Lyralei finally stepped out of her room, wet hair clinging to her neck and shoulders. She ran her fingers through it absently.
"Room" wasn't quite accurate. What she'd gotten built was closer to a private dorm suite—spacious enough that her footsteps echoed slightly when she walked across the polished wooden floors. Three rooms total: a bedroom, a study lined with bookshelves, and a bathroom with an enchanted basin that heated water on command. Agni probably had something similar, she figured. Actually, knowing his position as crown prince, his quarters were probably a complete mansion.
Agni.
She should visit him.
Her gaze fell on the calendar hanging near the door—enchanted ink that updated itself daily. The date blinked at her in a neat script.
She blinked back.
Wait.
She had to attend the written exam in thirty minutes.
"Right," she muttered, moving faster now. "The written exam."
After that came the class announcements. Then the Freshers' Party.
She had no more time to waste.
Lyralei changed into a fresh academy uniform—
Halfway through brushing her long black hair back into her signature high ponytail, she grabbed a ham sandwich from the breakfast tray she made in heist. She chewed mechanically, her other hand reaching for one of the study guides on magical theory she'd left scattered across her desk.
She stared at the open page for exactly forty-five seconds, still chewing.
Yeah... probably not.
She'd do fine without last-minute cramming.
The First Year Written Class Selection Exam Hall was massive.
High ceilings, rows upon rows of desks, and over three hundred students filing in through multiple entrances. The air buzzed with nervous energy—some students muttering last-minute facts to themselves, others stretching their arms or cracking knuckles like they were about to enter combat instead of an exam.
Each desk was enclosed in a glass cubicle—enchanted barriers that shimmered faintly with anti-cheating wards. You couldn't see your neighbor's paper. You couldn't hear anyone else. You couldn't cheat even if you wanted to.
Lyralei walked to her assigned desk, her shoes clicking softly against the stone floor.
The glass walls hummed faintly as they activated, sealing her inside.
A blank exam paper materialized on the desk in front of her, ink slowly forming into questions as the timer began.
Nothing special.
Lyralei blitzed past most of them with the casual confidence that came from years of intensive education. Magical theory? Easy. Historical chronology of the Nine Realms? Child's play. Practical application scenarios? She'd experienced most of them firsthand during training.
Her quill moved across the pages with smooth, precise strokes. No hesitation. No second-guessing.
Then she reached the second-to-last question in Part X: Recent Advancements in Magical Theory.
What is Thermal Acceleration Dynamics?
Lyralei blinked at the question, her quill pausing mid-stroke.
Thermal Acceleration Dynamics.
She'd heard about this before. Where was it? When?
Last year. Around summer time. There was a research paper that got some attention in academic circles...
The memory clicked into place.
The author had been... what was the name?
Serina something.
After finishing that question and the final one, Lyralei set down her quill and stretched, rolling her shoulders to work out the tension from sitting hunched over for nearly three hours.
The barrier around her cubicle shimmered and dissolved.
The small classroom illusion faded away, revealing the actual examination hall once more—now filled with the presence of 300 students, all of whom had just completed their exams at the same time.
The noise hit her immediately. Hundreds of voices talking at once—some excited, some nervous, some loudly complaining about specific questions they'd found difficult.
Lyralei stood and began making her way toward the exit, navigating through clusters of students comparing answers or consoling each other.
That's when she noticed the crowd.
A particularly large group of students —had surrounded someone. They were all talking animatedly, their voices carrying clearly across the space.
The center of attention was a young woman with light blue hair ,striking black eyes that looked nervous under all the attention. Her demeanor was shy, almost uncomfortable with the praise being heaped on her.
Serina.
"—can't believe they actually included your theory in the exam!" one student was saying enthusiastically.
Serina.
Lyralei's mind clicked. Ah. So that's her. One of Ignatia's recruits. Talent Advancement Program.
She'd heard the name before but hadn't put a face to it until now.
Lyralei sighed as she felt a familiar gaze upon her.
"Quit staring and start speaking, Vera."
"Greetings, Lady Lyralei!"
