—Echoes Between Walls
Crownshade Academy – Cafeteria
“Who is she, Aeron?” Aira asked, her eyes on Aeron for an answer.
Her look, surprised.
Aeron looked up from his plate, calm.
At Lyra, Lyra straightened automatically.
Then he answered Aira turning towards her.
“She is …Friend.
A classmate too.”
A beat of silence.
Aira waiting, still looking at Aeron.
As if expecting him to elaborate but …he was already chewing his food.
Is… that it?
A friend and a classmate… Aira thought.
Maybe I’m overthinking it— her thoughts stopped in the middle as her eyes fell on Lyra.
Her head down, but a faint blush clearly seen on her cheeks, her ears twitching, tail waving a little fast …with Joy!
No it’s definitely not just friends… Aura thought.
Her eyes on Lyra thinking… then… !!
Well… it’s a symbol… and common for a powerful man to have multiple wives…
She turned, facing Aeron.
He will definitely become so powerful.
I know.
She thought.
Her expression changed.
The previous stunned, surprised and a little irritated expression vanished in a blind of an eye.
Swapped with the quite opposite.
A big warm smile.
For both.
Aeron and Lyra.
Aeron got wary as he saw the sudden and drastic change in her expression.
What is she thinking now…?
He thought.
Like that, the lunch continued.
.
.
.
The laughter around the table began to settle into a soft rhythm.
Aira sat beside Aeron, an empty tray pushed aside as she leaned slightly forward, chin in hand.
Her red blazer of Division A stood out brightly in contrast to Lyra’s dark blue, who sat across from her, stiff and quietly chewing.
Aira had tried to steer the conversation with small talk, and to Aeron’s surprise, she was quite good at it—charming, direct, but oddly comfortable.
“So, Aeron,” she said, voice light, “is Division C always this quiet?
Or is it just you two making it feel empty?”
Lyra raised an eyebrow at that, but Aeron simply sipped his drink and answered, “We just don’t talk too much.
That’s all.”
Aira chuckled, but before she could say more—
—far across the hall, near one of the balcony railings overlooking the east garden—a pair of sharp, narrow eyes watched them in silence.
Hidden, obscured by a marble pillar, the figure said nothing.
Just…observed.
And then moved away from them.
After the meal, the three parted ways—Aira returning to the upper levels for her next class, while Aeron and Lyra walked back toward the classrooms assigned to Division C.
The rest of the day passed with classes progressing smoothly.
Two theory lectures followed, one on elemental resonance and the other on mana stabilization.
She jotted notes with ferocity.
Then came the practical session.
Outside, in a secluded area behind the classroom wings, the Division C students… well… Lyra and Aeron were instructed to spar using controlled spells and physical movement.
The instructor kept a keen eye on their form, breathing, and mana circulation.
Lyra was swift with earth-based constructs, forming barriers and sharp protrusions.
Aeron stuck to the basics, not revealing anything beyond controlled fire bursts.
But he learned—watching how mana interacted in real combat.
When class finally ended, they were both slightly worn but steady on their feet.
Crownshade Academy – Outer Pathways
The walk back was slow.
The academy had turned lively.
Students now milled about across the open stone courtyard.
Some sat cross-legged on lawns, textbooks floating mid-air before them.
Others chatted in lively clusters under arched trees, and a few practiced their casting near elemental channels.
Passing by one such hallway, Aeron’s gaze paused.
Through an open door, he caught a glimpse of something… ethereal.
A woman stood near a shelf, arranging scrolls.
Her white-blue hair shimmered faintly in the light, and her pale icy eyes turned briefly to him.
Their gazes locked—just for a heartbeat.
There was… stillness in her.
A haunting kind of grace.
The door’s plaque read:
Professor Synthia Moonlight
Aeron blinked.
Then—
[Ding!]
[SIDE QUEST: Unveil the True Identity of Professor Synthia Moonlight]
Description: Professor Synthia hides more than her name.
Learn of her true self.
Reward: ???
Aeron’s brows twitched.
He turned away calmly but noted the name in his mind.
Beside him, Lyra tilted her head.
“Something wrong, Aeron?”
“No,” Aeron replied simply.
“Just a thought.”
She narrowed her eyes a bit but didn’t press.
Soon, they stood before their dorm.
Room 11.
Room 12.
Aeron reached for his doorknob—but then—
“U-um… thank you.”
He paused and turned.
Lyra stood there, eyes cast low, her face lightly flushed.
She looked up.
“I mean… thank you.
For earlier.
The way you stood up for me.
And… just for being my first real friend… ever.”
Aeron didn’t speak immediately.
But then, a soft smile appeared—rare, subtle, but warm.
“You’re welcome,” he said.
A beat passed.
An awkward silence stretched.
Then Lyra jolted and muttered, “T-Take care!” before disappearing into her room. The source of this chapter is g.com.
Aeron watched her go, murmured, “You too,” and entered his room.
The smile still lingered on his lips.
But his mind already moving…
Far from Aeron and Lyra and their well kept and a good three story building.
Inside a five story, luxurious building.
Surrounded by trees, fountains and diffenent types of flowers, with air carrying dense mana.
Division A Dormitory – Aira’s Room
A luxurious suite with a balcony view and velvet cushions.
Gold-etched furniture and a king-sized bed complete with silk canopy curtains.
Aira Everdawn rolled across her bed, giggling into her pillow.
Her attendant, a short-haired girl in a plain uniform, stood nearby.
“You seem… quite pleased, Lady Aira,” the attendant commented.
Aira turned, cheeks slightly pink.
“Is it that obvious?”
The girl sighed inwardly.
Very.
“I just… I didn’t think I’d actually talk to him today.
And he seemed more handsome today… than before…” Aira said, hugging her pillow.
“The Blackthorn boy?” the attendant guessed.
“Mhm.”
She began recounting her conversation in the cafeteria, her voice dreamily warm.
The attendant nodded through it all, her thoughts drifting.
Why always me…?
Their conversation trailed off as the scene shifted to a conversation far from them.
Headmaster’s Chamber – Main Tower
The room was elegant, yet simple.
Shelves of tomes lined the walls.
The massive desk in the center was carved from dragonwood.
Behind it sat the headmaster.
Deran Vastrik
A man in his early sixties, with a silver beard and sharp gaze, he wore deep blue robes with gold trim.
The seal of the academy shimmered faintly across his chest.
A Rank Combatant.
Fifth Circle Mage or maybe more…
Renholt Virein stood in front of him with his head lowered, expression unreadable.
Beside him sat a stern man in his forties, with similar blonde hair and a commanding presence.
Duke Vernin Virein.
He said nothing—but his eyes moved from his son to the headmaster with silent tension.
A quiet plea.
“My son acted recklessly, but surely you understand—boys clash.
It’s part of growth.”
The headmaster’s voice was calm.
“He used magic to strike a fellow student.
On Day One.”
Renholt flinched slightly.
The Duke sighed, looking at his son with disappointment.
“Perhaps… we can find another solution.
A warning, perhaps.
Not formal punishment.”
The headmaster said nothing.
He turned his eyes out the window—where students walked peacefully under the sky.
Then…
“Very well.
But there will be monitoring.
One more slip—and he’s expelled.”
Renholt’s jaw tightened.
The Duke bowed slightly.
“You have our gratitude.”
And the room darkened into silence.