Chapter 52: Chapter 52: Meeting Lyra
The morning after helping Charlotte form her mana core, Kael woke up earlier than usual.
For once, there was no need for an alarm. His eyes opened naturally, and after a brief moment of staring at the ceiling, he pushed himself out of bed.
The events of the previous day briefly flashed through his mind.
Charlotte had successfully formed her mana core.
Even now, the achievement felt somewhat unreal.
After freshening up, he headed toward the Staff Section of the academy.
The morning air was cool, and students could occasionally be seen moving through the academy grounds despite it being a rest day.
The academy never seemed to rest.
Teachers were always around. During weekends, holidays, and even during periods when students were given breaks, the staff still remained inside the academy grounds.
It reminded Kael of NPCs trapped inside a game.
While playing Abyssal Chronos: Veil of Ruin, he had never thought much about it, but now that he lived here, it felt strange.
Aside from a few powerful instructors who occasionally left the academy for missions, most teachers practically lived here.
Even the atmosphere felt strangely permanent, as though the academy itself expected them to remain here forever.
"That sounds miserable," Kael muttered.
Walking through the staff building, he ignored the busy instructors moving through the hallways and stopped in front of Stella’s office.
Several teachers carrying documents walked past him while discussing lesson plans and student evaluations.
Then he froze.
The nameplate wasn’t Stella’s.
Instead, another woman stood outside the office.
She floated a few inches above the ground with her arms folded.
Long silver-blonde hair.
Pointed ears.
A beautiful face carrying a smug smile.
Kael immediately recognized her.
Miss Lyra.
One of the strongest mages in the academy.
And one of the best mages in the entire game.
Back when he played, countless players admired her abilities.
Some even tried recreating her combat style.
"Who are you?" Lyra asked casually.
Kael nearly jumped.
His hand moved toward his waist before he remembered he wasn’t carrying his sword.
"You seem quite stunned seeing me but, why are you being defensive," she continued.
"Miss Lyra," Kael replied.
Lyra blinked.
"I see you already know me."
Her eyes narrowed slightly.
"But I don’t recall introducing myself."
She floated closer.
"You’re obviously in the Knight Department."
"I’m quite certain Stella never introduced me to her students although we are best friends."
"And you’ve definitely never attended any of my classes."
"So..."
She tilted her head.
"How exactly do you know me?"
Kael resisted the urge to say:
Because you’re one of the strongest mages in the game.
Instead, he smiled.
"You’re pretty popular around the academy."
Lyra immediately placed a hand on her cheek with a thoughtful expression.
"I suppose that’s possible."
Her smile widened.
"I am quite popular."
The confidence in her voice was completely genuine.
Kael resisted rolling his eyes.
Before Lyra could continue talking, Stella finally stepped out of her office.
"Lyra, what are you doing here?"
Then she noticed Kael.
"And you too. What are you doing here?"
"I was just asking your student a few questions," Lyra replied.
Stella sighed.
"I don’t see why you’re interrogating him this early, he is a student of the academy or have you forgotten that part."
Then she looked at Kael.
"So why are you here?"
"I wanted to ask if I could gain access to the academy’s VR Simulation Training."
Stella immediately shook her head.
"You don’t have enough merit points."
"And your rank is still too low."
Kael frowned.
The answer was expected, but that didn’t make it any less annoying.
"Not even after the special event during the class assignment?"
Stella rubbed her forehead.
From the side, Lyra immediately became interested.
"Special event?"
She looked between them.
"Now I’m curious really curious."
Stella immediately looked tired.
"Don’t start."
"But I want to know."
"No."
"Why?"
"No."
Lyra turned toward Kael.
"What exactly did Stella do to you?"
Kael ignored her.
Stella sighed again.
"Is he really trying to hold that incident against me?"
she thought.
After a moment she finally answered.
"If you want access to the simulation rooms, challenge someone above your rank."
Kael nodded.
"Defeat them and you’ll gain access."
"Understood."
It wasn’t the answer he wanted, but it was still a path forward.
Before he could leave—
"But Kael."
Lyra floated directly in front of him.
"You still haven’t told me what Stella did."
Kael stared at her.
Then looked at Stella.
Then back at Lyra.
"I’m busy."
Lyra’s smile twitched.
"You’re ignoring me."
"Not Intentionally, and like I said I’m busy."
The twitch became stronger.
Stella suddenly stepped forward.
"Don’t bother the student."
Lyra’s eyes lit up.
"Oh?"
"You’ll tell me yourself?"
"Yes, before you assault a student."
Lyra immediately looked pleased.
Meanwhile Kael started walking away.
"Move along little toddler."
