The night fell quietly over the academy.
After a long day of training, every student
had finished dinner and returned to their rooms.
Soon, the dormitory fell into silence.
Most students were already asleep.
But one room still had its lights on.
Lyra's room.
She sat on the edge of her bed, staring
blankly at the wall.
Something was bothering her.
A thought kept repeating inside her mind.
Why did Iren suddenly say that…?
She hugged her pillow tightly.
"I wear the cape so I look cooler… maybe a girl will want to be my friend."
Lyra frowned slightly.
"...That was strange."
She tilted her head.
"That idiot isn't the type to care about looking cool."
She sighed.
"No… something about that felt off."
Her eyes slowly drifted toward the ceiling.
Then a thought appeared in her mind.
"...Did he start liking someone?"
She blinked.
"If that's true…"
Her voice became quieter.
"...then that girl is really lucky."
A faint blush appeared on her cheeks.
"Having someone like Iren as a friend…"
She hugged her pillow absentmindedly.
"He'd probably help her train… just like he helped me."
Her thoughts slowly drifted further.
"And then they'd spend more time together…"
"And get closer…"
"And closer… and—"
Suddenly—
Her face turned bright red.
"W-Wait! What am I even thinking?!"
She buried her face into the pillow.
"This has nothing to do with me!"
She took a deep breath and sat up again.
"He can like whoever he wants."
"...So why do I even care?"
But another thought quietly appeared.
"...If that happens…"
Her voice became small.
"Then what about me?"
She looked toward the window.
"Will he stop helping me train after that?"
Silence filled the room.
A few seconds later she shook her head.
"No… that's impossible."
"Iren isn't that kind of boy."
She sighed.
Then she muttered to herself.
"I think I'm just overthinking"
She fell back onto the bed.
Click.
She turned off the light.
Darkness filled the room.
But before closing her eyes, she whispered softly.
"...Still… my heart says something is wrong."
Slowly—
She drifted into sleep.
---
Meanwhile…
In another dorm room.
Iren was sleeping peacefully.
But inside his dream—
Something strange was happening.
He saw himself walking across an endless river.
The water stretched beyond the horizon.
Calm.
Silent.
Like a mirror.
Each step he took—
Ripple…
Ripple…
Soft waves spread across the surface.
The world felt empty.
Too empty.
Then suddenly—
A voice echoed across the endless river.
A feminine voice.
Soft.
Gentle.
Yet strangely distant.
"Iren…"
"Iren…"
"Come…"
"I have been waiting for you…"
Iren quickly turned toward the sound.
"...Who's there?"
But the moment he turned—
The water beneath his feet suddenly collapsed.
GLOOOOSH!!
His body was dragged downward.
"—?!"
The calm river instantly turned into a dark ocean.
He began sinking.
Deeper.
And deeper.
As if invisible hands were pulling him down.
He struggled.
"W-Wait!"
He tried to swim upward.
But something was holding him.
The deeper he sank, the heavier his body felt.
His lungs burned.
His chest tightened.
"I can't breathe—!"
Water surrounded him from every direction.
Darkness swallowed the surface above.
The pressure felt like the entire ocean was crushing him.
His vision blurred.
Just before everything faded—
—
Iren suddenly woke up.
"GASP!!"
He shot upright in his bed.
"Haa… haa… haa…"
His breathing was heavy.
Cold sweat covered his forehead.
"What… was that dream…?"
He placed a hand on his chest.
"It felt too real…"
Then something caught his attention.
A faint light flickered in the darkness.
Flicker.
Flicker.
His Fire Ring was glowing faintly.
Iren's eyes widened.
"...That's not normal."
He immediately stood up.
"I should tell Headmaster Aldaric."
---
A few minutes later.
Headmaster's Office.
Knock. Knock.
A calm voice came from inside.
"Come in."
Iren slowly opened the door.
Creeeak…
Inside the office, Headmaster Aldaric was standing near a large window, quietly gazing at the moonlit sky.
He slowly turned toward Iren.
His eyes carried a deep and mysterious calm.
"Tell me, Iren."
"What brings you here at this hour?"
Iren was still breathing slightly fast.
Aldaric gestured toward a chair.
"Sit."
Iren nodded and sat down.
Aldaric calmly sat across from him.
"Now… tell me what happened."
Iren took a deep breath and steadied himself.
Then he explained everything.
The endless river.
The mysterious voice.
The drowning.
And the Fire Ring flickering.
When he finished—
Aldaric's eyes widened slightly.
"...I see."
He slowly stood up and walked toward the window again.
For several seconds the room remained silent.
Then Aldaric spoke.
"Iren."
"I believe you have been summoned."
Iren blinked.
"Summoned…?"
Aldaric nodded.
"For your next trial."
Iren swallowed.
"My… next trial?"
"Yes."
Aldaric turned toward him.
"You said water surrounded you everywhere in the dream."
Iren nodded.
"Yes."
Aldaric's voice became deeper.
"Then there is no doubt."
"Your next trial is for the Water Ring."
Iren's heart skipped a beat.
"And the guardian of that ring…"
Aldaric paused.
The atmosphere in the room suddenly felt heavier.
"...is Nerithis."
Silence.
The name itself carried a terrifying weight.
Iren gulped.
"Nerithis…"
Then he asked,
"If I have been summoned for this trial… how will I reach it?"
Aldaric calmly pointed toward Iren's hand.
"The Fire Ring will guide you."
Iren looked at the ring.
The small flame flickered quietly.
"I see."
He stood up.
"Then I should leave immediately."
Aldaric nodded.
Before leaving, Iren turned back.
"Sir… could you inform my teammates that I will be away from the academy for a few days?"
"I will say my master called me."
Aldaric nodded.
"Don't worry."
"I will inform them."
Iren smiled slightly.
"Thank you, sir."
He turned to leave.
But then—
"Iren."
Iren stopped and looked back.
Aldaric's eyes were sharper now.
"Be careful."
"This trial will not be easy."
Iren nodded.
"I understand."
Aldaric looked at him for a moment.
"I have very high expectations for you, Iren."
"I believe you will defeat Nerithis…"
"And obtain the Water Ring."
Iren smiled confidently.
"I will do my best, sir."
Aldaric gave a small nod.
"I know you will."
Iren bowed slightly and left the office.
Creeeak…
---
Back in his room.
Iren quickly prepared his equipment.
Weapons.
Training gear.
Travel supplies.
Everything went into his bag.
Outside—
The moon shone brightly over the academy.
The entire campus was silent.
And while everyone slept—
Iren quietly walked past the academy gates.
His journey had begun.
Somewhere far away…
Someone was waiting.
The guardian of the Water Ring.
Nerithis.
---
Inside the office—
Aldaric still stood beside the window.
The moonlight reflected in his eyes.
He whispered quietly.
"...The trial of Nerithis has begun."
His expression turned slightly serious.
"I hope you are ready… Iren."
---