Morning came slower than usual.
Not because the sun delayed its rise, but because the atmosphere inside the house felt heavier than before—as if something unseen still lingered in the quiet corners of the room, refusing to leave completely.
Evan woke early.
Earlier than he used to.
For a moment, he simply lay there, staring at the ceiling, his thoughts drifting without direction.
The memory from a few days ago didn't hit him all at once.
It came in pieces.
The desert.
The heat.
The overwhelming pressure in the air.
And then—
The fire.
His fingers tightened slightly against the blanket.
He exhaled slowly and pushed himself up, sitting at the edge of the bed as he let his feet touch the ground.
"…Yeah."
A quiet breath escaped him.
"…Still not used to that."
The words weren't filled with fear.
Not exactly.
But they weren't empty either.
He sat there for a few seconds longer before finally standing up and walking toward the window.
The city outside looked the same.
People moved.
Merchants set up their stalls.
Voices carried faintly through the air.
Normal.
Everything looked completely normal.
And yet—
Evan knew better now.
"…Looks the same," he muttered under his breath, resting his hand lightly against the window frame as his gaze followed the movement below.
"…But it's not."
"You are learning."
Lyra's voice came from behind him.
Evan didn't turn immediately.
He let out a small breath before responding.
"…Yeah, I guess I am."
There was a short pause before he finally glanced over his shoulder.
Lyra stood near the doorway, as calm and composed as always.
Nothing about her suggested what she had done just days ago.
Nothing about her hinted at the fact that she had ended someone's life without hesitation.
And yet—
Evan had seen it.
"…You always look like that, don't you?" he said after a moment, his tone quieter now, more thoughtful than before.
Lyra tilted her head slightly.
"…Like what?"
"…Normal," Evan replied, turning fully toward her now. "Like nothing really affects you, no matter what happens."
Lyra didn't answer right away.
She studied him for a brief moment, her gaze steady and unreadable.
"…That is not entirely true," she said calmly.
Evan raised an eyebrow slightly.
"…It doesn't look like it."
"…That is because I choose what to show."
Evan held her gaze for a moment longer, then let out a quiet breath and looked away again.
"…Yeah… that sounds like you."
Silence settled briefly between them.
Not uncomfortable.
But thoughtful.
Then—
Lyra stepped forward.
Not quickly.
Not urgently.
Just enough to close the distance between them.
"…You have rested long enough."
Evan blinked.
"…Wait—really?"
"…Yes."
There was no hesitation in her voice this time.
No delay.
No uncertainty.
Evan straightened slightly, a hint of interest replacing the lingering weight in his expression.
"…So… what does that mean exactly?" he asked, turning toward her more fully now.
"Does that mean I can finally start cultivating, or are you going to tell me to sit and read more books again?"
Lyra's expression didn't change, but there was a subtle shift in her gaze.
"…You will begin learning."
Evan narrowed his eyes slightly.
"…That sounds very vague."
"…Because you are not ready for everything yet."
"…And who decides that?"
"…I do."
Evan stared at her for a moment.
Then sighed.
"…Yeah, that checks out."
But despite his tone, there was no real frustration in it this time.
Only acceptance.
And a bit of curiosity.
"…So what am I learning first?" he asked, leaning slightly against the window now, his earlier laziness replaced with focus.
Lyra didn't answer immediately.
Instead, she turned slightly and walked toward the center of the room.
"…Come here."
Evan hesitated for a second, then pushed himself away from the window and walked over.
"…This feels serious," he muttered.
"…It is."
That alone made him straighten a little more.
Lyra stopped once she reached the center and turned to face him.
For a moment, she simply observed him.
Not as a child.
Not as someone fragile.
But as something that needed to be shaped.
"…Before you cultivate," she began slowly, "you must first understand your own body."
Evan frowned slightly.
"…I mean… I kind of already do?"
Lyra shook her head.
"…No."
There was no harshness in her tone.
Just certainty.
"…You understand how to move it," she continued. "You understand how to use it in the most basic sense."
She stepped a little closer.
"…But you do not understand what it truly is."
Evan's expression shifted slightly.
"…Okay… now that sounds important."
"…It is."
Lyra raised her hand slightly.
Not toward him—
But near him.
"…Stand still."
Evan didn't argue this time.
He simply nodded and did as he was told, his posture straightening instinctively.
"…Like this?"
"…Yes."
For a brief moment—
Nothing happened.
Then—
Evan felt it.
A faint sensation.
Subtle.
Barely noticeable at first.
Like a light pressure brushing against his skin.
He frowned slightly.
"…What is that?"
"…Do not move," Lyra said calmly.
The sensation grew slightly stronger.
Not painful.
Not uncomfortable.
But strange.
Like something was… observing him.
From the inside.
Evan's brows furrowed.
"…This feels weird."
"…It should."
Lyra's voice remained steady.
"…What you are feeling is not external."
Evan blinked.
"…Wait… what?"
"…I am not touching your body," she continued. "I am sensing it."
Evan's eyes widened slightly.
"…From the inside?"
"…Yes."
He stood still, trying to process that.
"…That's… kind of terrifying."
"…It is necessary."
The sensation lingered for a moment longer before slowly fading.
Lyra lowered her hand.
"…Your body is stable," she said after a brief pause.
"…That sounds like a good thing."
"…It is."
Evan let out a breath he hadn't realized he was holding.
"…Okay… good."
But then—
He paused.
"…Wait."
He looked at her again.
"…If that was just checking…"
A small frown formed.
"…Then what comes next?"
Lyra didn't answer immediately.
Instead, she turned slightly toward the window.
"…Understanding energy."
Evan followed her gaze instinctively.
"…Qi?"
"…Yes."
He hesitated for a moment.
"…And I still can't use it, right?"
"…Correct."
"…That's frustrating."
Evan let out a small sigh.
"…You really don't make this easy."
Lyra glanced back at him.
"…If it were easy, you would not value it."
Evan stared at her.
Then shook his head slightly.
"…You always say things like that."
"…Because they are true."
He exhaled slowly.
"…Yeah… I'm starting to notice."
There was a brief pause before Lyra spoke again.
"…Sit."
Evan raised an eyebrow.
"…Back to sitting?"
"…This time, you will listen."
"…That doesn't sound much different."
Evan looked at her for a moment longer.
Then—
He sat.
Not because he was told to.
But because he understood.
Something was about to begin.
Something important.
Lyra stood in front of him, her presence calm—but focused.
"…From this point forward," she said slowly, "everything you learn will decide whether you survive… or not."
Evan didn't respond immediately.
He simply looked up at her.
Listening.
Really listening.
"…So pay attention," she continued.
A brief pause.
"…Because I will not repeat myself my prince."
Evan took a slow breath.
Then nodded.
"…I won't miss it."
And for the first time—
There was no hesitation in his voice.