The Boy Who Walks Beyond The End-Chapter 71: The Sweetest Silence

Chapter 64 – Sweet Chaos Before the Storm

A soft chime echoed across Eboncrest Academy as the morning sun painted golden streaks across the sprawling courtyard. Students paused mid-step as a voice rang out from every crystal receiver embedded in the academy's towers.

{Notice: The Inter-Academy Duel between Eboncrest and Vaelstrom Academy will commence following the end-of-year exams and post-exam vacation. Participants will be selected soon. Prepare accordingly.}

The courtyard immediately buzzed like an overexcited beehive.

"VAELSTROM? Pfft. They're just cocky with fancy robes," Elvern snorted, twirling his spoon through his floating fruit cup at breakfast.

"I heard one of their students sliced a wyvern in half with a flute," Arisella said with a skeptical raise of her brow.

"Maybe the wyvern tripped," Fiora muttered.

At their table sat Zen, calmly sipping his tea, Lyra beside him with her chin resting on her palm, stealing glances. Sylvia sat across, mostly quiet but smiling faintly at the bickering.

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But Zen?

He was unusually calm.

No brooding. No intense glares. Just... strangely at peace.

"Are you smiling?" Lyra tilted her head, lips tugging into a playful smirk.

"Am I?" Zen replied coolly, barely glancing her way.

"Mmhm. You've got this whole... relaxed mysterious handsome thing going on today."

Arisella nearly choked on her drink. "Today?"

Zen rested his chin on his hand and glanced sideways. "I suppose peace is rare. I might as well enjoy it while it lasts."

[OH SO YOU DO ENJOY ME, YOU LITERAL DARKNESS WITH A FACE!]

Zen nearly coughed into his tea.

His fingers twitched slightly on the cup, but he kept a straight face.

[Did you just ignore me? Me? After saving you from total pressure-death yesterday?]

Zen: "No comment."

[I'll take that as love. It's mutual.]

Zen sighed, a little smile tugging at his lips. "I see you've missed the attention, Nex."

[Missed it? I nearly flatlined in that black goo you call fog. My system files are still sticky. Do you have any idea what it's like waking up inside your haunted subconscious? It's like being trapped in an emo poetry club with a thunderstorm.]

Zen rolled his eyes slightly.

"Stop monologuing. People will think I'm mad if I smile at thin air."

[Oh right. Because the brooding prince of doom smiling at nothing is totally not creepy.]

Lyra nudged him with her elbow. "Talking to yourself again?"

Zen tilted his head her way. "Maybe. Maybe not."

She grinned, then whispered, "Is Nex back?"

Zen whispered back, "Louder. I don't think the whole cafeteria heard you."

She flushed pink. "You're annoying."

[She missed me.]

Zen: "She tolerates you."

[Same thing, different font.]

Fiora looked up. "You two good?"

Lyra nodded too quickly. "Yes! Just... stuff."

Zen said nothing. His lips twitched faintly.

—

Later that afternoon, Zen and Lyra found themselves sitting under one of the blossoming shade trees in the academy garden. Students were sparring and relaxing nearby, gossiping about the upcoming duel.

Zen leaned back on his elbows, staring at the drifting clouds.

"Lyra," he said after a moment.

She peeked at him from the side. "Mm?"

He didn't look at her as he said, voice soft but certain, "No one's allowed to touch you."

She blinked. "What?"

Zen turned slightly, meeting her gaze. His voice dropped low, teasing, with a ghost of a smirk. "Only I have permission to."

Her cheeks flushed, color blooming fast. "Z-Zen..."

He tilted his head. "That's fair, right?"

She stared down at her knees, flustered, fiddling with a petal from the flower bed. "Only you can... yeah."

Zen leaned closer, voice playful. "Louder."

"No," she squeaked, smacking his arm.

[Awwww. My dark prince has game. Look at you go. I'm so proud. Should I log this as 'Flirt Level 1 Unlocked'?]

Zen muttered, "I will uninstall you."

[Try. You literally fused me with your inner fog. We're married now.]

Lyra stood abruptly, her ears a little red. "I—I'll go eat something now. See you, Zen!"

She fled the garden path faster than a rogue spell.

Zen sat back, smug, watching her retreat.

[She was blushing so hard, I think her soul caught fire. You charmer.]

Zen smirked. "I'm starting to like this new you."

[Correction. You're starting to like the old you returning.]

The breeze picked up, rustling the leaves. Laughter echoed from the training field. In that fleeting moment of quiet before the chaos of exams and duels, Zen closed his eyes and breathed it all in.

Peace.

Teasing.

Company.

And for once, he didn't feel so alone.

[And admit it. You missed me.]

Zen: "No."

[Lie detected.]

Zen: "Shut up."

[I'm back, baby.]