Night had fallen over the academy.
The central hall was quiet. Only a few lanterns glowed softly, casting warm light over the stone floor.
At one of the tables sat four familiar figures.
Lyra, Riven, Sylven, and Kael.
They seemed to be waiting for someone.
Lyra rested her chin on her hand, looking slightly distracted.
Then she spoke quietly.
"...It has been two days since Iren left."
Riven leaned back in his chair and sighed.
"To be honest…"
He rubbed the back of his neck.
"I'm actually missing him."
Sylven looked surprised.
Riven then grinned mischievously.
"Training with him was something else."
He chuckled.
"And it has been way too long since I teased him."
Sylven smiled faintly.
"Yeah… I miss him too."
He looked down at his hands.
"I don't know why… but whenever I see him train, something inside me wakes up."
His eyes hardened with determination.
"It makes me want to train even harder."
Kael, sitting quietly beside them, said nothing.
But he gave a small nod in agreement.
Then—
KNOCK. KNOCK.
The sound echoed through the hall.
All four of them turned.
A messenger from the academy stood near the entrance.
The messenger bowed slightly.
"Headmaster Aldaric has sent me to deliver a message."
Riven immediately leaned forward.
"And what is it?"
The messenger replied calmly.
"Iren has returned."
Silence.
For a moment, nobody moved.
Then—
Riven suddenly jumped to his feet.
"WAIT—really?!"
"He's back?!"
The messenger nodded once.
"Yes."
Then he turned and left.
Sylven looked stunned.
"So… he's finally back."
Even Kael allowed a faint smile to appear.
Lyra stood up slowly.
"Should we… go meet him?"
Riven didn't hesitate.
"Of course we should!"
Then he turned to Kael.
"Right, Kael?"
Kael crossed his arms thoughtfully.
"He just returned after two days."
"Perhaps he should rest first."
Riven waved his hand dismissively.
"Oh come on."
"We're not calling him here."
"We're just going to his room."
He smirked.
"That basically counts as rest."
Sylven nodded.
"I think we should go too."
Kael sighed.
"…Fine."
Then all four of them stood up.
And headed toward Iren's room.
---
A few minutes later…
They arrived in front of the door.
The corridor was quiet.
The door to Iren's room was closed.
Kael glanced at it and said calmly,
"I told you we shouldn't have come."
"He's probably resting."
Lyra sighed softly.
"Oh… then maybe we should leave."
But suddenly—
TOK TOK
Riven knocked on the door.
No response.
He pushed the door slightly.
CREEEAK…
The door slowly opened.
Riven grinned.
"See?"
"It wasn't even locked."
Lyra frowned.
"But we shouldn't enter someone's room without asking."
Sylven nodded.
"Yeah… maybe we should wait."
Riven shrugged.
"Oh come on."
"Iren wouldn't mind."
Then he stepped inside.
"Iren?"
"Are you here?"
No response.
Riven leaned back out the door.
"…I think he's not inside."
Then—
SHHHHHHHH
The faint sound of water running echoed from the bathroom.
Sylven tilted his head.
"Wait… do you hear that?"
Riven blinked.
"Hear what?"
Sylven pointed toward the bathroom.
"I think… he's taking a shower."
Riven scratched his head.
"Oh."
A pause.
Then he suddenly grinned.
"Well then…"
"Let's just wait."
He walked into the room and jumped onto the bed.
Sylven sighed but followed him inside, sitting beside him.
"Seriously…"
Then Lyra turned to Kael.
"What about you?"
Kael thought for a moment.
Then he smiled faintly.
"…I suppose I'll join."
"Because I'm also eager to see him."
He walked inside and sat beside Sylven.
After a few seconds…
Lyra also entered quietly.
She sat on a chair near the table.
Her eyes wandered across the room.
Everything was neat.
On the table were Iren's folded clothes.
Beside them lay his sword.
But then—
Lyra froze.
Her eyes widened.
Two rings were lying beside the sword.
One was red.
The other was blue.
They looked almost identical.
"…What?"
Before she could say anything—
The sound of the shower stopped.
CLICK
Riven grinned.
"I think he's coming out."
Sylven nodded.
"Yeah."
Riven leaned forward excitedly.
"I've got an idea."
"When he comes out…"
"We'll surprise him."
Sylven grinned.
"I'm in."
Kael simply watched quietly.
Then—
CREEEAK
The bathroom door opened.
Iren stepped out.
His eyes were closed as he rubbed a towel through his damp hair.
He was only wearing loose pants.
His upper body was bare.
Then he turned around.
And suddenly—
Everyone froze.
Riven blinked.
"…Whoa."
Iren's body was lean but powerful.
Defined muscles.
Broad shoulders.
Clear six-pack abs.
Sylven stared in shock.
Even Kael raised an eyebrow.
Lyra's eyes widened instantly.
Her cheeks turned bright red.
Meanwhile—
Iren still hadn't noticed them.
He continued drying his hair.
Then Riven spoke.
"Whoa, bro."
"You've got a pretty impressive body."
Without opening his eyes, Iren casually replied,
"Oh."
"Thanks."
Then—
SNAP
His eyes opened.
He lowered the towel.
And froze.
Riven.
Sylven.
Kael.
Lyra.
All sitting in his room.
Silence.
Then Lyra realized he was looking at her.
Her face turned completely red.
"AHHH!"
She instantly covered her face.
At the same time—
"AAAH!"
Iren shouted and spun around.
"W-WHAT ARE YOU GUYS DOING IN MY ROOM?!"
Kael calmly pointed at Riven.
"It was his plan."
Iren quickly grabbed a shirt from his bag and put it on.
Then he glared at Riven.
Riven smiled innocently.
"I just wanted to meet you."
"And surprise you."
Then he smirked wider.
"But who knew…"
"You'd come out like that."
He gestured toward Lyra.
"Look."
"You made poor Lyra so embarrassed she can't even look up."
Iren's eye twitched.
"You started again…"
Then—
BAM!
Iren punched Riven on the head.
"Ow!!"
"And this happened because of you, idiot!"
Lyra was still hiding her face.
Iren walked toward her awkwardly.
"Lyra… you can open your eyes now."
"I'm wearing clothes."
Slowly, Lyra lowered her hands.
Her face was still red.
"I-I'm sorry… I didn't mean to look."
Iren scratched the back of his head.
"No… it's my fault."
"I forgot to lock the door."
Then he turned to Riven again.
"And from next time…"
"Don't enter someone's room without asking."
Riven held his aching head.
"…Okay."
"I didn't mean to make you angry."
"I was just excited to see you."
Sylven added quickly,
"He's right."
"We were all excited."
"After all… you've been gone for two weeks."
Iren sighed.
"…I understand."
"And sorry for leaving without telling anyone."
Kael then stood up.
"Sorry for interrupting your rest."
Iren shook his head.
"No, it's fine."
Kael nodded.
"But you just returned."
"You should rest."
"We'll talk tomorrow."
Iren agreed.
Kael turned toward the others.
"Alright."
"Let's go."
Everyone stood up.
They began leaving the room.
Lyra paused at the door.
"B-Bye… Iren."
Iren waved.
"Yeah."
"Bye."
Kael added before leaving,
"And don't be late tomorrow."
Iren smiled.
"I won't."
Then they left.
The door closed behind them.
---
In the corridor…
Kael, Riven, and Sylven walked toward their rooms.
Meanwhile—
Lyra walked in the opposite direction.
Her cheeks were still slightly red.
And her mind kept replaying one image.
Iren… standing there… dripping wet.
She quickly shook her head.
"W-Why am I remembering that?!"
And hurried down the corridor.
---