The twins climbed up to the roof, just like they used to back at home.
"Ereno... are you still thinking about what happened back there?" Eren asked, her voice barely above a whisper.
Ereno gave a small nod, his gaze fixed on the full moon above.
"You know, I'm not worried about your mana core thing. Professor Vael said not everyone gets it right away." Her voice softened further. "It's just... magic needs incantations. And you... you don't speak."
He said nothing. Just kept looking at the moon, slowly peeling a banana Eren had brought with her. She'd packed a few other fruits too.
"Hehehe… You always find a way to calm me down," she said with a smile. "You've always loved eating fruits and snacks during moments like this."
She paused for a second, then glanced at him. "You won't get bored of me even if I get a bit clingier than usual, right?"
Ereno turned to her. His lifeless eyes, still holding that distant calm, flicked her forehead without warning. Then, with a few quick gestures, he seemed to say:
What kind of question is that? Don't worry, I won't. Not now, not tomorrow, not ever.
"Ow! Hey!" Eren groaned. "Don't do that again, it hurts! It always does!"
Then she giggled. "Hehehe... But I guess it's kind of sweet, coming from mister cold himself."
She scooted closer and leaned against him. Together, they sat in silence under the moonlight.
They stayed that way for a while… before heading off to bed.
Some time later, as they headed to their next class, the twins passed by the central fountain of the academy, only to find Lilly already there, seated with her legs crossed, papers stacked beside her, and a half-empty coffee cup steaming in the cool air.
She didn't seem to notice them at first, she was too focused on her writing, elegant and precise. The fountain's soft splashes mixed with the subtle scratching of her pen as she flipped to the next page:
"Budget Proposal: Autumn Festival Preparations. Request for booth materials and lighting charms. We can work on it some time later. There's still time for it."
Next, her eyes darted to another page:
"Event Coordination: Schedule adjustment due to overlapping club events. An urgent matter."
She sighed. Her pen paused, tapping once against her lip before moving again."Attendance irregularities in Class 2-C. Cross-check with homeroom logs."
Then, as if sensing eyes on her, she looked up. Her gaze met Ereno's first who was staring at her curious and silent. Then Eren's, who offered a cheerful wave.
"Oh, hey there," Lilly said, brushing a stray hair behind her ear. "Didn't expect to see you two this early."
"We could say the same," Eren replied, eyeing the stack beside her. "That looks... quite fun."
Lilly let out a breath that was somewhere between a laugh and a sigh. "Student council duties. Turns out being a representative isn't just about wearing a shiny badge and looking responsible."
Ereno tilted his head slightly, eyeing the words Autumn Festival on one of the pages. He gave a thumbs up.
She chuckled. "Glad someone's excited. If you're planning to attend, thank me later when the lighting doesn't explode."
Eren peeked at the attendance log. "Class 2-C, huh? Someone skipping already?"
Lilly gave a noncommittal shrug. "Could be mistakes in the logs. Or just students being students."
She closed her notebook with a soft snap and stood, slipping it under her arm. "You're heading to Combat Class, right? Mind if I tag along until the hallway turn? I need to drop these off." Lilly asked, balancing a stack of neatly arranged papers against her hip.
Eren perked up. "You're already done with those?"
"More or less," Lilly replied, adjusting her grip. "If I wait too long, the council room gets flooded with last-minute requests. And we both know I'll be the one sorting it out."
Ereno didn't say anything. He glanced at her, blinked once, then shifted his eyes forward again like the conversation didn't need his input.
Lilly caught the look and huffed lightly. "I'll take that as a yes, then."
Eren giggled. "You'll get used to him. That's how he says, 'Sure, whatever.'"
Ereno gave the smallest shrug, silent and unreadable as always. But his pace didn't change, and he didn't move away when Lilly fell into step beside them.
His gaze flicked briefly toward the coffee cup she'd left steaming on the fountain edge; then back ahead, unimpressed.
Noticing, Lilly sighed. "Third cup today. I think my heart's starting to vibrate."
"You mean your soul," Eren teased. "But sure, come with us. Ereno won't mind. Probably."
Ereno kept walking. Silent. As his expression is unchanged.
Together, the three of them started walking toward the class building, the fountain's gentle splashing fading behind them.
