Chapter 8 — Trouble Comes in Layers

In Kael’s room, Lyren sat quietly on the edge of his bed. The room was dim, sunlight leaking through the curtains. Her hand brushed against her neck — the faint scar from the slave collar still pulsed faintly.

She’d been practicing small illusion spells to keep herself hidden, but the magic inside her body still felt… broken. Every time she cast, it hurt a little.

Suddenly — the door burst open.

“Kael! Are you still asleep again!?” Aria’s voice rang through the room.

Lyren’s eyes widened. Her heart raced as she quickly cast an illusion spell, the air around her shimmering. Her form flickered, the magic unstable — almost vanishing, almost visible.

Aria looked around, hands on her hips. “Weird… he’s not even here?”

She walked further in, checking under the bed, behind the curtains, even opening Kael’s wardrobe. Lyren’s illusion strained — beads of sweat formed on her forehead. The mana distortion caused faint crackles in the air, but Aria didn’t notice.

“Hmph, lazy Kael. Probably hiding from training again,” Aria muttered before stomping out.

The door closed. Lyren gasped softly, clutching her chest as the illusion dropped.

⸻

The Academy

Kael sat in class, chin resting on his hand, staring out the window. For once, he wasn’t spacing out from boredom — he was thinking too much.

(If Aria barged into my room again and found Lyren, I’d never hear the end of it…)

He sighed, muttering under his breath, “Too annoying to think about.”

Julius leaned over. “What’s too annoying? The class, or your life?”

Kael didn’t answer — just kept muttering, his voice a low rumble that made Julius even more curious.

Meanwhile, Professor Miren Althea clapped her hands. “All right, students! Time for practicals — magic control. Create a simple ice construct. The more detailed, the better.”

Students began forming small figures, animals, or shapes of ice. Julius made a crystalline bird that fluttered its wings. Lelia’s creation — a perfect rose made of ice — drew murmurs of admiration.

Kael, however, didn’t move.

“Kael Valenhart,” the professor said with mild irritation, “do you intend to participate, or are you going to nap with your eyes open again?”

Kael groaned. “Fine, fine…”

He lifted one hand lazily to the side — and the air temperature dropped instantly. Mana flared, water condensed, and a massive water dragon coiled above the class, its eyes glowing faintly.

Everyone froze in awe.

Then, with a flick of Kael’s wrist, it vanished into mist.

Silence.

The professor blinked several times, speechless.

“…You can sit down,” she finally said.

“Wasn’t standing,” Kael murmured, sitting anyway.

Julius snickered. Lelia, however, frowned. He’s not even trying… and yet…

⸻

Later that day  when  Kael returned to the castle, the first thing he noticed was the looming figure waiting for him — Roland.

“Kael,” Roland said in that calm, dangerous tone that made grown knights nervous. “Care to explain where you’ve been?”

Kael turned, pretending to look behind him. “Who, me? You must mean another Kael—”

Before he could blink, Roland grabbed him by the collar. “You think you can escape me, boy?”

Kael sighed. “Worth a shot.”

Moments later, Kael was in the training yard — pressed against a wall, a giant log resting on his shoulders.

Roland crossed his arms. “Hold that squat. You move before I say, you’ll hold it longer.”

“Three hours!?” Kael groaned.

Roland smirked. “Four.”

⸻

That Night

When Kael finally staggered back to his room, every muscle in his legs screamed. “I’m never moving again,” he muttered, pushing the door open and collapsing onto his bed—

Soft.

Too soft.

He blinked and froze. Something warm shifted beneath him.

“…Kael?” came a soft, flustered voice.

Kael lifted his head and saw Lyren’s startled face beneath him, her illusion fading from the sudden impact.

“Oh,” Kael said flatly. “You’re here.”

She blushed furiously. “Y-you’re on top of me—!”

Kael slowly rolled off her, lying on his back beside her. “My mistake.”

Silence filled the room. Then Lyren whispered, “You… look exhausted.”

Kael closed his eyes. “You have no idea.”

And for the first time since he freed her, Lyren smiled faintly.