Chapter 22: The Good News?

Penza- Forest

The squad walked toward the river’s end, falling into silence, each lost in their own thoughts, staring at their hands and their cores in awe.

While the Guardians discussed their lessons back in the mountain chamber, Zyrian was lost in thought, not on the lessons, but on his feelings of failure, helplessness, and the loss of his abilities. Then, the mystery girl’s appearance ... He involuntarily smiled at the thought of her.

Then he felt a tap on his head and turned to Ryra. “What are you smiling about?”

The smile faded slowly “Am I? Nothing”

“Of course, he would smile, especially after we nearly got killed. Again,” Leon groaned, rubbing his burned wrist, now healed.

“Any idea where he was?” Cael asked, though his tone was serious rather than teasing. He glanced at Zyrian from the corner of his eye, his face expressionless.

Others chuckled, but Zyrian didn’t react and drifted back into his thoughts. The girls exchanged glances and looked briefly toward Zyrian.

They arrived at the river and lay down, gazing up at the sky.

Lyna finally sighed and said, “Well, that went well, I suppose, except the dying part.”

Everyone groaned.

“Did you see my shield? It was wild,” Leon boasted, but his usual excitement was muted; his eyes briefly met Nira’s, who was also gazing at him with a strange expression.

“Yes, we all learned at least one thing from this,” Uruses said, his voice calm, though his core still flickered and his legs trembled.

“Come on, let’s go, take a rest, and in the morning, we’ll discuss what you’ve all learned and teach each other,” Zyrian said, standing up.

Everyone nodded and started walking. All of them, except Zyrian, exchanged a glance, noticing the word ‘you,’ but didn’t comment.

Once they reached the Academy, they slipped past the ward and guards, reached their wing, and stopped at Uruse’s room.

Zyrian forced a chuckle and said, “Okay, go to your own room in the morning. See you.” He grinned and walked past them without looking back.

The others stood there, looking at his back, surprised,

“Why is he acting ... strange?” Leon asked, and everyone exchanged a glance and shrugged.

“I think something happened to him back there”, Cael said thoughtfully.

“What do you mean?” Lyna asked.

Cael explained, “It’s just ... while we were all trapped or fighting, he wasn’t doing anything, just staring at everyone. It was like he was frozen and couldn’t move,”

Others looked at Cael, then “Wait, where is he going?” Uruses asked. Others looked where he was looking and were equally surprised.

Zyrian went past his door, lost in his thoughts and nearly on autopilot.

“I think he’s going to Elira,” Nira whispered. The boys stared at her, wide-eyed.

“Elira? Now? Why?” Cael asked.

Ryra suggested, “Something big must have happened for him to go to her. Maybe we should ask her about it tomorrow.”

Everyone nodded. “Let’s go. We’ll see in the morning,” Ursus said, opening his room.

Everyone went their own way, each lost in their own thoughts and discoveries.

Penza- Academy

Zyrian passed his room and the trainee’s wing, heading towards an unfamiliar place, lost in thought. His legs carried him along a path he had never travelled before.

Eventually, he paused in front of a door, looking around in confusion, because this wasn’t where he intended to be.

The door suddenly swung open, revealing a woman at the entrance, surprised to see someone here at this hour.

“Oh,” she gasped, nearly bumping into him,

“What?” a voice asked from behind her. Zyrian was surprised to hear it.

“Uh ... It’s him,” the woman said. “I think he’s here for you.”

“Elira?” Zyrian asked.

“Zyrian?” Elira asked, stepping into his line of sight with an equally surprised look.

The woman moved, and Elira approached him.

“Zyrian, why are you here? How did you come to this place?” Elira inquired.

Zyrian shrugged, glanced around, and asked, “What is this place? I haven’t seen it before.”

Elira observed Zyrian’s expression and sensed that something was off.

“Nothing, just a record room,” Elira said, starting to walk. “Come on, let’s go.” She glanced at the woman, who nodded.

Zyrian followed and saw they had now entered the instructor’s wing. Elira stood before a door, opened it, and Zyrian went in first, followed by Elira, who closed it.

Zyrian looked around the room, then went to the bed, took off his wet T-shirt, and sat down.

Elira approached and stood before him. “What happened? How did you know I was there?” she asked in a quiet voice.

Zyrian looked at her with raised eyebrows. “What?” he asked sheepishly with a grin. “Just came to see you.”

Elira sighed, sat beside him, and took his hand in hers. “Zyrian...” she warned.

Zyrian suddenly stood up and helped her to her feet, saying, “Come on, let’s train.”

Elira was surprised by his sudden reaction. “Train? Now?” She looked at him suspiciously.

“Yes, now, and you can’t refuse this time,” he said firmly, glaring at her.

Elira stared at him for a moment, then nodded. Zyrian turned and went to the door,

“Wait, wear this,” Elira said, picking up his T-shirt, drying the remaining water with a gesture of her hand, and handing it to him.

Zyrian smiled at her casual display of power. “Nice,” he said.

She smiled and nodded, then went out with him.

They went to the squad’s private training area and stood at its centre, the vast space silent except for the faint hum of the wards set into the floor.