Riser didn't leave immediately.
Even after the man disappeared into the deeper sections of the building… even after the tension in the room loosened just enough for conversations to resume… something still lingered.
A quiet pressure.
Not aimed at him directly anymore—
But still aware of him.
"...So that's it?" Riser muttered, glancing slightly toward Elira. "I get stared at, evaluated, then ignored?"
Elira tilted her head faintly, watching him with mild amusement.
"Ignored?"
"Feels like it."
"That just means you passed the first layer."
Riser narrowed his eyes slightly.
"...First layer."
"Did you expect things to be simple?"
"No," he admitted. "But I expected something a little more… direct."
Elira's smile curved.
"You'll get that."
As if on cue—
The system flickered again.
[System Alert]Trial Protocol DetectedCondition: Engagement RequiredFailure to Respond May Result in Status Decline
Riser blinked once.
Then sighed.
"...There it is."
Elira's eyes shifted slightly, clearly catching the change in his expression.
"You got something."
"Yeah."
"Let me guess."
She leaned slightly closer.
"You're being pulled in deeper."
Riser gave her a flat look.
"You say that like I had a choice."
"You always have a choice."
"Not a good one."
"Those are the only interesting ones."
A presence approached again.
Different this time.
Not the same controlled, overwhelming aura as before—
But sharper.
More aggressive.
Riser didn't need to turn immediately to know.
This one wasn't here to talk.
"...Of course."
He muttered under his breath.
"Hey."
The voice came from behind him.
Female.
Confident.
Carrying just enough edge to make its intent clear.
Riser turned.
Slowly.
She stood a few steps away.
Silver hair tied loosely behind her head, a few strands falling across her face.
Sharp eyes.
Not cold—
But challenging.
Her stance was relaxed, but there was tension underneath.
The kind that meant she could move at any moment.
"...You're Riser."
Again—
Not a question.
Riser nodded once.
"That's what people keep saying."
She smirked faintly.
"Good. Saves time."
Elira stepped slightly to the side.
Not leaving.
But not interfering either.
Watching.
Of course she was.
The girl took a step forward.
Then another.
Closing the distance just enough.
"I've been told to test you."
Riser raised an eyebrow.
"Direct. I like that."
"You don't have a choice."
"I figured."
A faint shift in the air.
Not overwhelming.
But focused.
Targeted.
Riser rolled his shoulders slightly.
"...And if I refuse?"
The girl didn't hesitate.
"You won't."
"Confident."
"Accurate."
A brief pause.
Then—
"Besides…"
Her eyes sharpened slightly.
"I want to see for myself."
Riser exhaled slowly.
"...Yeah. That sounds about right."
He glanced briefly at Elira.
She gave him a small, knowing smile.
No help coming from there.
Not that he expected it.
"Alright."
Riser stepped forward.
Just one step.
Enough to meet her space.
"I'll play."
Her smile widened.
"Good."
The room shifted again.
Not everyone stopped.
But enough people noticed.
Subtle attention turning.
Quiet interest building.
Riser cracked his knuckles lightly.
"No weapons?"
She shook her head.
"No need."
"Close combat?"
"If you can keep up."
He smirked faintly.
"That's the plan."
No signal.
No countdown.
No warning.
She moved first.
Fast.
Faster than most students he'd seen.
A direct step forward—then a sharp pivot.
Her hand came up—
Aimed straight for his shoulder.
Riser reacted immediately.
Not faster—
But cleaner.
He shifted his weight, turning just enough for the strike to graze past instead of land clean.
Close.
Very close.
"...Not bad."
She didn't stop.
Didn't hesitate.
Her momentum carried into a second movement—
A sweep aimed low.
Riser stepped back just in time.
Barely.
His foot slid across the stone floor.
"...Okay."
He muttered.
"She's serious."
He moved forward this time.
Not rushing.
Not reckless.
Measured.
Their movements collided.
Fast.
Controlled.
Precise.
A strike—
Blocked.
A counter—
Redirected.
A step—
Matched.
She was good.
Really good.
Not overwhelming like Mirai—
But sharper.
More refined in close range.
Less wasted motion.
"...You're thinking too much."
She said suddenly.
Riser's eyes narrowed slightly.
"And you're talking too much."
She smirked.
"Maybe."
She pushed forward again.
Faster this time.
Riser didn't retreat.
Their distance closed instantly.
Her hand shot forward—
He caught it.
Not perfectly—
But enough.
For a split second—
They locked.
Then—
She twisted.
Sharp.
Sudden.
Riser felt the shift immediately.
"...Tch."
He released before she could leverage it fully.
Stepping back again.
Resetting.
A small grin appeared on her face.
"You're adapting."
"I try."
"You're still holding back."
"So are you."
A pause.
Brief.
Then—
They both moved at the same time.
This time—
Faster.
Riser stepped in—
Not reacting—
Acting.
A feint—
She didn't fall for it.
A shift—
She adjusted.
But—
For just a moment—
There.
Riser slipped inside her guard.
His hand stopped just short of her shoulder.
Her movement froze.
Silence.
"...Huh."
She looked at his hand.
Then back at him.
"...Not bad."
Riser exhaled slowly.
"You too."
Neither moved for a second.
Then—
They both stepped back.
The tension broke.
But the attention in the room didn't.
She rolled her shoulder slightly.
A small smirk returning.
"You pass."
Riser raised an eyebrow.
"That's it?"
"For now."
She turned slightly.
Then paused.
"...Name's Lyra."
Riser nodded once.
"Riser."
"I know."
She walked away.
Just like that.
Riser stood there for a moment.
Then exhaled.
"...Alright."
Elira stepped back beside him.
"That went better than expected."
"I'm starting to hate that phrase."
"You did well."
"I didn't lose."
"You didn't win."
"...Yeah, I've heard that before."
The system flickered again.
[System Notification]Trial CompletedEvaluation Result: Approved (Conditional)New Character Link Established: LyraAffinity Level: Initiated
Riser stared at the last line.
"...Here we go again."
Elira laughed softly.
"You're collecting them."
"I'm not trying to."
"Doesn't matter."
Riser ran a hand through his hair.
"...This place is going to be a problem."
Elira smiled.
"It already is."
Riser glanced toward where Lyra had disappeared.
Then toward the deeper parts of the building.
"...Good."
He muttered quietly.
Because if this was the system pulling him forward—
Then he wasn't going to step back.