Lyra said waving her hand at him.
Kael stopped.
Then looked over his shoulder.
"Okay, Grandma."
Silence.
A dangerous silence.
The entire hallway seemed to become quieter.
Kael immediately realized his mistake.
Lyra froze.
Stella froze.
Several staff members nearby froze.
One instructor carrying a stack of books actually stopped walking.
"You..."
Lyra’s smile disappeared.
"...what did you just call me?"
Kael suddenly remembered.
Elves lived for centuries.
Calling an elf old was practically declaring war.
Kael turned around.
"Nothing."
"Come back here."
"No."
"COME BACK HERE."
A fireball shot across the hallway.
Kael dodged instantly.
The explosion shook the corridor.
Teachers immediately jumped out of the way.
"Goodbye, Grandma!"
Kael shouted before running out of the building.
Another fireball missed him by inches.
"You little brat!"
"You’re proving my point!"
Kael yelled while fleeing.
Eventually he disappeared around the corner.
Lyra stood there fuming.
Small sparks of mana flickered around her body.
Stella stared at her.
"So."
Lyra looked away.
"So?"
"Getting provoked by a toddler now?"
Lyra nearly exploded again.
"Did you hear what he called me?!"
"Grandma."
"Exactly!"
"You started it."
Lyra opened her mouth.
Then closed it.
Because Stella wasn’t wrong but she still felt wronged.
"You don’t seem to teach your students properly", Lyra said with a huff.
"Now you’re just being bitter", Stella replied not feeling to concerned about the situation.
After several moments, Stella crossed her arms.
"So."
Lyra groaned.
"What?"
"Why are you interested in him?"
That question finally made Lyra serious.
The playful expression vanished from her face.
"People from the Knight Department rarely pick your interest."
Stella continued.
"I know." Lyra replied
"Most of them don’t possess elemental affinities." Stella continued.
"Exactly." Lyra replied.
Lyra glanced toward the direction Kael had disappeared.
"But there’s something strange about him."
Stella remained silent.
Lyra continued.
"If it’s because of his darkness affinity."
"Darkness users are rare."
"But they exist."
Stella stated.
"There are even Dark Elves and most of have an affinity for darkness ." Stella continued.
"I know that but."
Lyra folded her arms.
"It’s not his element."
"Then what?"
Lyra hesitated.
For a brief moment, she carefully recalled the sensation she had felt earlier.
"I think he formed a mana core."
Stella froze.
"A mana core?"
Lyra nodded.
"Did you see it?"
"No."
Lyra immediately shook her head.
"I’m not a monster like Xavier."
"I can’t directly see something like that."
"But I can sense it."
"And unless I’m mistaken..."
"He definitely has one."
Stella’s expression changed.
"A mana core..."
That wasn’t supposed to happen this quickly.
Not for a first-year knight.
Not for Kael.
Then she remembered something.
Xavier’s interest.
Her expression became even stranger.
"That boy..."
Lyra noticed immediately.
"You know something."
Stella sighed.
"Xavier took an interest in him."
This time Lyra froze.
"The Xavier?"
"Yes."
"The strongest individual alive?"
"Yes."
"The man who ignores almost everyone?"
"Yes."
Lyra blinked.
Then laughed.
"Now that’s interesting."
Stella nodded.
"It gets worse."
"What did he do?"
"He cleared a D-Rank Dungeon."
Lyra frowned.
"With a team?"
"No."
Lyra stared for a few moments then decided to ask.
"Alone?"
Stella nodded.
"I placed him there myself that’s the special incident you’re so curious about." Stella replied
Silence filled the hallway.
"He was E-Rank."
"Correct."
"In Class D."
"Correct."
"A first-year at the bottom of the rank."
"Correct."
Lyra slowly rubbed her forehead.
She suddenly understood why Stella looked exhausted whenever Kael was mentioned.
"What is wrong with that child?"
Stella laughed.
"I’ve been asking myself the same question."
For several moments both women remained silent.
Eventually Lyra smiled.
"I guess you really do have an interesting student."
Stella sighed.
"Interesting is one way to describe him."
"Troublesome is another."
Lyra’s smile widened.
"You’ll probably be teaching him soon." Stella said.
"You think he’ll move up?" Lyra aske.
"I do."
The upcoming tournament was approaching quickly.
Students throughout the academy were already preparing.
And if Kael continued growing at this rate—
Class D wouldn’t be able to keep him.
Lyra grinned.
"Then I guess I’ll have to teach him some manners."
Stella immediately imagined Kael calling her Grandma again.
The image appeared so vividly in her mind that she almost laughed.
"...good luck with that."
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