Shadow Bands

XXXI. Blood Moon

Lyra donned her mother's armor once again. Her sword was on her left hip, the ebony crossbow was on her left, and Oath Breaker on her back. She wore the cloth Aeris gave to her when she started the Knight's Academy, wearing it like a short cape.

The Veil manor felt empty.

The corridors lacked warmth and light. Dust swayed in the cracks of sunlight, threatening to cover all the surfaces, and the silence was deafening. There was an absence of movement within the manor, as if time stood still. Even the dance of the Everfire has quenched just slightly.

Birds went on with their daily business, tweeting their carefree tunes. The streets barely held any activity, just the usual passerby and greetings.

The world had already forgotten. . .

"You doing alright?" asked Kaelen.

Lyra hadn't heard him come in, startling her for just a moment. "I'll do better once I'm out there," she replied, adjusting herself.

"Joanne sent me with a message. She said that they will remove you from the academy.

Lyra's head turned sharply to Kaelen. "No, that can't happen. I'm so close. I'll talk to her-I'll show her that I'm fine."

"Everyone's concerned about you, worried that you'd do something reckless. I can agree with them on this."

She looked at him in disbelief, then shook her head slowly. "They want to cast me out?"

"You're misunderstanding—"

"Then tell me!" she shouted, interrupting him. "Why does the world reject me? Why can't I—" The words crashed in her throat, turning into a frustrating sigh and a shift in her weight.

Kaelen looked at her, at a loss for words, unsure how to approach her in the moment of silence.

"What am I doing wrong?" she finally whispered.

"You're doing nothing wrong," Kaelen tried to reassure her. A silence fell between them again. He watched as Lyra brushed the desk Aeris worked at. His resolution faltered, and his breath left him in a sigh. "I'll talk to Joanne with you, but we have to leave now."

If it weren't for the crushing weight in her chest, Lyra would have expressed great gratitude, but all she gave was a sincere smile.

· · ─ · ◯☽✵☾◯ · ─ · ·

Lyra and Kaelen walked down the training hall. Knights were in their sparring rings, but their presence disturbed their focus. Their heads turned as the weapons in their hands dropped to their sides. She felt as if they were staring at her specifically. For what? She didn't know—she didn't want to know.

The duo made their way to Joanne's office. To their surprise, they found the door closed when it was usually open. Kaelen's knock prompted a worried look from Lyra, concerned about intruding. But he shrugged her off.

"Enter," the two heard.

He swung the door open, and she followed close behind him, presenting themselves to Joanne. They found her focused and intent, her hands busy with buckles and straps of her armor. Her toned muscles glistened in the sunlight from the sweat of her morning workout. She looked at Lyra, but ignored Kalen.

"I wish—"

"I know what you wish for, girl." Her cold blue eyes analyzed every inch of her. "You have guts coming here after you failed, after your loss."

"Captain—"

She held a hand to Kaelen before he could speak, silencing him. "You come here to seek revenge, but revenge kills you first before your target. Is that what you want?"