Lyria didn’t bother to practice or train before the fourth contest. She had always been an undeniably skilled Warrior. More to the point, she barely seemed to have any interest in the contest, something that didn’t go unnoticed by her peers.
The night before the fourth contest, Aertis came to her room. She didn’t bother to knock before pushing the door slightly open. She was unsurprised to find Lyria in bed, reading another book she had borrowed from the castle library, looking utterly listless.
“Lyria?” Aertis said gently, approaching the bed. Lyria looked up, startled from a reverie so intense she had not heard the door open at all.
“Aertis,” Lyria greeted her friend, not moving.
“Lyria, I’m a bit worried about you,” Aertis said. “It’s been three days since the banquet and you’ve har
