Morning sunlight spread across the academy grounds.
Golden rays slipped through the tall trees while a cool breeze drifted through the campus.
Chirp… chirp…
Birds sang from the branches above.
Students filled the academy with activity.
Some were already training hard on the practice fields.
Swish! Clang!
Wooden swords struck against each other while magic spells flashed across the air.
Others hurried toward their classrooms with books in their hands.
The academy had fully awakened.
---
Training Ground
On one side of the large training ground—
Three students stood waiting.
Riven stretched lazily.
Sylven leaned against a wooden training post with a relaxed expression.
Kael stood quietly with his arms crossed, observing the field.
It looked like they were waiting for someone.
Tap… tap…
Footsteps approached.
Lyra entered the training ground.
She looked at the three boys and raised a hand slightly.
"Good morning."
The three nodded.
"Morning."
Lyra glanced around.
"So… shall we start?"
Sylven shook his head.
"Not yet. We're still missing someone."
Lyra blinked.
She quickly counted.
"One… two… three… four…"
Her eyebrows lifted.
"Wait… Iren isn't here?"
Riven waved his hand casually.
"Relax. He'll come."
Then he added with a grin,
"He usually shows up late."
Lyra tilted her head.
"Usually? You mean he—"
Kael finished calmly,
"Yeah. He's always late."
Sylven suddenly looked toward the entrance of the field.
Then he pointed.
"Oh. There he is."
Lyra quickly turned around.
And froze.
Iren was slowly walking toward them.
His hair was messy.
Dark circles hung under his red eyes.
His shoulders drooped as if he had no energy left in his body.
He dragged his feet while walking.
Step… drag… step…
Lyra slowly turned toward the others.
"…What happened to him?"
Sylven shrugged.
"Oh, that's just his usual look when he comes for training."
Kael nodded silently behind him.
Lyra turned back toward Iren again.
He slowly raised a hand while walking.
"Good… morning… friends…"
His voice was low and tired.
Then he yawned.
"Yaaawn…"
And continued walking toward them.
Riven leaned slightly toward Lyra with a grin.
"He looks like a zombie, right?"
For a moment—
Lyra's imagination ran wild.
In her mind, Iren suddenly appeared pale with glowing red eyes.
His arms stretched forward stiffly as he slowly dragged his feet.
Like a zombie crawling straight toward them.
Step… drag… step…
Lyra blinked.
The image disappeared.
She gave an awkward smile.
"…Yeah."
Riven grinned proudly.
"But don't worry."
"I know exactly how to wake him up."
Before anyone could stop him—
Riven suddenly ran toward Iren.
He threw an arm over Iren's shoulder and started walking beside him.
"So what happened to you, bro?"
Iren replied slowly.
"…Nothing."
"Just couldn't sleep last night."
Riven smirked.
"Ohhh… I see."
Then he said loudly,
"So Lyra joining our team made you so happy that you couldn't sleep all night, huh?"
Iren stopped walking.
Slowly…
He turned his head toward Riven.
His tired eyes suddenly sharpened.
"You started that again."
Riven's instincts screamed danger.
"RUN!"
He dashed away instantly.
Iren exploded with anger.
"Stop right there!"
"Today I'm definitely teaching you a lesson!"
He chased after Riven across the field.
Thud! Thud! Thud!
Sylven watched the scene calmly.
Then he smiled.
"Look."
"He's back to normal."
Riven ran straight toward Lyra and hid behind her.
"Lyra! Save me!"
Iren stopped instantly.
Just a few steps away from her.
The moment he saw Lyra standing there, he froze.
The two stared at each other for a moment.
Lyra tilted her head slightly.
"What happened to you, Iren?"
Iren pointed past her.
"First move aside."
"I need to deal with Riven."
Behind her, Riven raised his hands innocently.
"Oh come on! You know that was the plan!"
Lyra blinked.
"Plan?"
Sylven explained calmly.
"When Iren comes looking like that, we make him angry."
"It wakes him up."
Lyra nodded slowly.
"I see…"
Then curiosity appeared in her eyes.
"So how exactly do you make him angry?"
"Tell me. I want to know too."
Sylven hesitated.
"…You should ask Riven."
Lyra slowly turned around.
Her gaze locked onto him.
"Go on."
"What did you say to him?"
Riven's smile slowly faded.
"Ha…"
"Ha ha…"
Kael suddenly sensed danger.
But before he could stop it—
BAM!
Lyra punched Riven on the head.
"Ow!"
Riven grabbed his head in pain.
Sylven and Kael exchanged glances.
She's sharp.
She figured it out instantly.
Lyra had already understood.
Riven had teased Iren using her name.
Riven groaned.
"Oh come on, Lyra…"
"I didn't mean it like that."
"But it was the only way to wake him up!"
Lyra ignored him and turned toward Iren.
Iren nodded slightly.
"Thanks."
"For taking my revenge."
Lyra smiled faintly.
Then she asked softly,
"So what actually happened to you?"
Sylven crossed his arms.
"I bet he couldn't sleep last night again."
Iren nodded quietly.
Lyra immediately understood.
It was because of what happened last night.
Her cheeks turned slightly red.
Then she looked toward Iren.
And noticed he was staring at her.
The moment their eyes met—
Iren quickly lowered his gaze and looked away.
Kael clapped his hands once.
"Alright, that's enough fun."
Everyone looked at him.
He continued calmly,
"Don't forget why we came here."
"We gathered for training."
He pointed toward the center of the field.
"Now that everyone is here… let's begin."
Everyone nodded.
Together, they walked toward the middle of the training ground.
Their training was about to begin.
---