The night was quiet.
The moon hung high in the sky, bright and silver.
Cold wind swept across the academy grounds.
The air felt heavy… as if rain could fall at any moment.
Despite the strong wind, the night remained peaceful.
Inside the academy dormitory, most students were already asleep.
But one person was still awake.
Lyra.
She lay on her bed, staring at the ceiling.
Her mind refused to rest.
Only one month…
Only one month left before the tournament.
Her fingers tightened slightly on the blanket.
Our opponents will be strong…
Can we really defeat them?
She suddenly sat up.
Her hands moved to her head.
"Why am I thinking so far ahead…" she muttered softly.
She sighed.
"One month is still left."
"If we train hard… we can win."
Still, the uneasiness inside her chest refused to disappear.
Lyra stood up slowly.
"I think… I need some fresh air."
She opened the door and stepped outside.
Her room was located near the lake behind the academy.
The cold wind brushed against her face as she walked toward the railing.
Soon she reached the edge.
The lake below reflected the moonlight beautifully.
Silver ripples danced across the water.
The wind blew strongly across the surface.
Lyra inhaled deeply.
Then exhaled slowly.
"…That feels better."
Her eyes remained fixed on the lake.
The moon looks beautiful tonight…
And the air is refreshing.
For a moment, she simply enjoyed the calm.
But then—
She noticed something.
A figure walking across the ground toward the lake.
The wind caused the long cape behind him to flutter wildly.
A sword rested on his back.
Lyra immediately recognized him.
Iren…
She quietly stepped behind the railing so he wouldn't notice her.
What is he doing here…?
He never comes to the lake…
Meanwhile, Iren walked slowly toward the shore.
He stopped and sat down near the water.
Lyra watched silently.
Did he come here to relax… like me?
But down below—
Something very different was happening.
Iren stared at the reflection of the moon in the lake.
Only one month left… before the tournament.
He clenched his hand slightly.
So far… I've only unlocked Level Three of the Fire Ring.
Then he looked at his right hand.
A blue ring rested on his middle finger.
The Water Ring.
"…But I still haven't awakened the Water Ring."
He sighed.
"Our opponents will be far stronger than I imagine."
"I have to awaken it."
His voice lowered.
"But… how?"
"I awakened the Fire Ring through rage… through intense training."
"But water…"
"…How do I awaken water?"
Above him, Lyra continued watching quietly.
Why is he just sitting there…?
I thought he came here to train.
But he's just staring at the lake…
Suddenly—
A leaf drifted down from a tree.
Plop
It landed on the lake's surface.
Ripples spread outward, distorting the moon's reflection.
Iren stared at the ripples.
Then suddenly—
A voice echoed in his mind.
The final words of Nerithis.
> "You understand grief…
Yet you move forward."
Iren whispered to himself,
"I think… this is also a message."
"Just like Ignivar's words were."
"But…"
"I still don't understand what it means."
He repeated the words quietly.
"You understand grief… yet you move forward…"
Then he looked at the lake again.
Despite the wind…
Despite the ripples…
The moon's reflection still remained.
Iren stared for a few seconds.
Then a small smile appeared.
"…I think I get it."
He slowly stood up.
Above him, Lyra quickly hid behind the railing.
I guess he's leaving now…
But Iren didn't leave.
Instead—
He stepped back.
Then reached behind his neck.
And removed his cape.
The heavy cloth dropped to the ground.
THUD
The sound echoed loudly in the silent night.
Dust rose from the ground and scattered with the wind.
Lyra's eyes widened.
"…What was that?"
"Did… that sound come from the cape?"
Then she remembered something Iren once told her.
> "The cape isn't any normal cape.
It's part of my training.
The heavier it is… the slower I become.
If I can fight while wearing it, my real speed will be much faster."
Lyra gripped the railing.
"…So you lied to me, Iren."
But then she smiled faintly.
"You don't wear it to look cooler…"
"…It's part of your stupid training."
She sighed.
"That explains why your speed looked slower during the tournament."
Below—
Iren raised his right hand.
Then closed his eyes.
A faint blue light began to glow from the ring.
Lyra blinked.
"…What?"
The blue glow intensified.
Water droplets began gathering in the air around him.
Floating.
Moving slowly.
Lyra froze in shock.
"…Water?"
Iren slowly opened his eyes.
He looked at the glowing ring.
A smile appeared.
"…So I was right."
Nerithis's voice echoed again in his mind.
> "You understand grief…
Yet you move forward."
Iren spoke quietly.
"To move forward…"
"I need a calm mind."
"That's what Nerithis meant."
He looked at the floating water.
"And now…"
"…I've awakened the Water Ring."
Above him, Lyra stood frozen.
Her mind struggled to understand what she was seeing.
Iren… is a fire user…
Then how is he controlling water…?
Her eyes widened.
This means…
He can use two elements…
And he hid that from us.
Meanwhile, Iren walked closer to the lake.
"I wonder what abilities this level has…"
He stood at the water's edge.
"…Should I step on it?"
"But what if I drown again…"
"There's no one here to save me."
He took a deep breath.
"It's okay."
"Calm mind."
"I'll just take one step."
Slowly—
He placed his foot on the water.
But he didn't sink.
The water felt solid.
Like ground.
Iren blinked.
"…It worked."
He stepped forward again.
Still nothing happened.
Soon—
He was standing completely on the lake.
Iren looked around in amazement.
"This feels just like the Drowned Sanctuary…"
A smile spread across his face.
"So that place was actually hinting at the Water Ring's ability…"
"…That's cool."
Above him, Lyra rubbed her eyes.
"…Is that really Iren?"
"…Or someone else?"
Suddenly—
Iren jumped happily.
Then began running across the lake.
"Yeah!"
"This is fun!"
"Yippee!"
Lyra sighed.
"…Yes."
"That's definitely Iren."
"Only he can act this childish."
Then—
WHOOSH
The wind grew stronger.
Dark clouds covered the moon.
And suddenly—
PITTER… PITTER…
Rain began to fall.
Within seconds, it turned into heavy rainfall.
Lyra remained safe under the building roof.
But outside—
The rain poured across the lake.
Iren stood at the center of the water.
Completely soaked.
The Water Ring still glowing.
He looked at the sky and smiled.
"…Finally."
"I managed to awaken it."
But then—
A cold wind hit him.
His body shivered violently.
"Brrr…!"
He hugged himself.
"Now… I should head back…"
"…Before I catch a cold."
He quickly ran back toward the shore.
Lyra immediately hid behind the railing again.
Iren reached the ground.
Picked up his heavy cape.
And ran toward the academy building.
Soon he disappeared into the darkness.
Lyra remained standing there.
Still shocked.
"…Why…"
"Why did he hide such an incredible power from us?"
Then a memory flashed in her mind.
The blue glow she had once seen in Iren's room.
And the blue ring she noticed on the table.
"…Or…"
"…Is it because of that blue ring?"
Lyra slowly turned and returned to her room.
But many questions still lingered in her mind.
---