REIYA'S POV
I was nervous about what was about to happen. I glanced at Vryx—he was already looking at me, preparing himself.
So this was the next subject he was talking about: sparring!
"Are you ready?" he asked with a grin. I didn't know what he was smiling about, which only made me frown more.
"Begin," announced Sir Mycroft. My nerves doubled.
"Are you nervous?" Vryx asked, approaching me slowly. I nodded.
"That's enough chit-chat—start the match!" someone from the benches called out. It was the man I saw yesterday at the dorm. I wasn't sure at first, but then I remembered—he was the same guy who'd been staring at me in the restaurant.
I looked back at Vryx, and suddenly he uttered a word. Before I could react, I was thrown backwards, crashing into a bench.
"Arggh," I groaned, wincing in pain.
Damn it, we really were opponents.
"Are you okay?" Sir Mycroft asked. Did I look like I was okay?
"I guess not," he followed up, so I forced myself to stand, clutching my side.
"Rule No. 1: Don't look away," Vryx said as he walked toward me. I frowned, irritated with him—even if this was just sparring.
Tsk.
"Okay, next pair," Sir Mycroft called out. "Reiya, go to the infirmary." I just nodded and started walking, still feeling the pain in my back and side.
"Are you alright?" Vryx asked. I shot him an "I-don't-know-you" glare.
Did I look okay? Please.
"I'm fine," I muttered, walking ahead even though my back hurt so much. I didn't listen to anything else he said. I knew it was just sparring, but I was still annoyed at him.
Tsk, where's the infirmary anyway?
"To your right, then go left," someone said. It was the guy from the restaurant.
"I'm Arius Mnemosyne," he added before walking off. That one's weird too. I followed his directions and soon found the infirmary.
"Dear, be careful next time going down stairs," the nurse said. That's the excuse I gave her for my sore back.
I left the infirmary and saw Vryx leaning against the wall, waiting for me.
I ignored him and decided to head to the dorm to change. "Hey, are you mad?" he called after me, but I didn't answer.
"Reiya." I stopped and looked at him; his face clearly asking if I was angry.
"No." I kept walking.
"Are you sure?" he pressed. I nodded and forced a smile. Even though I was annoyed, fine—I'll pretend I'm not.
"What's our next subject?" I asked, changing the topic.
"There isn't one. Someone broke the school's barrier, so all professors have been called in." His words made me frown.
"Barrier?" I echoed.
"If the barrier is breached, monsters—or anything else—could get into the school," he explained. I nodded, suddenly uneasy.
"Who broke it?" I asked. He just shrugged—he didn't know either.
"Why were you waiting outside the infirmary?" I asked him. He scratched his head and didn't answer.
"We're going to the hall," he said instead, so I just followed.
The hall was full of students talking—most of them about the barrier incident.
Up front, the school heads were discussing what happened, but suddenly everything went silent as one professor burst in, running and shouting.
"Darius, calm down," said a female professor.
"There's a woman at the eastern barrier!" Darius announced. The professors stood up and rushed out of the hall.
I stood up too and quietly followed after them.
"Where are you going?" Vryx appeared out of nowhere, startling me.
"Shhh." I grabbed his collar and we hid behind a wall.
"What is it, Professor Red?" a male professor asked. "Nothing—I just thought I saw someone," Professor Red replied. I glanced at Vryx—we were now crouched close together.
"This is your fault for being so loud," I whispered accusingly.
"C'mon Red, we don't have time," another professor said as they continued walking. We followed at a safe distance.
Vryx and I hid behind some bushes. We watched as the professors carried an unconscious girl out from near the barrier.
Wait…
"Athena?" My brows furrowed—it really was Athena they were carrying!
"You know her?" Vryx asked. I nodded.
"Let's follow them," I said quickly. Vryx didn't hesitate, falling in step behind me.
They brought Athena to the infirmary—we didn't follow inside but stayed by the hall entrance instead.
Why is Athena here?
"Hey, care to share? What are you thinking?" Vryx asked me quietly.
"I have no idea if Athena is studying here too—I thought she dropped out from our old school." Vryx nodded thoughtfully.
"Ask her when she wakes up," he suggested. And that's exactly what I planned to do.
But why was she at the edge of the barrier? What was she doing there? I knew I wouldn't find peace until I got answers from her myself.
I stood up and took a tissue from my pocket.
"Where are you going?" Vryx asked.
"I'll ask her." Without looking back at him, I ran toward the infirmary door.
Okay, Reiya—act normal.
I opened the door and saw Professor Red with another professor from earlier.
"What are you doing here?" Professor Red asked me sharply.
I ignored her question—my eyes landed on Athena who looked just as shocked to see me. "Athena!" The professors stepped aside and I rushed to hug her tight.
"Reiya?" Athena whispered in confusion—she clearly hadn't expected to see me here either.
"You two know each other?" Professor Red asked suspiciously.
"We're friends," I answered as I pulled away from Athena's hug.
I could feel Athena looking at me intently.
"You can stay with your friend for now," Professor Red said before leaving with her colleague. I waited until they were gone before turning to Athena again.
"What happened to you?" I asked quickly.
"What are you doing here?" she asked at exactly the same time.
We spoke over each other—so I answered first:
"I study here."
"I study here too—I only arrived today! But suddenly someone attacked me from behind and that's why I fainted. I didn't see their face—but it scared me," she recounted shakily.
"Did you tell that to the professors?" She nodded.
"I didn't know you studied here too," Athena said softly.
"And here I thought you'd gone abroad for school," I replied honestly.
"That day we met at the restaurant—I also met Sir Mycroft then. Turns out, I'm a mage too!" she laughed as she shared this with me.
"Did someone take your parents too?" I asked quietly—but she shook her head no.
"Reiya… what happened to you?" she asked gently—but I just looked down; not ready to talk about it yet.
Suddenly, the door burst open—Arius stood there panting heavily, eyes locked on Athena. She stared back at him in surprise.
What's going on?