Ryen did not raise his eyes. He was looking at the white bandage on his shoulder.
"I fell."
"You fell?"
Mira repeated, her voice not hiding her doubt.
"This wound isn't from a fall. It's deep, the edges are torn, as if something sharp pierced the skin. How exactly did you fall?"
"It doesn't matter."
"It matters to me."
Ryan was silent.He knew that if he told her that strangers had attacked him, his sister would connect them to the people who had kidnapped him in the past.
But he knows there is no connection between them, because he has an idea of who attacked him yesterday, although he is not sure.
He also didn't want any of his family members to interfere in his problems.so....
He raised his eyes. He looked at her coldly.
"Why are you insisting?"
he said in a dry voice.
"I fell. End of story. Why are you interrogating me?"
Mira did not back down. She looked at him with her steady green eyes.
"Because I know you're lying."
he cut her off, his voice becoming harsher.
"And what if I lying,What will you do? Go to the guards? Ask Liara to come and protect me?,or you will do that?"
"Ryan, I didn't say..."
He stood up.
"I don't need your protection,No one protect me in the past, so I will protect myself."
Ryan fell silent after saying that.
'Damn, I spoke without thinking.'
His words were harsh. He saw how her hands trembled. How she bit her lower lip.
But he did not back down. He could not. Because if she knew the truth, she would try to help him. And he don't want to.
Mira stood up as well. Her lips trembled slightly.
Mira said finally. Her voice was quiet, but wounded.
"Fine,I won't ask."
She turned around. She opened the door.
"Come. I'll take you to the boys' dormitory."
Ryan and Mira left the small room and walked into the side corridor. The air was cool, and the smell of dried herbs and old books still clung to their clothes.
Mira walked ahead of him, not speaking. Her back was straight, but her hands were clasped tightly in front of her. She was still hurt by his harsh words, but she did not show it on her face. She simply walked.
Ryan followed behind her. He was also silent. But his eyes moved, scanning everything around him.
This was the first time he had seen the inside of the academy so deeply. When he had entered in the morning, his focus had been only on the exam. He had not looked at the details. But now...
The side corridors were narrow, their floors made of dark polished wood, the walls painted a soft beige. On the walls hung small paintings of flowers and birds, as if trying to make the place less formal. There were wooden doors on both sides of the corridor, some closed, some secured with iron locks. On each door, a small plaque bore a name and a number.
Mira said without turning around.
"Teachers' rooms,Each teacher has their own room. Some live here, others only come for teaching."
The side corridor ended, and they emerged into a wide main corridor. Its floor was of white and black marble, like the examination hall. The columns were high, topped with carved stone arches. On the walls hung huge oil paintings of past kings and queens, in their formal attire, with their stiff faces. Their eyes seemed to follow him wherever he went.
The main corridor was nearly empty at this time of evening. Some new students still wandered about, but most had returned to their dormitories or rooms.
They walked in silence. Mira did not turn to look at him once. Ryan stared at her back, at her straight shoulders, at her clasped hands. He knew she was hurting, but he could not find the words to apologize.
They crossed the main square, where the stone lion fountain stood. The fountain still flowed with water, reflecting the moonlight on its shimmering surface. The water glowed silver, flowing quietly. Around the fountain were empty stone benches and small trees whose branches moved in the night breeze.
They passed the academy library – a huge building of grey stone, its windows stained glass, its carved wooden door now closed. A guard stood in front of the door, watching them without speaking.
Then they passed the dining hall. Its windows were dark, but the aroma of fresh bread and stew still wafted from inside. Some servants were cleaning the long tables, preparing for the next day.
Mira asked suddenly, without turning around.
"Are you hungry?"
Ryan lied.
"I'm not hungry,"
She did not comment.
They crossed a small garden behind the dining hall. There was a stone bench under a large tree, its branches hanging like a natural canopy.
They left the main academy complex.
The entrance to the external dormitories was on the western side. They crossed a small open courtyard, lit by oil lamps on iron posts. The air was colder here, and the wind carried the scent of earth and trees.
Then Ryan saw the boys' dormitory.
The building was huge, four stories tall, made of dark grey stone. Its many windows were some lit with pale light, others dark. The main door was heavy wooden, and above it was a plaque reading: "Boys' Dormitory – West Wing". On either side of the door stood two tall stone pillars, topped with statues of grim-faced lions.
Mira stopped in front of the door. She did not enter with him.
she said. Her voice was quiet, but not without coldness.
"Your room is on the second floor, room number seven,"
She handed him the wooden key. She did not smile. She did not look into his eyes.
he asked, trying to break the ice.
"Do you know where I can see Ari?"
"In the girls' dormitory. The east side of the campus. You cannot go there,"
she said.
"You will see her after a week , in the Start of Year Ceremony ."
Ryan nodded. He took the key.
Mira turned her back.Then she walked away.
Ryan saw the sadness in her eyes, but he didn't call out to her.
Ryan stood in front of the dormitory door, watching her figure disappear into the darkness of the courtyard. He heard her footsteps fade until silence fell.
He sighed. He pushed the heavy door. He entered.
No one was there.
Ryan looked at the key. Number 7. He climbed the stairs to the second floor. The stairs were wooden, creaking under his feet. He passed doors numbered: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6. He stopped at door number 7.
He inserted the key. Turned it. The door opened.
The room was small – a single iron-framed bed, a thin mattress, a simple grey blanket. A small wooden desk beside the window, and one chair. A narrow wardrobe in the corner. A single window overlooking the academy's back garden – it was dark now, but he saw the shadows of trees moving in the wind.
He placed his sword beside the bed. He placed the dark blue robe – the student uniform – on the desk. He stood in the middle of the room for a moment.
It was quiet.
He sat on the bed. He looked at the small room. At the bare walls. At the wooden ceiling. At the window reflecting his pale face.
He remembered Mira's face when he said, "I don't need your protection." He remembered how her hands trembled. How she bit her lip.
She did not deserve that. She was only trying to help him. She was worried about him. She was his sister.
he whispered to himself.
"Why did I say all that?"
He knew why. He was afraid.
But that did not justify his rudeness.
He lay down on the bed. He closed his eyes. But he could not sleep.
he had been cruel to Mira.
he whispered to himself.
"Idiot."