Chapter 154: Until You Return

Andras returned to his room after speaking with Lyra and spent the rest of the evening without doing anything particularly important.

The decision had already been made. From the next day onward, Lyra would train under Selene, while Andras would return to Ambrose Academy. There was nothing left for him to arrange.

After washing up, he sat near the window with a bottle of dark rum beside him. The quiet of the estate settled around him as he drank slowly, allowing the warmth of the alcohol to dull the edges of his thoughts. One glass became another. The night air drifting through the partially open window carried the faint scent of the gardens below. Eventually he stopped counting.

When he finally went to sleep, it was considerably later than usual.

---

Morning arrived before Andras was ready for it.

He opened his eyes slowly. For several seconds he remained still, staring at the ceiling. Then a dull headache pulsed behind his eyes. Andras frowned, sat up, and rubbed his forehead.

"...I drank too much."

He remembered the previous night perfectly well. The residual warmth of the alcohol still lingered faintly in his blood, and the light filtering through the curtains felt sharper than usual.

Andras glanced toward the table beside his bed. His clothes for the day had already been prepared and neatly folded. A small piece of paper rested on top of them.

He picked it up and read the handwriting.

*Sorry, Young Master. I didn’t wake you. I thought you needed more sleep.

I’m going to train with General Selene.

I’ve already prepared your clothes.

— Lyra*

Andras looked at the note for a moment. So she had already begun taking her new training seriously. He folded the paper, set it aside, and took his clothes.

After bathing and changing, he left his room and made his way toward the training grounds. The corridors were quiet at this hour. Servants moved with practiced silence, and the morning light had only just begun to fully claim the estate. He did not announce his arrival at the training field. Instead he stopped some distance away, near the edge of the packed earth, and watched.

Selene stood in front of Lyra with her arms crossed. Lyra held the Darksteel Spear firmly in both hands. Sweat already darkened the collar of her training clothes, and a thin sheen covered her forehead.

"Again."

Lyra adjusted her stance and thrust forward. Selene immediately shook her head.

"Your rear foot."

Lyra looked down.

"You moved it."

"I thought I needed to—"

"You thought wrong. Again."

Lyra tightened her grip. "Yes, General."

She repeated the movement. This time Selene waited until Lyra had completed the full sequence before speaking.

"Better. Now do it twenty more times."

Lyra’s eyes widened slightly. "Twenty?"

"Did you hear me incorrectly?"

"...No."

"Then start."

Lyra obeyed.

Andras watched silently from a distance. Selene was considerably harsher than he had ever been with Lyra. There was no unnecessary encouragement and no attempt to make the training comfortable. Every mistake was corrected immediately, and every correction had to be repeated until it became natural. The difference in approach was clear. Where Andras had observed and adjusted, Selene imposed and demanded.

Lyra struggled. Her movements gradually became slower as fatigue accumulated. Sweat ran down her face and darkened the fabric along her back. Several times her stance nearly broke under exhaustion. But she did not stop. She corrected herself and continued, jaw set, eyes focused on the empty air in front of her.

Andras watched for several more minutes before turning away. Selene was doing exactly what Lyra needed. That was enough.

He left the training grounds and headed toward the dining hall.

---

Evelyne was already seated when Andras arrived. She looked up as he entered, one eyebrow rising slightly at his appearance.

"You’re late."

Andras pulled out a chair and sat down. "I overslept."

Evelyne raised an eyebrow further. "That doesn’t sound like you."

Andras did not answer. Breakfast arrived shortly afterward, and the two of them began eating. He had barely taken a few bites when he lifted one hand to his forehead, pressing lightly against the lingering ache.

Evelyne noticed immediately. "Is your head hurting?"

"A little."

She stared at him for a moment, blue eyes narrowing with quiet disapproval. "I think you should stop drinking."

"Yeah, yeah."

Evelyne rolled her eyes. "There is nothing I can do about you. I already know you’re not listening to me."

Andras continued eating as though he hadn’t heard her. The food was well prepared, but the residual effects of the alcohol made the flavors feel slightly muted. Evelyne sighed before changing the subject.

"Selene told me you asked her to take over Lyra’s training. And that you intend to leave Lyra here when you return to the Academy."

"Yes."

"Why?"

"She needs a proper warrior instructor. I’m not one."

Evelyne studied him for a few seconds, then nodded slowly. "I see. It’s a reasonable decision."

Andras glanced at her. "How did the investigation go?"

"They finished examining the core and the residual materials this morning. Everything matched the report. They left an hour ago."

"Any complications?"

"None."

Andras accepted that without comment. It was the expected outcome. The Empire now had its confirmation. Attention would follow, but that was a problem for later.

