Part 2 - Once again, Night

Chapter 5 - Second Class

"K-Konota, you're okay-... and I have no idea..." I whispered, trying not to disturb the tense scene unfolding before us.

"That... that was a second class 'Masked One'... but it was stronger..." Luna mumbled under her breath, barely audible.

As the metal prodigy, Sterling, continued his conversation with Lyra, I caught a glimpse of Luna sneaking her way to the 'Masked One,' almost as if she was inspecting it. Her cautious movements contrasted sharply with the tension in the room.

"Hey, Luna, what are you doing?" I whispered urgently, trying to catch her attention without drawing too much notice from the others.

"W-What are you doing following me?" Luna whispered back, her voice louder than intended.

Her hand tinkered with the blue gemstone embedded in the 'Masked One's chest. "I thought so... it has seven negative soul parts—the maximum requirement to be a second-class 'Masked One'," she muttered, reaching into her pocket.

She retrieved a miniature orb-like object and swirled it around the gemstone. Suddenly, two sharp purple lines seemed to be sucked into the orb. She inspected the orb in her palm and, with a swift smile, stuffed it back into her pocket.

"Psst—what was that? The orb thingy?" I whispered, trying to conceal myself behind the fallen creature.

Luna sighed. "Must you be involved in everythi—?"

"What are you two doing there?" Sterling's voice cut through, louder and harsher than before.

We both jumped at his sudden interjection. "I-I, uhh... I—" Luna stammered, her composure shaken.

Sterling took a step toward us, his gaze stern.

"Sterling, leave those kids alone. They're just curious," Lyra intervened, stepping between us and Sterling, her tone firm yet protective.

Sterling's eyes flickered with irritation, but he backed off, muttering under his breath. Luna and I exchanged a glance, grateful for Lyra's timely intervention.

Lun and I scurried away, distancing ourselves from the carcass.

"Yeah... there was one just a few days ago. But it was a fourth-class creature. It's still weird that two appeared so soon. Usually, there's a month between sightings, and it's usually a low-class one at that. I was there to check. This time, it was a high level in such a short ti—"

"And you were there coincidentally both times?" Sterling interrupted, his tone dripping with condescension.

Lyra's face tightened, a mixture of frustration and hurt crossing her features, "Wha- What- What are you implying?" She said stuttering under the accusation.

Sterling's eyes narrowed. "Convenient, isn't it? Just make sure you're not the reason they keep appearing. We can't afford more surprises."

Lyra's jaw clenched, but she nodded, maintaining her composure. "Understood."

Luna and I exchanged glances, feeling the weight of the tension between the two adults.

"It's not her fault—" I tried to interject, but Lyra's hand stopped me.

"Stop it... just leave it be," Lyra said, her voice tinged with sadness.

Sterling gave a final glance back. "Control your students," he said before leaping through the gaping hole in the ceiling.

"Everyone, return to class... Oh— I guess it's lunch. Go to the cafeteria," Lyra said, her usual confident demeanor missing.

The students shuffled away, the atmosphere heavy with unspoken questions and lingering fear. I looked back at Lyra, who seemed lost in thought, her eyes distant.

"Come on," Luna whispered, tugging my sleeve. "Let's go."

As we walked away, I couldn't shake the feeling that things were only going to get more complicated.

We made our way to the cafeteria, and I halted, my eyes widening at the glamorous view. Unlike the training room earlier, which was now destroyed, the cafeteria was a marvel. The dome-shaped ceiling was adorned with a golden lantern hanging from silver chains, casting a warm, inviting glow. Eight carefully sculpted pillars, designed with intricate floral and spiral patterns, supported the ceiling. Six giant arch doors made from sturdy wood added a touch of grandeur to the space.

We lined up, and I was greeted by a friendly lady behind the counter. "Here you go, be sure to eat well," she said with a warm smile, placing food onto my plate. It was some sort of chicken grilled with spices I never heard of. But I know for sure its aroma was great that even my stomach grumbled.

I thanked the lady and moved along, still in awe of the cafeteria's opulence. It was a stark contrast to the chaos we had just experienced. I met up with Konota.

"Hey! Where should we sit... there are so many places..." I asked her as I balanced my plate.

"Huh? Anywhere is fine, I could even eat standing up." Konota replied, salivating at the fancy-looking food on our plates.

I stared at her, one eyebrow lifted and my lips slanted. Then, out of the corner of my eye, I saw a hooded figure seated at a table alone.

"Luna!" I immediately rushed over. "Mind if we join you?"

She jumped in her seat and turned to me, surprised. "W-What? Why me? It's not like we're friends or anything," she replied, a hint of defensiveness in her voice.

Konota sat down across from her and started munching down. "Who cares? You can always be friends later on," she said, barely audible with her mouth full of food.

Luna sighed and glanced away, her expression softening just a bit. "Fine, whatever. Just don't expect me to talk much."

"Thanks, Luna," I said, taking a seat next to Konota. The tension from earlier seemed to ease slightly as we settled into our meal, the comforting clatter of utensils and quiet conversations around us creating a sense of normality.

While eating, the thought of the orb came to mind. "Wha- Wait," I choked on my words, "What was that orb thing, Luna?"

She froze on the spot. "W-Why should I tell you?" she mumbled, avoiding eye contact.

I paused to think how to answer her. "Oh! Because it looked super cool! Like, I was mesmerised!" I replied, hoping to break the ice.

A slight blush appeared on her cheeks, contrasting with her blue eyes. "O-Of course it's cool. I am cool. Of course," she said, trying to act prideful.

"Well... if you must know, that orb was my magic. I use soul magic and—" she began.

"Soul magic?! What?! Then how did you use air magic when you were fighting me?!" I asked, surprised, dropping my utensils in shock.

"I already said, dummy, I used Mucik, the mock magic. People can use any sort of Mucik as long as they understand the basics of the specific magic. I studied air magic, but only a little, as I was preparing for this academy," she explained with a prideful look and a gleeful smile.

"Wow, that's impressive," I said, genuinely amazed. "I didn't know Mucik could be so versatile."

Luna's prideful demeanor softened slightly. "It's not as powerful as real magic, that's why it would probably not be taught here, I only found out about it thanks to my mother. Besides, my real talent lies in soul magic. The orb helps me manipulate and extract soul parts, like from that 'Masked One' earlier."

Konota, who had been quietly eating, finally chimed in. "Soul magic, huh? Sounds intense. But it's pretty awesome to see someone with such unique abilities."

Luna looked between us, her initial hesitation melting away. "Yeah, I guess it is pretty cool. But don't go spreading it around, okay? I don't want everyone knowing my secrets."

"Don't worry, your secret's safe with us," I assured her with a smile.

"Hmph- W-Whatever..." Luna said, the blush on her face betraying her attempt at seeming strong.

We continued eating, the atmosphere lightening as we chatted about magic and our experiences at the academy. For a moment, it felt like the chaos of the morning was a distant memory, replaced by the beginnings of a new friendship.