Morning arrived quietly at the academy.
The rain from the previous night had washed the sky clean.
Golden sunlight spread across the empty training ground.
Unlike normal days, the arena was almost silent.
Because only five students stood there.
The selected team for the Inter-Academy Tournament.
Iren.
Kael.
Riven.
Sylven.
Lyra.
The rest of the academy students were attending their regular classes.
Only the chosen team had been given special training hours.
Because only one month remained before the tournament.
At the center of the arena—
CLANG!
Steel collided.
Riven's sword flashed forward.
"Ha!"
WHOOSH
His body flickered.
In an instant he appeared behind Kael.
But—
CLANG!
Kael's spear blocked the strike without even turning around.
A faint distortion shimmered around him.
His spatial defense.
Riven clicked his tongue.
"Tch… still can't break through."
Kael replied calmly.
"You hesitated."
Riven smirked.
"Yeah. Because attacking a walking fortress is annoying."
Nearby—
Sylven trained relentlessly.
"Haah!"
THUD
His spear struck the practice dummy.
Again.
And again.
Sweat rolled down his face.
"Haah!"
Meanwhile—
Lyra stood slightly away from them.
But she wasn't watching their fight.
Her gaze was fixed on someone else.
Iren.
He stood near the edge of the arena.
His sword moved through the air.
SWISH
SWISH
SWISH
Clean.
Precise.
Controlled.
Lyra silently watched him.
Her mind replayed last night.
The blue glow.
The floating water.
And Iren running across the lake shouting—
"Yippee!"
Lyra sighed.
That idiot…
Finally she walked toward him.
"Iren."
His sword stopped mid-swing.
"Hm?"
Lyra tilted her head.
"Come with me for a moment."
Immediately—
Riven's grin appeared.
"Oh?"
Sylven crossed his arms dramatically.
"Well well…"
Iren blinked.
"…What?"
Riven smirked.
"Looks like someone's popular today."
Sylven added,
"Don't worry, we won't interrupt your romantic moment."
Lyra's eyebrow twitched.
"You two are unbelievable."
She grabbed Iren's sleeve.
"Just come."
She dragged him away.
Behind them—
Sylven whispered loudly,
"Should we follow them?"
Kael calmly replied,
"No."
Riven sighed.
"…What a waste."
---
Behind the Academy — The Lake
The calm lake reflected the morning sky.
Wind moved gently through the trees.
Iren looked around.
"…Why did you bring me here?"
Lyra crossed her arms.
She stared at him for a moment.
Then spoke.
"Iren."
"How long were you planning to hide it?"
Iren frowned.
"…Hide what?"
Lyra pointed toward the lake.
"You walking on water last night."
Iren froze.
"…You saw that?"
Lyra nodded.
"Everything."
"From the moment you dropped your cape."
Iren scratched his head awkwardly.
"…Ah."
"Well… that's embarrassing."
Lyra narrowed her eyes.
"So?"
"You want to explain?"
Iren sighed.
Then he lifted his right hand.
Two rings rested there.
A red ring on his index finger.
And a blue ring on his middle finger.
Lyra pointed at the blue one.
"That ring."
"You told me before you bought it when you went to meet your master."
Iren nodded.
"Yeah."
"I like rings, so I bought it from a shop."
Lyra looked carefully at it.
"Then why was it glowing last night?"
Iren glanced at the ring.
Then shrugged casually.
"Oh… that."
"This one glows in the dark."
Lyra blinked.
"…What?"
Iren nodded seriously.
"Yeah."
"I like glow-in-the-dark rings."
"Like this one."
He slightly raised his hand.
The red ring shimmered faintly.
Lyra paused.
Then she remembered something.
One night during training—
She had seen the red ring glowing faintly.
Lyra nodded slowly.
"…Right."
"I did see that once."
She sighed.
"Fine."
"Then what about the water?"
Iren looked toward the lake.
Then answered calmly.
"I was born with two types of magic."
Lyra's eyes widened slightly.
"…Two?"
Iren nodded.
"Fire."
"And water."
Lyra stared at him.
"That's extremely rare."
"I know."
"That's why I don't talk about it."
Lyra sighed.
"You overthink too much."
Iren smiled slightly.
"Maybe."
Lyra looked at the lake again.
"But still…"
She turned toward him.
"That awakening yesterday was impressive."
Iren smiled.
"Thanks."
Then suddenly—
Lyra pointed at him.
"But another thing."
Iren flinched.
"What?"
Lyra smirked.
"Don't scream 'Yippee' while running on water."
Iren froze.
"…You saw that part too?!"
Lyra nodded proudly.
"Unfortunately."
Iren covered his face.
"…I'm never coming to this lake again."
Lyra chuckled.
---
On the Way Back
They started walking back toward the academy.
Footsteps echoed softly.
Tap… tap… tap…
Iren walked ahead casually.
But behind him—
Lyra suddenly slowed.
Her eyes narrowed slightly.
Something still feels strange…
Iren continued walking.
He reached the stone wall of one of the academy buildings.
And then—
THUD!
Suddenly a force pushed him forward.
"Wha—?!"
His back hit the wall.
Before he could react—
SLAM
Two hands struck the wall beside his shoulders.
Lyra had pinned him.
Blocking his escape.
Her head lowered slightly.
Iren's face turned red instantly.
"W-what are you doing—"
Before he could finish—
Lyra covered his mouth.
"Shhh."
"Keep quiet."
"I still have one question."
Iren blinked nervously.
After a moment she removed her hand.
But her palms remained on the wall.
Iren swallowed.
"W-what now…?"
Slowly—
Lyra lifted her face.
Her eyes had sharpened.
"So…"
"Tell me about the cape."
Iren froze.
"…What?"
Lyra tilted her head.
"Why did you lie to me about the cape?"
Iren blinked nervously.
"…You saw that too?"
Lyra replied flatly.
"I told you."
"I saw everything."
Iren began stammering.
"I—well—"
Lyra slowly withdrew her hands from the wall.
Then crossed her arms.
"That cape…"
"It was a training weight."
"Right?"
Iren scratched his cheek awkwardly.
"…Ah."
"Yes."
Lyra sighed.
"And you said—"
She mimicked his voice.
"I wear this cape to look cooler… maybe some girl will become my friend."
She looked at him.
"What a stupid reason."
Iren looked away shyly.
"…Well."
"You figured it out yourself anyway."
"That it was a training weight."
Lyra nodded.
"Yes."
"I noticed something."
"After the tournament, when you started wearing that cape…"
"You became slightly slower."
"That made me suspicious."
Iren rubbed the back of his neck.
"…Please don't tell anyone."
Lyra sighed.
"…Fine."
"I won't."
She turned and began walking again.
"Now let's go."
Iren exhaled in relief.
"Thanks…"
He followed her.
The academy courtyard appeared ahead.
But suddenly—
Lyra slowed again.
A thought surfaced in her mind.
When Iren left the academy…
He said he went to meet his master.
Her steps slowed further.
Another memory appeared.
A conversation.
Someone saying that Iren's master was already—
Lyra looked at Iren walking ahead.
Her eyes narrowed slightly.
Iren…
Did you lie about something else too…?
At that moment—
The academy bell rang loudly.
DONG
DONG
Calling students to the hall.
And unknowingly—
The truth waiting there would soon change everything.
---