Vera practically materialized at her side, green hair slightly messy, freckled face flushed. Sweat was already forming on her forehead despite the cool air in the hall.
"Ah, Lady Lyralei, I hope you are in good health! Of course you are in good health! You look very healthy! Not that I was doubting your health, I just—"
"Vera."
"Right! Yes! Sorry!" Vera gulped, wringing her hands. "I hope you succeeded at the matters you had to attend to?"
Lyralei's expression softened, just a fraction. "I did. What do you need?"
Vera straightened, trying to look professional. "We're organizing another meeting now for the first years. A review of the Talent Advancement Program. Also regarding the incidents with Senior Raul and Senior Whisper. And... regarding Prince Agni's health."
"Right," she nodded slowly. "So how is he now?"
Her voice came out slightly softer than she'd intended—almost gentle. She immediately regretted it when she saw Vera's eyes widen in surprise at the uncharacteristic tone.
Vera's eyes flickered with relief. "Prince Agni's condition has stabilized. He's recovering, though he still hasn't woken up. We've arranged accommodation for him at the Sun Mansion, east of the academy grounds."
Lyralei face didn't betray her.
"Let's go check on him."
The carriage rolled smoothly along the paved road leading away from Aethermoor Academy's main campus. Through the windows, the city sprawled below them—a breathtaking view of rooftops, market squares, and distant monuments catching the afternoon sun.
Lyralei sat with her arms folded, her black eyes focused on Vera, who occupied the opposite seat looking increasingly nervous under the eye.
"So what else happened?" Lyralei asked, her tone deceptively casual. "Seems like I remove my gaze for one second and milk starts spilling everywhere."
Vera made a sound somewhere between a laugh and a whimper.
"Did you figure out something about Agni's route?" Lyralei continued. "Any sightings? Confirmed locations?"
Vera gulped audibly. "Ah. Yes. See... that route basically doesn't exist."
Lyralei blinked. "What?"
"We checked all registered maps and official travel routes," Vera explained quickly, pulling out a small notebook filled with her cramped handwriting. "Cross-referenced with Imperial Highway Records, Wilderness Navigation Charts, even old Merchant Guild trade routes. None of them matched the path shown on that map you took from His Highness."
"So what did you do?"
"Well, Lilly and I decided to investigate the route ourselves. In person. Retrace his steps as much as possible using the map as a guide."
"And?" Lyralei leaned forward slightly.
"Lilly is still out there, actually. But I received a message crystal from her this morning. She's reporting directly to Sun Mansion—said she'd give her full findings to you in person."
Lyralei nodded slowly, processing this information. "Alright. Good work."
Vera visibly relaxed, her shoulders dropping as tension fled her body.
After Lyralei turned to look out the window, Vera let out a deep, shaky breath.
Thankfully she's pleased with my work. She IS pleased, right? That was approval, wasn't it? Please let that have been approval…
With the halt of horses the carriage stopped, stepping out ladies noted.
The Sun Mansion was stunning.
White stone walls, arched windows, gardens lined with flowering trees. The architecture was elegant without being gaudy—clean lines, open courtyards, fountains that sparkled in the afternoon sun.
What was more noticeable, however, was the lack of people.
As she and Vera walked through the main entrance hall and into the interior corridors, Lyralei couldn't help but notice how empty the mansion felt.
Strange. A property this large should have dozens of servants, at minimum.
She spotted Michael Aurelian before he saw her. He was walking toward them from a side corridor, and when he noticed her approach, he immediately bowed in formal greeting.
"Lady Lyralei. Welcome to Sun Mansion."
His face carried an expression of concern—not fear exactly, but definite wariness. His golden eyes flicked briefly to Vera, then back to Lyralei.
She simply nodded in acknowledgment, and Michael fell into step beside them, leading the way deeper into the mansion.
The meeting room
A long rectangular table dominated the center, surrounded by high-backed chairs. Tall windows lined one wall, letting in golden afternoon light.
Ignatia was already seated on the left side. When Lyralei entered, she stood—hesitant, posture stiff—but her heterochromia eyes never left Lyralei's face.
