Physical Assessment (3)

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"Well, damn it,"

Lyrium muttered under his breath, casting a quick glance at the expansive field before them.

He stood alongside his group—some of the most crucial characters in the novel—with Instructor Alicia at the forefront.

Her imposing presence alone commanded the attention of everyone present.

"This is awesome, isn't it, mate?"

Ren, standing beside Lyrium, said with a wide grin, his eyes gleaming with awe as he took in the vast surroundings of the field.

The rest of Group Three mirrored Ren's excitement, their gazes darting around the space.

Even Silas—the typically aloof, proud, and arrogant Silas, who rarely displayed anything but quiet confidence—was unable to hide his enthusiasm.

He looked genuinely captivated.

Lily, standing next to him, had stars in her eyes, her joy practically radiating from her face.

Lyrium, observing silently, couldn't help but let his thoughts wander.

'Although it's not exactly as I had imagined it... it's still perfect. The area is massive, the design is practical yet elegant, and the audience seating is remarkably well-crafted—spacious and clearly built for comfort. Truly impressive. I'd give this place 99 points.'

The space felt familiar to him, likely because he had already envisioned it countless times from the brief descriptions in the novel.

Yet, as perfect as it was, there were subtle differences from what he'd pictured.

Lost in thought, Lyrium muttered under his breath, careful to speak so quietly that no one in the group could overhear him.

Unbeknownst to him, the redhead beside him had sharp ears—so sharp, in fact, that he caught every single word. Even his thoughts.

"99 points from me too, mate,"

Ren said abruptly, turning to Lyrium with an exaggerated serious expression and a playful thumbs-up.

"But, uh, minus one point for not having any food stalls. Unacceptable."

"What?!"

Lyrium shot him a look of disbelief.

"What?"

Ren replied casually.

"You seriously don't know I'm obsessed with food?"

"...Right."

Lyrium sighed internally.

Having already knows every detail of Ren Sullivan's backstory—his habits, personality, hobbies, even his peculiar fashion sense—he knew better than to pursue the conversation any further.

Engaging with Ren would inevitably lead to an endless string of tangents.

'But I still don't get it,' Lyrium mused silently, stealing a glance at the cheerful redhead.

'Why on earth would he choose to befriend me instead of Silas, the main protagonist? They're supposed to be great friends in the future—not just friends, but practically brothers.'

He rubbed his chin thoughtfully, his expression clouding over.

'Could it be a butterfly effect caused by my interference?'

In the grand narrative of The Path of the Elemental Sage, there wasn't supposed to be a character named Lyrium Blackwood.

He wasn't even sure if such a name had been mentioned in passing.

His presence here was an anomaly—a deviation from the novel's established timeline.

"Sigh..."

He let out an exasperated breath.

Before he could sink further into his thoughts, Instructor Alicia's sharp, commanding voice cut through the air, pulling everyone's attention to her.

"Listen up! From now on, each of you will face a duel with one of the academy's professors. Yes, you heard me—every single one of you will spar against a professor, regardless of whether they're male or female."

The group collectively stiffened, their excitement shifting to nervous anticipation.

Alicia's piercing gaze swept across the group, lingering briefly on Lyrium.

"Here's a word of advice: the professors are high-ranking Sages. They won't hold back much, so be prepared to give it everything you've got. Do not take this lightly."

'Was it just my imagination, or did she really glare at me just now? Lyrium wondered uneasily.'

Ren leaned slightly toward him, his lips barely moving as he whispered,

"Hey, mate. I don't know if it's just me, but did Instructor Alicia just shoot you a death glare?"

"What nonsense are you spouting?"

Lyrium retorted flatly, refusing to acknowledge the truth.

Ren, ever the tease, smirked.

"Oh? Did you two know each other before? Eh? Eh?"

"..."

Lyrium kept his expression neutral, his voice laced with dry irritation.

"Shut up before I electrocute you. Now focus on her instructions."

"Alright, alright. No need to get all zappy on me."

Before they could continue their banter, a voice broke through their hushed conversation.

"Lyrium Blackwood and Ren Sullivan,"

Alicia's cold tone sliced through the air, her glare sharp enough to make them flinch.

"I assume you two already have more combat experience and overall knowledge than the rest of the group, seeing as you've decided my advice isn't worth your attention?"

All eyes turned to them, including Lily and Silas, who wore matching expressions of exasperation that seemed to scream, It's always you two.

Realizing the gravity of the situation, Lyrium quickly bowed his head slightly in deference, his hands still stuffed in his pockets.

He spoke in a calm yet respectful tone.

"Apologies, Instructor Alicia. I was out of line for not paying attention to your advice. I take full responsibility."

Ren, meanwhile, blinked in confusion, his head tilting slightly.

"Wait, why are you apologizing?"

Alicia's icy gaze shifted from Lyrium to Ren, her tone dropping a degree colder.

"And you, Ren Sullivan. Don't act like you know everything about this world. Confidence is one thing, but overconfidence will get you killed. Sometimes, it's better to be serious than to hide behind jokes and charm."

Her words carried a weight that sent chills down Ren's spine.

Instinctively, he nodded, his playful demeanor replaced by wide-eyed fear.

"Y-Yes, ma'am."

The rest of Group Three shared in his discomfort, goosebumps prickling their skin as Alicia's cold aura enveloped them.

Even Silas, typically unflappable, shifted uneasily.

Lyrium felt beads of sweat forming on his brow, his heart pounding in his chest.

"Note to self: never, ever make her angry again," Lyrium thought grimly, his jaw tightening.

The group stood in silence, thoroughly chastised, as Alicia turned her attention back to the lesson.

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How is this writing style guys? I removed the unnecessary explanation and details, only adding the important parts.....

And sorry for not updating this past week, I was caught in a serious accident and was injured....

.....but hey, I am back and will be continuing..