The trio reached a long corridor lined with historic portraits and subtle banners of Aurelia Academy. Lilly led them to the student council room, a modest office near the center, its door marked by a brass plaque. Inside, the room was calm yet busy: a few upperclassmen passed along reports and schedules. Lilly navigated a short line, depositing her neatly bundled budget proposals and event coordination notes into an outbox.
"Autumn Festival adjustments, check. Attendance issues for Club D, done," she murmured, then glanced over her shoulder. "We're good here."
She stepped back into the corridor, her gaze warm as she met Eren's and Ereno's. "All set," she said lightly. "Let's head to Combat Class."
They left the council room together and followed the corridor until they reached a wide archway carved with a proud inscription: "Through Discipline, Strength. Through Strength, Mastery." Beyond lay the Blade Hall, a training area named for its reverence to the art of combat.
Inside, it smelled like wood, sweat, and metal. Students were already stretching, warming up, or talking quietly. Training gear lined the walls.
Eren stretched her arms. "Finally! Let's see what Combat Class is all about."
Ereno pulled his gloves tighter and kept walking without saying a word.
Lilly, now less burdened by reports and in a more relaxed mood, joined in with a small smile. "Remember, we're here to train, and maybe keep our limbs intact. Follow me."
Ereno blinked as he knew that she was talking about him.
Eren chuckled. "Hehehe, don't worry, he might seem intimidating all the time, but he's mostly harmless."
The three of them stepped further into Blade Hall, the noise of conversation fading into the steady rhythm of focused practice. The transition was smooth, a short detour through responsibility and duty, now giving way to the tangible grit of physical combat.
The trio reached a long corridor lined with historic portraits and subtle banners of Aurelia Academy. Lilly led them to the student council room, a modest office near the center, its door marked by a brass plaque. Inside, the room was calm yet busy: a few upperclassmen passed along reports and schedules. Lilly navigated a short line, depositing her neatly bundled budget proposals and event coordination notes into an outbox.
"Autumn Festival adjustments, check. Attendance issues for Club D, done," she murmured, then glanced over her shoulder. "We're good here."
She stepped back into the corridor, her gaze warm as she met Eren's and Ereno's. "All set," she said lightly. "Let's head to Combat Class."
They left the council room together and followed the corridor until they reached a wide archway carved with a proud inscription: "Through Discipline, Strength. Through Strength, Mastery." Beyond lay the Blade Hall, a training area named for its reverence to the art of combat.
Inside, it smelled like wood, sweat, and metal. Students were already stretching, warming up, or talking quietly. Training gear lined the walls.
Eren stretched her arms. "Finally! Let's see what Combat Class is all about."
Ereno pulled his gloves tighter and kept walking without saying a word.
Lilly, now less burdened by reports and in a more relaxed mood, joined in with a small smile. "Remember, we're here to train, and maybe keep our limbs intact. Follow me."
The three of them stepped further into Blade Hall, the noise of conversation fading into the steady rhythm of focused practice. The transition was smooth, a short detour through responsibility and duty, now giving way to the tangible grit of physical combat.
The doors to Blade Hall groaned open, revealing a wide space lined with racks of weapons and rows of worn-out training dummies. The floor was marked with faint scuffs from countless sparring matches, and the air carried the scent of old sweat and cold steel.
A tall woman stood at the center. Her silver hair was tied back in a tight knot, her stance firm, and her gaze sharp enough to cut through stone.
"I am Instructor Yubel," she said without raising her voice, yet the room fell silent. "Combat Class is not about flair. It's about surviving. If magic is elegance, this" she gestured around..."is grit."
She walked slowly in front of them. "You will train in six core paths:
Blades: speed and precision.
Polearms: reach and control.
Crushers: strength and impact.
Projectiles: range and patience.
Unarmed: instinct and timing.
Mixed: chaos and adaptability."
Her eyes scanned them one by one. "Your growth follows five tiers: Trainee, Initiate, Disciple, Elite, and Exemplar. Most don't make it past Disciple. Prove me wrong."
She pointed to the racks. "Pick. Then line up at the dummies."
They moved.
Ereno walked past the heavier weapons, stopping at the daggers. He tested their weight, then spun one smoothly around his fingers before gripping them in reverse. Silent, sharp, and close-range, like him.