Suzzy, Darius, and Michael greeted Lyralei in turn, their voices polite but cautious.
"Please, be seated," Lyralei said simply.
Ignatia's gaze remained locked on her. Steady. Unblinking.
Lyralei didn't ignore it. But she didn't answer it either.
Haa…
Michael slid into his seat with visible relief.
The seating arrangement formed naturally: Lyralei and Ignatia sat opposite each other at either end of the table. Darius took the 3rd position of lyralei side.Michael sat closer to Ignatia's side. Suzzy claimed the seat near Lyralei.
And at the head of the table, Agni's chair remained empty.
Lyralei's gaze fell on it for just a moment.
Suzzy noticed. Her blue eyes flicked between Lyralei and the empty seat, then she leaned in slightly, voice teasing but soft enough that only the people at the table could hear.
"So what got you so late? Didn't think it was that big a deal for you to stay away for a whole week."
Lyralei smiled faintly. "It was a private matter."
Ignatia cut in, her voice sharp as a blade.
"Yes. Private matters to attend to." Her tone dripped with cold and pointed. "It seems your fiancé, Prince Agni, doesn't seem to be related to your private matters."
The room temperature dropped.
"Of course," Ignatia continued, eyes narrowing behind her silver glasses, "it seems you haven't bothered to visit His Royal Highness during his illness. Nor have you formally announced your engagement arrangements to us."
Silence crushed down on the room like a physical weight.
Technically, Ignatia's words weren't necessary. Lyralei was promised to the royal family. That alone meant she should be treated as part of it—regardless of formalities or announcements.
But Ignatia's questions had crossed a line. Questioning the behavior of a future royal family member in a recorded setting? That was more than rude. It was a grave error in protocol.
But Ignatia didn't back down.
The room shifted.
Heat flooded the air—sudden, suffocating, like standing next to a forge at full blast.
Michael's eyes widened women , he thought frantically, recognizing the oppressive heat from Zone 2. Please don't let it be that bad—
Vera stumbled, leaning against the wall for support. Her vision swam. I should have gone with Lilly, she thought as consciousness started slipping away.
Then Lyralei unleashed her aura.
Black lightning crackled through the air, jagged and wild. It didn't strike anyone, but the presence of it mixed with the heat, thickening the atmosphere until breathing felt like inhaling molten glass that tore through the inside of the nose to the lungs.
The two forces clashed—heat and lightning, fire and storm—pressing against each other in the space between the two women.
Lyralei's eyebrow raised slightly, her voice calm. "It was a mutual understanding between me and my fiancé."
She paused, letting the weight of her words settle.
"And regarding my personal absence over the past week… it has been due to advancements in my mana circuits and aura heart. I needed time."
Darius gritted his teeth, veins bulging on his forehead, sweat dripping down his temples.
Then, just as suddenly as it appeared, the pressure vanished.
Ignatia closed her eyes, pulling her aura back in one smooth motion. The suffocating heat evaporated.
"A very assuring response," she said evenly. "I congratulate you on your progress."
Her mind raced. Silence.
"Thank you very much," Lyralei replied with a smile—polite, composed.
The rest of the room suffered the aftermath in silence.
Suzzy pouted slightly.
"Not my fault, that you both are always on edge".
Her whisper quieter than the last one.
At the back of the room, two masked figures stood motionless, completely unfazed.
Vera's eyes flicked toward them. Creepy.
Lyralei straightened, her voice cutting through the lingering tension.
"The First Summit of the Sun begins now."
Vera scrambled to start the enchanted timer, her pen and paper activating with a faint glow. Words began writing themselves automatically, recording every spoken word.
Ignatia pulled out a neatly organized list, her tone shifting back to businesslike efficiency.
"We'll be starting with the Talent Advancement Program. Then we'll address matters regarding Prince Agni's health. After that, we'll discuss the current situation involving Senior Raul and Senior Whisper."
She glanced at Darius. "And lastly, Darius Aquilon will explain the new additions to our… circle."
The meeting began in earnest.