Evelyne looked at him for a moment longer. The quiet of the dining hall settled between them. "When are you leaving?"

"Tomorrow."

Her expression changed almost imperceptibly. The composure of a Duchess remained, but something softer and more personal moved beneath it. "Tomorrow already?"

"Yes."

She looked down at her cup. "You’ve barely been home."

"I’ve been here long enough."

Evelyne sighed softly. "I know. It’s just..."

She stopped herself.

Andras looked at her. "Just what?"

Evelyne smiled faintly, though the smile did not fully reach her eyes. "Nothing. Your mother is simply allowed to dislike watching her son leave again."

Andras was silent for a few seconds. Then he said calmly, "I’ll be back."

Evelyne’s smile became warmer. "I know."

---

The rest of the afternoon passed quietly.

Andras returned to his room after breakfast and spent some time circulating mana, letting the residual effects of the alcohol fade under the steady work of his physique talent. The headache gradually receded. Later he checked the contents of his storage ring and made sure everything he needed for the Academy was prepared.

Eclipse Edge rested safely inside.

The Voidpulse Bracelet remained on his wrist.

The Voidheart Crystal was still sealed within its container.

Nothing was missing. Nothing needed to be replaced. The preparations were complete.

By evening the estate had settled into its usual quiet rhythm. Mana lamps glowed softly along the corridors. Distant footsteps faded into the background. Andras was sitting near the window when he heard a knock.

"Come in."

The door opened. Lyra entered. She had already changed out of her training clothes. Her hair was still slightly damp from washing, and the faint exhaustion from Selene’s training was visible in the way she moved—slower than usual, but controlled. She closed the door behind her and stood quietly, hands folded in front of her.

Andras looked at her. "How was training?"

"Difficult."

"Good."

Lyra smiled faintly. "You really do like saying that."

"It means the training is working."

She walked closer and stopped near the table. For a moment neither of them spoke. The soft light from the window caught the edge of her face. Then Lyra looked toward the gardens below.

"You’re leaving tomorrow."

"Yes."

She nodded. "I know."

Andras watched her carefully. "You’ll continue training with Selene."

"Yes."

"And you won’t neglect your cultivation."

"I won’t."

There was a short silence. Lyra lowered her gaze. Her fingers tightened slightly against each other.

"Then when you return..." She hesitated. Andras waited. "I’ll show you what I’ve learned."

A faint smile appeared on Andras’s face. "I’ll be expecting it."

Lyra nodded. She seemed to relax slightly after hearing those words. They continued speaking for some time, though neither of them had anything particularly important to discuss. It was simply easier to talk tonight, knowing that tomorrow they would be separated again. The conversation drifted between small observations about the day’s training and quiet acknowledgments of the coming distance. Eventually it ended. Lyra stood.

"Good night, Young Master."

"Good night."

She left. Andras remained by the window for a while longer, watching the last light fade from the sky, before finally preparing for bed.

---

Several hours later, another knock came at the door.

Andras opened his eyes. He had not been fully asleep. The room was dark except for the faint glow of a single mana lamp left on low.

"Come in."

The door opened slowly. Lyra stepped inside. She was wearing a simple nightgown, and she hesitated near the doorway as though she had reconsidered coming several times before finally knocking. Her dark hair fell loosely over her shoulders. In the dim light, the nervousness in her posture was clear.

Andras looked at her. "Is something wrong?"

Lyra shook her head. "No."

She closed the door behind her. For several seconds she simply stood there, as if gathering the last of her resolve. Then she walked closer.

"Since you’re leaving tomorrow..." Her voice was quieter than usual.

Andras waited.

Lyra lowered her gaze before forcing herself to look at him again. "Could I stay with you tonight?"

Andras studied her expression. There was nervousness there, along with the sadness she had been trying to hide throughout the evening. He understood what she was asking. The request was not unexpected. Attachment often sought proximity before separation.

Before he could answer, Lyra stepped closer and kissed him. It was brief and hesitant at first, but she didn’t pull away immediately. When they separated, her face was flushed. Neither of them spoke.

Andras simply looked at her for a moment before reaching out. His hand settled against her waist, steady and unhurried.

The room gradually fell silent. The rest of the night belonged to them.

---

Morning came quietly.

Andras opened his eyes and looked toward the other side of the bed. Lyra was still asleep. Her breathing was calm, and the tension that had remained in her expression throughout the previous evening had finally disappeared. In sleep, she looked younger, the usual careful composure gone.

Andras watched her for several seconds. Then he shook his head slightly.

"You really were crazy last night."

Lyra didn’t respond. She remained asleep, one hand resting loosely near the edge of the sheet.

Andras closed his eyes again and slowly drifted back to sleep.