Echoes of a Seraph

As sleep began to envelop him, a soft tap against the glass startled him awake. He opened his eyes slowly, blinking to adjust to the dimness that filled his room. The faint glow of the moon filtered through the curtains. Sitting up slightly, he tried to discern whether the sound he heard was real or a figment of his imagination, but nothing else followed. The silence of the night was interrupted only by the whisper of the wind and the distant rustling of leaves.

Another knock, louder this time, resonated against the window. Kayn frowned, sitting up with confusion. He couldn't understand who would be making noise at this hour. He slid out of bed, the cold wooden floor chilling his bare feet. He approached the window, and as he pulled back the curtains, an object struck the glass, though with less force than before. Still groggy, he couldn't make out what it was. He opened the windows wide, letting the cool night air flood the room.

Then, a rock flew toward him, striking him squarely on the forehead. He clutched his head, wincing in pain.

From below, a familiar voice broke the silence.

"Sorry, Kayn! Are you okay?"

He immediately recognized the feminine voice. Ignoring the sharp ache, he looked down. There, bathed in moonlight, stood Lyra. Her silvery hair, usually tied back, now flowed freely over her shoulders, swaying gently in the night breeze. Her blue eyes gazed up at him with concern. She wore a simple light blue, long-sleeved dress, and a small golden pendant gleamed at her neck, holding what appeared to be a ruby.

In her right hand, she held a stone, which she promptly dropped to the ground the moment Kayn spotted her. The sound of it hitting the ground echoed softly in the quiet night.

"Lyra, what are you doing here? I thought you'd already left."

She smiled sheepishly, shrugging.

"Well, let's say there was an unforeseen issue. Burst wasn't feeling well and had to go home for a bit. We haven't heard from him yet, so they decided to delay our departure by an hour."

Kayn chuckled.

"He probably ate something bad again."

Lyra laughed as well, caught up in his amusement.

"That's very likely. He never learns."

An awkward silence settled between them. Kayn studied her closely, noticing how the moonlight accentuated the delicate features of her face. For some reason, she seemed more beautiful than ever. Every detail etched itself into his memory: the way her eyes shimmered, the soft movement of her hair, and the way she lightly bit her lower lip, as if nervous.

"Burst told me you weren't planning to come," Lyra said, breaking the silence. "But even so, I didn't want to leave without saying goodbye." She lowered her gaze, avoiding his eyes. "We won't see each other for quite some time, after all."

"I appreciate it, but... was it really necessary to throw rocks at my window?" he asked, making Lyra's cheeks flush. Though the light wasn't enough for him to notice, her tone betrayed her embarrassment.

"I rang the bell several times, but no one answered," she explained, nervously twirling a strand of her hair. "So, I didn't have another option."

Kayn remembered his parents mentioning they would go to the village entrance, probably to see Burst off. It didn't surprise him that they hadn't told him; he had made it clear he wouldn't go. Still, he was puzzled that he hadn't heard the doorbell. He hadn't fallen into such a deep sleep, and besides, the door was unlocked. A doubt crossed his mind: Had Lyra really rung the bell?

"Give me a moment. I'll come down," he said, turning to head for the door.

But Lyra's voice stopped him.

"No, it's fine! I have to leave soon anyway. I just came to say goodbye."

The urgency in her tone made him pause. He leaned out the window again, observing her intently. There was something in her gaze he couldn't decipher. The nocturnal wind blew, and Kayn felt a pang in his chest; the thought of not seeing her for so long was unbearable. He recalled his conversation with Burst earlier that morning.

Before he realized it, his body moved instinctively, driven by an emotion he couldn't control. He climbed onto the window ledge.

"Kayn, wait!"

Without a second thought, he jumped. The cold air rushed against his face during the brief fall. Fortunately, he landed on a bush that cushioned the impact, though a dull ache spread through his body, especially his backside and ankle. He had leapt from about four meters high.

Lyra ran toward him, evident worry in her eyes.

"Are you crazy or what?" she exclaimed. Seeing him writhing in pain, she extended a hand to help him up. "Are you okay?"

"I think so. Luckily, nothing's broken. My leg just hurts a bit."

He brushed off the leaves and twigs tangled in his clothes and hair, though a grimace betrayed his pain.

"What were you thinking? You could've seriously hurt yourself," Lyra said with clear irritation. While she usually seemed cheerful, when she got angry, she really got angry. Kayn had lost count of the number of times she had scolded him and Burst. She crossed her arms, glaring at him. "Why didn't you just use the door?"

"Because I thought you'd leave," he admitted, keeping his gaze fixed on her. "I wanted to see you before you went."

Lyra looked away, and the blush on her cheeks was evident even under the faint light.

"But... I'm here."

A silence fell between them. The distant chirping of a cricket and the whisper of the wind were the only sounds accompanying the scene. Kayn felt his heart pounding wildly. It was now or never.

"Lyra, I..." He swallowed hard, his heart racing. "I need to tell you something."

