessing something. "So what did those five actually want? Besides the obvious classism and general unpleasantness."
"Pretty much just the classism," Arthur said. "They knew me from some noble events years ago. Apparently decided to relive old times by being arseholes."
"Charming." Lyria's tone made it clear what she thought of that behaviour. "Well, they won't bother you again. Not after I—"
A loud chiming sound cut through the cafeteria, coming from enchanted crystals mounted on the walls. An announcement spell activating.
"Attention all students," a magically amplified voice announced. "The cafeteria will be closing in fifteen minutes. Please finish your meals and vacate the premises. The cafeteria will reopen tomorrow morning at six o'clock for breakfast service."
The conversations around them picked up again as students started gathering their things and clearing their trays. The end of the day is approaching, and everyone is heading back to their dorms to prepare for tomorrow's official start.
Lyria glanced around at the movement, then back at Arthur and Ren. "Guess that's our cue. I should probably go find wherever those stuffy elven students my father sent are hiding. Make sure they haven't caused any international incidents."
"The ones running around earlier?" Ren asked. "We saw them on the way here. They looked pretty frantic."
"They're probably looking for me. I've been avoiding them all day." Lyria's smile was slightly mischievous. "They take their 'protect the princess' duties way too seriously. It's like having permanent shadows that report everything back to the palace."
"Sounds annoying," Arthur said.
"You have no idea." Lyria started to turn away, then paused. "See you both tomorrow at the induction ceremony, I suppose. Try not to get into any more fights before then."
"We'll do our best," Ren said, grinning. "No promises, though."
Lyria actually laughed at that, a genuine sound that seemed to surprise even her. Then she was walking away, moving through the crowded cafeteria with natural grace. Students parted for her automatically, some bowing despite what she'd just said about hating that behaviour.
Arthur and Ren stood there for a moment, watching her leave.
Then Ren grabbed Arthur's arm, his voice coming out as an intense whisper. "We just met the elven princess. The actual elven princess from Sylvaria. She saved us from those nobles and then had a completely normal conversation with us like it was nothing."
"I noticed that, yeah."
"Do you have any idea how insane that is?" Ren's eyes were wide. "She's royalty. Actual literal royalty. And she just used her magic to shut up five nobles because they were bothering us."
"Also noticed that part."
"I need to sit down. I think I'm going into shock."
"You're already sitting," Arthur pointed out.
"Then I need to sit down more." Ren collapsed back into his chair dramatically. "This is wild. This whole day is absolutely wild."
Arthur couldn't help but smile at Ren's reaction. "Are you going to be okay, or should I get you some water?"
"I'm fine. I'm completely fine." Ren took a deep breath, then let it out slowly. "Okay. New question. Do you think she'd give me money?"
Arthur blinked. "What?"
"Like, she's a princess. Princesses are rich. Really, really rich. Do you think if I asked nicely, she'd just give me some gold coins or something?" Ren was completely serious. "I could send it back to my family. That would help a lot."
"Ren."
"What? It's a legitimate question."
"You're not asking the elven princess for money."
"Why not? The worst she can do is say no."
"She could also have those vines strangle you."
"That's a fair point." Ren considered this seriously. "Okay, maybe I'll wait until we're actually friends first. Then I'll ask for money."
Arthur shook his head, but he was laughing despite himself. "Come on. Let's get out of here before they kick us out."
They cleared their trays and headed out of the cafeteria together, joining the stream of students flowing toward the dormitories. The campus was beautiful in the fading afternoon light, the gothic architecture casting long shadows across the manicured grounds. Magic-powered lanterns were beginning to flicker to life along the pathways, preparing for nightfall.
They reached the point where their paths diverged, Arthur's dorm building to the left and Ren's to the right.
"Big day tomorrow," Ren said, his earlier excitement fading into something more serious. "The induction ceremony. Classes starting. All the formal beginning of year stuff."
"Yeah." Arthur felt the weight of it settling on his shoulders. "Everything changes tomorrow."
"We'll be fine. We've been training for this." Ren extended his hand. "See you tomorrow morning? Early breakfast before the ceremony?"
