Morning sunlight poured through the tall windows of the academy mess hall.
Students filled the long tables, chatting loudly while eating breakfast.
But at one large round table in the center, five students sat together.
Plates, bread, eggs, and drinks were scattered across the table.
They were all having breakfast together.
Kael looked around the table with a slightly puzzled expression.
Then he spoke.
"…Why are we suddenly having breakfast together?"
Sylven didn't even look up from his plate. He continued eating calmly.
"Because we're a team now."
Kael paused.
"…I see."
Before the moment could settle—
Riven slowly leaned closer to Kael while chewing loudly.
"Yeah… we're a—"
Crunch… chew… chew…
He paused mid-sentence because he was still chewing.
Then finished casually.
"—team now."
Kael's expression immediately darkened.
Without hesitation, he lifted his plate and leaned away.
"Don't talk while chewing."
He frowned.
"Your food is practically spilling out of your mouth."
Riven waved his hand dismissively.
"Oh, don't worry about that."
And then he leaned even closer.
Kael instantly pushed his face away with one hand.
"Stay away from me."
A short pause.
"You look creepy like that."
Riven didn't reply.
He just grinned.
Still chewing.
Crunch… crunch…
Kael slowly slid his chair toward Sylven.
A safe distance.
Everyone looked completely normal.
Everyone…
Except one person.
Iren.
His appearance was exactly the same as every morning.
Messy hair.
Red, sleepy eyes.
A half-awake expression.
He slowly chewed his food like someone who had barely woken up.
Riven tilted his head.
"…What happened to you now?"
Iren replied lazily.
"Couldn't sleep last night."
Riven leaned forward curiously.
"And why not?"
Iren sighed while chewing.
"Lyra hit me too many times yesterday."
He stretched his stiff shoulder.
"My whole body was aching. I couldn't sleep properly."
Sylven nodded dramatically.
"So tragic."
Lyra kept eating quietly.
But inside her mind—
'Your body was aching…?'
Her eyes narrowed slightly.
'Then how did you go to the training ground last night…'
'And master that terrifying power…'
But she said nothing.
Iren simply continued eating slowly.
Then Riven suddenly looked at Lyra.
"…He still looks like a zombie today, right?"
Lyra froze for a split second.
For a brief moment—
An image flashed in her head.
Iren standing in the training ground.
Flames exploding around him.
His body wrapped in a terrifying crimson aura.
'A zombie…?'
'More like a walking volcano.'
But outwardly—
She gave an awkward smile.
"…Yeah."
Riven nodded proudly.
"Maybe I should try my plan again."
Suddenly—
Lyra's head snapped toward him.
Her eyes narrowed dangerously.
"…Did you say something?"
Riven immediately froze.
"N-No! Nothing!"
He laughed nervously.
"Just joking!"
Then he quickly added,
"B-But maybe you should do something about him."
Lyra stared at Iren for a moment.
He was still half-asleep.
Barely aware of anything.
Then she slowly glanced toward the middle of the table.
There sat two bottles.
Chili sauce.
And black pepper.
A small smile appeared on her face.
"…I've got an idea."
Then she suddenly pointed behind Iren.
Acting surprised.
"Iren! Look behind you!"
Iren slowly turned around.
"Huh…?"
Lyra pointed dramatically.
"A golden bird!"
Half asleep, Iren began looking around.
"…Where?"
At that exact moment—
Squirt.
Lyra poured a huge amount of chili sauce onto his food.
Then calmly put the bottle back.
Iren was still looking around.
"…Where is it?"
Lyra crossed her arms.
"Oh. Too bad."
She shrugged.
"You were too slow."
"It flew away before you saw it."
"…Oh."
Iren turned back.
Still half asleep.
He picked up a piece of bread.
And took a bite.
Crunch.
The other three looked at his plate.
Covered in chili sauce.
They immediately understood.
This was Lyra's plan.
But none of them said a word.
Iren continued chewing.
One second passed.
Nothing happened.
Then—
His eyes widened.
"—AHHHHH!!!"
He jumped from his chair.
"It's too spicy!!"
"IT'S TOO SPICY!!"
His face turned bright red.
He began desperately searching the table.
"W-Water!!"
"Someone give me water!!"
He grabbed a glass and gulped it down instantly.
GULP—GULP—GULP.
Then slammed the empty glass down.
"Haaah…! Haaah…!"
His lips and cheeks were red.
His eyes were watery.
Meanwhile—
The entire table burst into laughter.
"Hahahahaha!"
Riven was practically crying from laughing.
Sylven was holding his stomach.
Even Kael was chuckling.
Iren wiped his eyes.
Still breathing heavily.
"…Who…"
He gasped.
"…Who did this…?"
Riven immediately pointed at Lyra.
Still laughing.
Iren slowly turned toward her.
She was also laughing.
Trying to hold it back.
"Why…?"
He asked weakly.
"Why did you do that…?"
Lyra wiped a tear from laughing.
"It was my plan to wake you up, idiot."
She grinned.
"If Riven kept teasing you, you'd just get angry."
She pointed at him.
"But look!"
She burst into laughter again.
"It worked perfectly!"