She looked up, her blue eyes meeting his. She remained silent, her lips slightly parted, waiting for him to speak.

"I... I wish you the best of luck at the academy," he finally said, feeling as if he'd just fought hours against hordes of enemies.

Lyra held his gaze, and for a moment, a shadow of disappointment crossed her face before she offered a soft smile.

Coward.

"Thank you. To be honest, I'm really nervous about going," she murmured with a melancholic tone. There was a hint of sadness in her voice Kayn didn't recall hearing before. "The Linker Academy is a place where only the best make it to the end. I'm not even sure if I'll be able to keep up. Maybe I'll fall behind. I'm... really scared."

Kayn frowned, surprised by her words. For a moment, the feelings overwhelming him began to dissipate.

"What's with that attitude?" he asked, startling Lyra. "Since when do you back down like that? You haven't even tried yet."

Lyra looked up at him with her shining eyes. His words seemed to reassure her somehow.

"You're the most knowledgeable about anima in the entire village. I'm sure you'll be one of the smartest at the academy too. And..." he averted his gaze briefly, "probably one of the most popular as well."

When he looked back at her, a small smile illuminated Lyra's lips, making Kayn blush.

"Thanks. I needed to hear that," she replied, smiling so warmly that Kayn's own face lit up. "So, what will you do while we're gone? I suppose you won't just sit around."

"Of course not," he replied firmly. "I'll keep training with my father as much as I can. I've also been thinking about trying out for a nearby guild."

"I'm sure with your skills, they'll accept you."

"I think the hardest part will be convincing my mom to let me. I don't even want to imagine her reaction when I tell her. You should've seen how she yelled at my dad when he taught me to use a sword."

"Your dad really didn't wait long," Lyra said with a soft laugh. "But I'm sure your mom will come around."

"I hope so."

Lyra looked at him mischievously.

"How about we have a match when I get back?" she proposed, completely surprising Kayn.

"A match? With you?"

She nodded excitedly, and Kayn considered it for a moment. It was the first time he'd heard Lyra say something like that. She always watched when he and Burst trained but never showed interest in participating. He supposed that now, with a guardian, she had changed her mind.

"Well, I don't see why not..." he murmured, still processing it.

"Then it's a promise."

Lyra extended her hand and took his, intertwining her pinky with his. The contact made his heart race. He could feel the warmth of her skin, the softness of her fingers.

"Just so you know, when we meet again, I won't be the same," she added with determination. "Who knows? Maybe I'll even become stronger than you."

Kayn smirked.

"In your dreams."

They both laughed, and for a moment, everything felt like before. Silence enveloped them again, but this time it wasn't uncomfortable. The wind blew once more, making Lyra's silvery hair ripple like a cascade. She took a small step back.

"Well, I should go. I left Frost with my parents, and he's probably going crazy waiting for me."

"Oh, right..."

Kayn felt a pang of sadness. He wanted to prolong the moment, to keep talking with her all night if possible, but he knew he couldn't. Still, he was grateful Lyra had come specifically to say goodbye to him.

"Take care of yourself, okay? I promise to write."

"You too."

She nodded, and after a brief hesitation, leaned toward him. Before he could react, he felt the soft brush of her lips against his cheek. The contact was brief but enough to make his heart race uncontrollably.

"Happy birthday," she whispered as she pulled away.

Their eyes met once more, but Kayn didn't know how to respond. Before he could say anything, Lyra turned and began to walk away with hurried steps. He watched her as she disappeared into the shadows, his mind still trying to process what had just happened.

He fell backward onto the grass, staring up at the starry sky. The constellations shone brightly.

"I didn't imagine that, did I? She kissed me." He touched his cheek, still feeling the warmth of the contact. "Then, if I'd confessed, would she have...?" Kayn's thoughts raced, trying to make sense of his emotions. "No, I can't get my hopes up. It was just a simple kiss on the cheek. A goodbye between friends. That's all..."

He sat up slowly, feeling the pain in his ankle and his backside again from the fall. He looked toward the path where Lyra had disappeared, but there was no trace of her. The entire village was probably gathered at the entrance, bidding farewell to those leaving. Everyone but him. But his decision hadn't changed.

He averted his gaze from the path and approached his door, grabbing the handle to open it. He turned it, but the door wouldn't budge.

"Don't tell me..."

He tried again, but his efforts were in vain. There was no doubt: the door was locked. His parents had likely locked it when they left, but he didn't have the keys with him. He thought that maybe jumping out of the window hadn't been such a great idea after all.

He sank down, leaning his back against the wooden door. A bitter laugh escaped his lips. The cold of the night was beginning to seep into his bones. He looked up at his bedroom window, considering whether he should try climbing back up. However, his ankle hurt, and he didn't want to risk another fall.

He hugged his knees, staring at the moonlit path. He thought of Lyra, of what could have been if he'd had the courage to speak. Maybe there was still a chance. Maybe...

"This sucks..."