"Sounds good." Arthur shook his hand firmly. "Don't be late."
"When am I ever late?"
"Literally three times this week."
"Those don't count. I had valid reasons."
"Oversleeping isn't a valid reason."
"Agree to disagree." Ren grinned. "See you tomorrow, Arthur."
"See you tomorrow."
They split up, heading to their respective buildings. Arthur climbed the stairs to his floor, his muscles still pleasantly sore from this morning's training session. The hallway was quiet; most students were either still at dinner or already settling into their rooms.
Arthur unlocked his door and stepped into the familiar space. Small and functional, but it had become comfortable over the past month. He dropped onto his bed and stared at the ceiling for a moment, letting the day's events process.
Met the elven princess. Watched her use dual affinities that she shouldn't have, according to the novel. Tomorrow the academic year starts officially. Tomorrow, he'd probably see Lloyd for the first time in person.
'One step at a time. Just survive tomorrow. Then worry about everything else.'
His mana watch buzzed on his wrist. An incoming call. Arthur glanced at the display and smiled.
Cecilia.
He accepted the call, and her face appeared in a small projection above the watch. She looked tired but happy, her hair pulled back in a messy ponytail.
"Hey, you," she said. "Figured you'd be back in your room by now. How's everything?"
"Chaotic. The campus is completely packed. There are students everywhere."
"I bet. The first day is always crazy from what I've heard." Cecilia leaned back, getting comfortable. "Are you ready for tomorrow? The big induction ceremony and everything?"
"As ready as I'll ever be, I guess." Arthur sat up, propping himself against the headboard. "It's just speeches and formalities. Shouldn't be too bad."
"Still. It's the official start. Classes begin, real training starts, all of that." Her expression shifted to something more serious. "You've been training hard for this. I know you have. Just... don't push yourself too hard too fast, okay? You have a terrible habit of almost dying."
"That was one time."
"One time is one time too many, you idiot." But she was smiling despite the words. "I'm serious, though. Be careful. Don't do anything stupid."
"I'll do my best."
"Are you best at being careful or best at not doing stupid things? Because those are very different promises."
Arthur laughed. "Both. I promise both."
"Good." Cecilia's smile widened. "I'm proud of you, you know. Getting into the Academy, training as hard as you have, and making friends. Dad would be proud, too."
Something tightened in Arthur's chest at that. Memories that weren't entirely his and grief that belonged to both Oscar and Arthur, blending together until he couldn't tell them apart.
"Thanks, Cece."
"Don't get all emotional on me now. You'll make me start crying, and then we'll both be a mess." She wiped at her eyes quickly. "Anyway, I should let you get some rest. Big day tomorrow, and you need to actually sleep instead of staying up all night worrying."
"I don't stay up all night worrying."
"Yes, you do. I know you." Cecilia pointed at him through the projection. "Sleep. Actual sleep. At least six hours."
"Yes, ma'am."
"Good luck tomorrow, Arthur. Not that you need it. You've got this."
"Love you too."
The projection faded, leaving Arthur alone in his room again. The sun had fully set now, darkness pressing against the windows. The magic lanterns outside cast faint light through the glass, creating shifting shadows on the walls.
Arthur lay back down, staring at the ceiling in the dim light.
'Tomorrow. Tomorrow it all really begins.'
He thought about Lyria and her dual affinities that didn't match the novel. About the changed riddle in the ancient rift. About Lloyd, whom he'd be seeing in person for the first time. About all the characters he'd only read about, now real people were walking around this campus.
This wasn't just a story anymore. It never really had been, not since the moment Oscar woke up in Arthur's body. But tomorrow would make it undeniable. These weren't characters following a predetermined plot. They were real people with their own thoughts, motivations and secrets.
And Arthur was one of them now. Not a reader. Not an observer.
An actual participant in whatever this story was becoming.
Arthur closed his eyes, exhaustion finally catching up with him.
'Tomorrow the story starts. And I have no idea how it's going to end.'
Sleep came slowly, but eventually it came.
Tomorrow would bring answers. Or more questions.
Either way, Arthur would face it.