Morning slowly descended over the academy.
Soft sunlight spread across the stone buildings while the air carried the gentle sound of birds.
Chirp… chirp… chirp…
The academy was already full of life.
Students walked through the courtyard, chatting and laughing as another day began.
The mess hall, especially, was lively.
SPOON CLINK
CHAIRS SCRAPE
MURMURS
Students talked loudly while enjoying their breakfast.
But one table felt unusually quiet.
Riven, Kael, Sylven, and Lyra were sitting together.
Four plates were placed on the table.
One seat remained empty.
Iren's seat.
Riven leaned back slightly and glanced toward the entrance.
"...Alright. Now it's getting too late."
Sylven nodded slowly.
"Yeah… you're right."
"Iren is never this late."
Lyra kept looking toward the entrance of the mess hall.
After a moment she spoke.
"I think we should go check his room."
"Maybe he's still asleep."
Riven smirked.
"Heh… honestly, that wouldn't surprise me."
Kael calmly stood up.
"Alright."
"Let's go check."
The others nodded and stood up as well.
Soon the four of them walked out of the mess hall and headed toward Iren's dorm room.
---
A few minutes later.
They reached his room.
But the moment they saw the door—
Everyone froze.
The door was locked.
From the outside.
With a lock.
Riven blinked in confusion.
"...Wait."
"What?"
Sylven stared at the lock in disbelief.
"But… then where did he go?"
"And he didn't tell any of us either."
Kael folded his arms thoughtfully.
"...This is strange."
Then he spoke calmly.
"I think we should inform the Headmaster."
Everyone nodded in agreement.
---
They soon reached the Headmaster's office.
Sylven stepped forward and knocked on the door.
Knock. Knock.
A calm voice came from inside.
"Come in."
They slowly opened the door and stepped inside.
Headmaster Aldaric was sitting behind his desk.
The moment they approached—
He spoke before anyone else could.
"I know why you all have come."
The four students stopped in surprise.
Then Aldaric continued calmly.
"Iren is not in his room… correct?"
They exchanged shocked glances.
Riven scratched his head.
"W-Wait… how did you know that, sir?"
Aldaric folded his hands calmly.
"He came to see me last night."
Everyone leaned forward slightly.
"He informed me that he would be leaving the academy. "
Everyone froze.
"What?!"
"He left?!"
Aldaric nodded.
"Yes."
Silence filled the room.
Lyra lowered her gaze.
A strange thought appeared in her mind.
'So… I was right…'
'He really liked someone…'
'And during the night… when everyone was sleeping…'
'Maybe he ran away with her.'
Her cheeks turned slightly red.
But she quickly pushed the thought away.
Then she asked quietly,
"But… why, sir?"
Aldaric answered calmly.
"Do not worry."
"He will return."
Everyone listened carefully.
"He told me he has some work with his master."
"And once that work is finished… he will return to the academy."
The tension in the room slowly faded.
Sylven sighed in relief.
"...I see."
Kael bowed his head respectfully.
"Thank you for explaining, sir."
"If you allow us, we will return to our training."
Aldaric nodded.
"Yes."
"You may leave."
"And do not worry."
"He will return soon."
The four students nodded and left the office.
---
While walking through the corridor—
Riven stretched his arms.
"Phew…"
"For a moment there, I thought something really bad had happened."
Sylven nodded.
"Same here."
"When I saw that lock on his door… I got worried."
"But hearing the Headmaster… I feel relieved now."
Kael nodded calmly.
"Yes."
"He is our teammate now."
"Anyone would be surprised if he suddenly disappeared like that."
But Lyra remained silent.
She walked beside them quietly.
Lost in thought.
Then suddenly—
A memory resurfaced.
Iren once told me…
His master is no longer alive.
Her eyes widened slightly.
Then why did he tell the Headmaster he had work with his master…?
She sighed quietly.
Argh… I can't understand this…
What exactly is going on…?
Riven suddenly looked at her.
"Hey, Lyra."
"Something wrong?"
Lyra quickly shook her head.
"N-No… nothing."
Riven grinned.
"Hmm… looks like you're worried about him too."
Then suddenly—
Snap.
Lyra turned toward him sharply.
Her eyes narrowed.
Riven immediately raised both hands defensively.
"W-Wait! I meant as a teammate!"
"As a friend!"
Lyra looked away.
"...Yes."
"...Maybe you are right."
The group continued walking toward the training grounds.
---
Meanwhile…
Far away from the academy—
Iren had already reached the location of the Water Ring.
Before him stood a massive blue-colored door.
Ancient symbols were carved across its surface.
The door looked old.
Yet an eerie blue glow faintly flowed through the patterns engraved on it.
Iren quietly observed the door.
Then he stepped forward.
Step.
He placed his hand on the cold surface.
Then slowly—
GRRRRRR…
The massive door began to open.
A cold wind flowed out from inside.
As the door fully opened—
Iren stepped through.
And what appeared before him was an ancient sanctuary.
Ruins stretched endlessly ahead.
Broken pillars stood rising from shallow water.
Half-submerged temples and ancient structures lay scattered across the flooded land.
The entire place felt silent.
Cold.
Ancient.
A faint wind moved across the water.
Whooooosh…
Iren looked around slowly.
Then he muttered quietly.
"So… this is where my next trial is."
His eyes focused on the flooded ruins.
"The Drowned Sanctuary."
Without hesitation—
He stepped forward.
Splash.
Water rippled beneath his boots.
The quiet ruins echoed softly as he walked deeper into the flooded sanctuary.
Then suddenly—
CLINK…
A faint metallic sound echoed somewhere beneath the water.
Iren stopped.
The water around him slowly became still.
He looked around carefully.
But there was nothing there.
Only silence.
Then—
CLINK…
The sound of chains echoed again.
Deep beneath the water—
Something slowly moved.
Watching him.
The guardian of the Water Ring.
Nerithis.
---