"Figures," Lilly mutters, "He would go for something quite, fast and sharp."
Eren stayed back, arms folded. "I'll stick to my magic," she said. "Fists and metal aren't really my thing."
"Choose something or leave" Yubel added
"B-but..." Eren replied, sound nervous
"Ugh... Mages bleed too in wars," The professor groaned, "So it's important that they at least defend themselves."
She looked at Eren.
He looked back, nodding in encouragement.
She put on a nervous smile, then turned to the rack, searching for something. Until she picked a short sword. "I think i like this one, it feels like i can move without thinking."
Lilly examined each section with quiet focus before settling on a slim, Rapier. "Something balanced," she murmured, testing its grip. "Light and fast enough to defend, sharp enough to end it."
Aurelian headed straight for a broadsword. He lifted a long glaive with practiced ease, swing it once before nodding. "This will do."
Nina frowned at every weapon before finally picking up throwing knives and a shortbow. "I like keeping distance. Fewer surprises."
Yona grabbed a pair of hidden blades and grinned. "T-that would do."
V picked up a polearm and simply said, "Simple. Effective." He didn't test it, just held it like he already knew how to use it.
Cael went for a hammer with sharp tips at both ends. He seemed unsure at first, but then spun it experimentally. "Heh… it feels like home."
Sylra found a set of chain-linked blades and raised a brow. "This looks dangerous. I like it."
Yubel nodded once, satisfied but unimpressed.
"Now hit the dummies," she said. "Let's see if any of you actually know how to fight."
The clang of weapons and hum of energy filled the Blade Hall as the students faced off against the training dummies, tall, armored constructs enchanted to mimic basic attack and defense patterns.
Instructor Yubel stood at the front with her arms crossed, eyes sharp. "Focus on form. Aim to incapacitate. Don't show off unless you can back it up."
One by one, the students stepped forward.
Aurelian was the first to move, his broadsword slicing through the air with flair. His strikes were wide, powerful, almost theatrical, but undeniably effective. Sparks flew as the dummy staggered backward under his relentless assault.
But even as he fought, his eyes drifted toward the back of the line, watching one person.
Nina followed, moving like smoke. She kept her distance at first, loosing arrows with silent precision, then closed in fast with throwing knives aimed at weak points. Clean, efficient, and with zero wasted motion.
Cael's hammer came down with brutal force. He wasn't the fastest, but every strike landed with the weight of a landslide, sending vibrations through the floor.
V spun his polearm in tight, controlled arcs, carving into the dummy's frame with eerie accuracy. No excess movements. Just cold, calculated execution.
Sylra danced in, her chain-linked sword snapping and curling like a serpent. She handled it with practiced grace, weaving it around the dummy's limbs before jerking it tight, disabling it in one pull.
Yona, silent and distant, barely let the dummy react. Hidden blades flashed fast, clean stabs followed by disengagement. Her body moved on instinct, but her eyes held a strange reluctance, as if every movement brought a bitter taste.
Then came the twins.
Eren stepped up first, gripping her short sword with both hands. Her stance was textbook, clearly drilled into her. She struck fast, dodged with tight footwork, and parried when needed. There was raw energy in her movements, but behind that, training. A solid balance between instinct and discipline.
Ereno didn't posture or pause. He moved like a shadow, closing the distance in an instant. His daggers flashed, striking joints, slits, and seams with surgical speed. His expression didn't shift once, but Yubel's gaze lingered on him longer than the others. Every motion he made screamed control. Sharp. Intentional. Lethal.
From the sidelines, Aurelian's eyes locked on Ereno's every step.
His brows lifted slightly, an unspoken thought flickering across his features.
He let out a low breath through his nose, almost a scoff, but not out of mockery.
Just interest.
Approval.
Maybe even challenge.
By the end, most dummies lay in sparking pieces or frozen mid-reset.
Instructor Yubel finally gave a short nod. "Acceptable. Barely. You'll learn what it means to actually fight soon enough."
She tapped the ground with her boot. "Pair off. Dummies don't hit back but your classmates will as sparring rounds are next.
With that, the room shifted. Tension rising, blades tightening in grip.
Sparring was next. And this time, it would be real.