"You really are something if you still have your neck intact," Sera said and Lyren rubbed his neck. Well, even he was surprised that no one had come after him yet.
"You are lucky the academy has taken you in and now no one dares to touch an inner disciple." Sera said and Lyren felt relieved. It appeared that he was not going to have to deal with hidden threats.
"So, what are the privileges of being an inner disciple?" Lyren asked so he could know what he was going to expect.
"There is no much I can tell you other than that you will have to find out on your own. The list is so long and I would have to start explaining the rules which is tedious," Sera said and Lyren agreed.
It was going to be a drag that he was to sit there listening to rules he was going to break anyway.
"Madam Sera, I have been meaning to ask for a while. What was the mission that you had gone to when we met back then? It appeared that you had to cut it short," he asked and a sigh left Sera.
"That is not something I can go telling everyone. You are worthy of knowing but you are not officially our fellow student. It is one of those missions that have been left out for so long and we had decided to try our luck.
"We ended up dropping it. Maybe the elders will have to do it themselves or take it to the next level," Sera said in a weary tone.
That mission had truly drained them and they were only alive through luck and an encounter that she was forever grateful. The kid before her.
"Why are you looking at me like that?" Lyren asked after a silence and Sera's scrutiny.
"I was just thinking that you are very sensitive to Elyria and that it was your shout back then that drove James to action or else we would have all died back then. We never got to thank you," Sera said and Lyren wore a knowing smile.
"I bet what you are asking is how I am able to hide my cultivation. After all I am weaker than you."
"As if you would tell me," Claire replied self-deprecatingly. Some secrets you just took to your grave.
"Glad to hear that. Anyway, how are you going to thank me for saving your lives then?"
Sera was flabbergasted. She had just said some heartfelt words and the kid had already turned the tables on her.
"Was I not sincere enough?" She asked.
"Sincerity of words alone does not feel sincere at all. A mere thank you is not enough," Lyren replied and Sera realized that it was true.
Words alone were not sincere enough for someone who had saved your life even after you doubted them and you never got to apologize to them for the harm that was caused. That was nothing less than spitting on their face.
"I understand. I will be calling on a meeting for all of us who were on that mission and each will have to contribute something. It shall be our gift for you during the entrance ceremony," Sera did not hesitate coming to this conclusion.
"Now that's more like it. I assume that everyone is well and good. I see Julia moving just fine," Lyren asked and she nodded.
"Julia has had a very difficult time and she is only able to move for short distances. She was badly injured after all.
"The other guy is now able to hear well and the rest did not have deep wounds. Kaelen has also entered seclusion and James will be leaving soon," Sera did not go into details and that was enough.
It was not like Lyren had a relationship with any of them in the first place.
A silence ensued. They just stared at each other and they came to a conclusion that the other was definitely a worthy opponent and also a comrade.
Sera specifically was excited because Lyren was a great asset and her faction was really going to dominate. She could only will the days to run so he could join the academy sooner.
"That time when we parted, I wanted to tell you about your mother and I thought that it was better that you find it on your own. Sorry for what happened to her.
" It must have hurt," Sera gave her condolences and Lyren just nodded. That was a topic he did not want to discuss at all.
"Thankfully you did not because I would have never learned what truly happened to her. It was because I was weak that she thought I was dead and because she was weak that she died.
"DI have to get strong enough not to die," Lyren replied with clenched fist as a white light flashed in his eyes.
Sera listened to his words and she had a bad feeling about this. Those were not words he should be saying. He should not have said that with just clenched fist. That reaction was too minimal.
"Did you cry?" She couldn't help but ask. She had cried so much when her grandmother died a year ago and she was still not over it.
She could always get sad when she recalled her grandmother but the kid who had just lost his mom had said those words with a straight face. That was not supposed to be normal. The chuckle that came made her shiver.
"I really don't want to talk about it. I didn't cry I couldn't. And please refrain from talking about that topic anymore."
Lyren said after his dry chuckle. His tone drawing a line. He could not cry back then. He had wanted to cry…
Sera frowned but she accepted. She had no rights to actually ask those questions and his reply was him giving her face or else he could have just evaded the question. Somehow, she believed him. His eyes said it all.
The conversation ended soon and Sera stood up and wanted to leave. Lyren accompanied her and when they opened the door, Claire and Julia looked at the two and Julia realized that it was time to head back.
The sun was already hiding behind the mountains and she was surprised that the two had spent the whole time talking.
Lyren walked them out and when they reached the hotel, there were gazes on him and he ignored them as he led them outside the hotel to where a carriage was waiting.
It appeared that it was this carriage that had brought them here. It really exuded class. A white carriage drawn by a white horse. It really did seem to suit her aesthetic.
He watched them climb on and he waved as Sera peeped through the window and spoke.
"See you at the entrance ceremony, young master."
Lyren was left scratching his head as he had just been mocked. He watched the carriage leave until it out of his vicinity and that was when he turned back and went back to the VVIP room.
He opened the door and he found a Claire standing with her hands akimbo.
"young master, I have prepared a bath for you. This way please," she ushered him to the bathroom and Lyren was confused.
Why was he taking a bath immediately after Sera left? He had not done anything at all and he was not sweaty… Anyway, he did not mind. He was planning on cultivating so it was better to do it after a bath.
As he passed Claire, he saw her flinch her nose and wore an ugly look. He could not help but wonder what it was all about…