One by one, the lights in the academy dormitories turned off.
Click…
Click…
Soon the corridors fell silent.
The entire academy slowly sank into the quiet embrace of the night.
A few minutes later—
Creeeak…
A door slowly opened.
A figure stepped out into the hallway and gently closed the door behind him.
But this time—
It wasn't Lyra.
It was Iren.
He looked around nervously.
"…I'm late."
His expression stiffened.
Inside his mind he groaned.
Oh man… I'm late today. She must already be waiting.
I have to hurry.
Without wasting another second—
Tap!
He dashed down the corridor and rushed outside the building.
The cold night wind brushed against his face as he ran toward the arena.
His footsteps echoed softly across the empty academy grounds.
Tap—tap—tap—tap!
After a few moments, he finally reached the arena.
And there—
Someone was already standing in the center.
Her long silver hair swayed gently under the moonlight.
It was Lyra.
She stood quietly, facing away from him.
Iren slowed down and muttered to himself.
"…She's already here."
He stepped into the arena.
Tap… tap…
His footsteps echoed across the stone floor.
Lyra immediately understood.
He had arrived.
Iren approached her and scratched the back of his head awkwardly.
"Sorry for coming la—"
But before he could finish—
WHOOSH!
Lyra vanished.
Iren blinked.
"—te?"
Then—
SWOOSH
She reappeared behind him.
Iren sighed.
"…Trying to trick me with my own trick."
He quickly turned around.
But—
No one was there.
Lyra had vanished again.
Iren narrowed his eyes.
Then suddenly—
He began acting.
"Wh… w-who's there…?" he stammered dramatically.
Silence filled the arena.
Not a single sound.
Then—
He felt it.
Lyra's presence behind him.
He quickly turned around again—
And this time—
She didn't disappear.
Lyra stood there wearing a scary mask.
And the moment their eyes met—
She jumped forward.
"WHAAAAAH!"
But—
Iren didn't react.
He stood completely still.
Lyra froze.
Huh?
She tilted her head slightly.
He's not scared…?
Maybe he really isn't afraid of ghosts.
She slowly removed the mask from her face.
And the moment the mask came off—
Iren suddenly screamed at the top of his lungs.
"OH MY GOD! A GHOST!"
"HELP! SOMEONE HELP ME!"
Lyra's eye twitched.
Twitch.
Iren burst into laughter.
"Hahaha!"
"You tried to trick me with my own trick!"
But slowly—
His laughter faded.
"…Ha… ha…"
Because Lyra wasn't laughing.
She looked furious.
Her expression darkened as she slowly stepped toward him.
Crack…
She clenched her fists.
"...What did you just say?"
Her voice was cold.
"Did you call me a ghost?"
Iren slowly stepped backward.
"Relax… it was just a joke…"
Lyra didn't listen.
Her eyes burned with irritation.
The next moment—
WHOOSH!
She leapt toward him.
"YOU IDIOT!"
"Wait—!"
Iren quickly stepped aside and turned around.
Then he ran.
DASH!
Lyra immediately chased after him.
"STOP RUNNING!" she shouted.
"Today I'm definitely teaching you a lesson!"
"I'm sorry!" Iren yelled while running.
"It was just a joke! Forgive me!"
Lyra's voice echoed behind him.
"Forgive you?"
She paused for a second.
"…Never!"
"Today you're not escaping!"
The chase continued across the academy grounds.
They ran farther and farther—
Until they reached an open field behind the academy.
In front of it was a small lake.
The water was calm and still.
The bright moon reflected perfectly on its surface.
Iren kept running desperately.
He kept looking behind him.
"Lyra please calm down!"
But Lyra kept chasing him relentlessly.
Then—
Suddenly—
SLIP!
"WHAA—?!"
SPLASH!!
Iren fell straight into the lake.
Water exploded everywhere.
Lyra instantly stopped and raised her arm to shield her face.
"Ah!"
Water droplets scattered around her.
After a moment—
She began laughing.
"Haha!"
"You deserved that!"
She crossed her arms smugly.
"Nature itself punished you."
But then—
She noticed something strange.
Iren wasn't swimming.
Instead—
He was struggling wildly.
"W-Wait!"
His arms flailed helplessly in the water.
He was sinking.
"I can't swim!!"
"Lyra help me!"
"I'm going to drown!"
Lyra froze.
Her laughter vanished instantly.
"…What?"
Her eyes widened.
Iren sank deeper into the water.
"Help…!"
Lyra rushed forward.
"IDIOT!"
Without hesitation—
SPLASH!
She jumped into the lake.
Cold water surrounded her instantly.
She swam toward Iren as fast as possible.
Just before he sank completely—
She grabbed him.
"Got you!"
She dragged him toward the shore with effort.
After a few moments—
They finally reached the ground.
Splash… drip…
Lyra pulled Iren onto the grass.
He lay there motionless.
Her heart pounded violently.
"Iren…?"
No response.
She shook him.
"Iren!"
Still nothing.
Panic slowly filled her chest.
She tried again and again.
"Iren! Wake up!"
But he didn't move.
Lyra's hands trembled slightly.
"…Now I don't have any choice."
She swallowed nervously.
"Looks like I have to do this…"
Slowly—
She leaned toward his face.
But suddenly she hesitated.
"I shouldn't be doing this…"
Her face turned bright red.
She looked away awkwardly.
"But…"
She sighed quietly.
"…I have to save him."
She closed her eyes.
Then she leaned forward again.
Her face moved closer.
Closer.
Her lips inches away from his—
Under the silent moonlight.
---