Everyone laughed again.
But Iren still looked miserable.
His eyes were watery from the spice.
He breathed heavily.
"Don't…"
He said between breaths.
"…do that again."
"I really… hate… spicy food."
Lyra chuckled.
"Fine."
She smirked.
"I won't."
She leaned forward slightly.
"But only if you stop coming here looking like a zombie every morning."
Iren wiped the remaining tears from his eyes and finally nodded.
"…Fine."
He sighed.
"I won't come looking like a zombie anymore."
Lyra chuckled softly.
But deep inside, her expression softened.
'I know why you couldn't sleep last night…'
Her mind replayed the image of the training ground.
The violent flames.
The crimson aura.
'Because you were secretly training all night…'
But she kept that thought to herself.
Meanwhile—
Kael suddenly pushed his chair back and stood up.
"Well then."
He adjusted his coat slightly.
"Let's head to the training ground."
Sylven nodded calmly.
Riven stretched his arms.
Iren also stood up.
But suddenly—
Grab.
Lyra caught his hand and pulled him back down onto the chair.
Thud.
"First," she said calmly, "finish your breakfast."
Iren stared at his plate in disbelief.
"…Do you really think I'm stupid enough to eat that spicy food again?"
Lyra smirked.
"Why would I need to think?"
She tilted her head.
"You already are.. "
For a second—
Silence.
Then—
"PFFFT—!"
Riven burst out laughing.
"Whoa! That was brutal!"
Even Kael and Sylven tried to hide their smiles.
Iren sighed in defeat.
"…Alright, that's enough."
He pushed his chair again.
"Let's go."
But before he could stand—
Lyra interrupted.
"Sit."
Iren froze.
"…What?"
Lyra pointed at his plate.
"Finish your breakfast first."
Iren stared at her.
"Have you gone mad?"
He pointed at the plate.
"You saw what happened! I can't eat spicy food!"
Lyra crossed her arms.
"Come on."
She leaned forward slightly.
"There's only one bite left."
Iren looked down.
She was right.
Only one small piece of bread remained.
But it was completely drowned in chili sauce.
Iren immediately shook his head.
"No."
He pushed his chair again.
"I'm not eating that."
He pointed at the plate.
"It's literally swimming in chili sauce."
He stood up.
"I'm leaving."
But the moment he stood—
GRAB.
Lyra grabbed his hand again.
This time—
She pulled him down with much more force.
THUD.
Iren dropped back into the chair.
Lyra leaned closer.
Her eyes sharpened.
Then she spoke slowly.
"If you don't finish that…"
Her voice lowered.
"…I'll activate my Domain of Time on you."
Iren stiffened.
Lyra grinned slightly.
"And I'll hit you with my full strength."
She tilted her head.
"You already know how hard I can hit."
Iren gulped.
His face turned pale.
Lyra leaned even closer.
Her grin widened.
"So…"
She asked softly.
"Do you want me to do that?"
Iren instantly panicked.
"N-No!"
He waved his hands desperately.
"I'll eat it! I'll eat it!"
Lyra leaned back in her chair.
"Good."
She pointed at the plate.
"Then eat."
Iren slowly looked down.
That last piece of bread looked like a piece of hell itself.
He slowly picked it up.
For him, that bite felt heavier than a sword.
Then—
He shut his eyes.
And shoved it into his mouth.
Crunch.
One second passed.
Then—
"AAAAHHHHHH!!!"
Iren jumped from his chair.
"IT'S TOO SPICY!!"
His face turned bright red again.
His eyes instantly filled with tears.
He grabbed his throat dramatically.
"WATER!!"
"WHERE'S THE WATER?!"
Then—
He suddenly sprinted toward the exit.
"MOVE ASIDE!!"
"I NEED WATER!!"
"WATER! WATER! WATER!!"
BANG!
The door slammed open as he ran out.
Inside the mess hall—
Everyone burst into laughter again.
"Hahahahaha!"
Kael shook his head while smiling.
"A fire user…"
He crossed his arms.
"…who can't even eat spicy food."
"Interesting."
Sylven nodded thoughtfully.
"Yes."
"It's almost like a symbol of fire."
Then he added calmly,
"But who would have thought Iren hates spicy food this much?"
Riven grinned mischievously.
"Well…"
He pointed toward the door.
"He suddenly became very energetic."
He stretched dramatically.
"Maybe we should follow him."
He smirked.
"And see where our 'hero' went."
Sylven shrugged.
"I'd bet he ran straight to the cooler."
Lyra nodded.
"Yeah…"
"That makes sense."
The group stood up from the table.
Then they walked toward the exit.
Following the trail of chaos Iren had left behind.
Meanwhile—
Down the corridor—
Iren was still sprinting at full speed.
"WATER!!"
"I NEED WATER!!"
Students jumped aside as he rushed past them.
"STEP ASIDE!!"
"WATER!!"
"WATER!!"
Back in the hallway behind him—
The others followed at a much calmer pace.
And Lyra quietly watched him running ahead.
A small smile appeared on her face.
Inside her mind, she muttered softly.
'You really are an idiot…'
'Iren.'
---