Chapter 4

Lyra woke up in her bed. Confused on what day it was, she looked at her time tracker and found that it was the same day that she started sword work training. She smiled at the news Ty had told her. She then realized he was no longer in her room. Lyra looked at her time tracker and estimated she slept for four hours, meaning she had three hours until training was over.

"Oh my gosh, training. I'm going to be so behind. Where is Ty?" Lyra thought.

As if he read her mind, Ty knocked on the door.

"Come in." Lyra said.

Ty came in holding a mug of tea and handed it to her.

"Thank you." Lyra said with a smile. "So, what am I doing with training. Won't I be set back because I missed so many hours?"

Ty laughed, "You don't have to worry about anything. A lot of the new guys aren't half as good as you are already. Lyra, you were born a swordsman. If you want, you can keep training but Cedric is more than pleased at your performances."

Lyra drank her tea for a little. Smiling at how good it tasted.

"I think I should train more. I don't want the other volunteers disliking me because I was excused from practice for being emotional. I want to represent my people as strong, not weak."

Ty nodded and smiled. "I thought you'd say that. Now, let us both represent our people as strong and amazing."

Lyra smiled and worked on finishing her tea. After she was done, she and Ty headed back down to the training fields. Lyra and Ty took only one break in their training, only because they were so exhausted, they couldn't fight any longer. Lyra and Ty faced each other constantly. Each time, Ty winning but he did not win easily. Lyra was also not angered by her losses. She enjoyed dueling one of her own kind and she could tell she was improving.

Two or three times, Cedric had her duel with one of the volunteers but none of matches lasted very long. Lyra always ended up victorious. At last, the dinner bell rang and both Ty and Lyra were forced to stop training. Lyra reluctantly put her practice sword away and joined everyone on the elevator. Ty stayed behind to help clean up the area and said he would join her in the mess hall for dinner. Lyra went to her room first and took a quick bath. After dressing and braiding her hair, she went to the mess hall and found Ty was already there. She sat down next to him and started to eat. Ty looked up and smiled at her.

"You kicked ass today, Lyra! Oh my gosh, you were amazing." Ty said.

Lyra blushed a little and smiled.

"Thank you Ty. You are a good instructor." She responded.

After dinner was over, Lyra and Ty cleaned up their spots and Ty asked if Lyra wanted to visit Tharos. She agreed and they headed to the elevator. Once they were at the top, Lyra and Ty stepped off the elevator onto the nesting grounds and Ty led Lyra to Tharos's nest.

"Hello Tharos. How are you, mighty one." Lyra said through her mind.

"Hello young elf. It is nice to see you again." Tharos then looked at Ty, "So you have told her of your similar roots. Does Cedric know?"

Ty looked down and nodded, "I have no doubt that he wouldn't. He knew I would not be able to keep it from her."

Lyra looked at Tharos and then Ty. "What do you mean? Cedric didn't want me to know you were an elf? Why would he want that kept from me? I don't understand."

Ty scrunched his eyebrows and looked down. "I really don't know, he tried to explain it to me but he eventually gave up. He has his reasons and I trust him but I told him if you asked, I would not lie to you."

Lyra looked down, obviously still puzzled, and then back to up to Tharos.

"I cannot wait to meet my dragon." Lyra said with a smile. She reached out to Tharos and scratched him under his large jaw.

Tharos smiled a little, showing his teeth.

"As do I, Lyra. As do I." Tharos said

Ty smiled, "Same. I wonder if they will be as fiery as you."

Lyra smiled and laughed. "Fiery? When am I fiery? I think I'm pretty calm and level-headed, don't you think, Tharos?"

"Trying to use my dragon against me? It won't work, he is on my side." Ty replied with a grin.

Lyra rolled her eyes with a smile. "Can you give me an example?"

"How about when you are sword fighting. You get pretty fired up and not calm during that. Or when I manage to piss you off." Ty said, smiling when Tharos nodded in agreement.

"Well, if you think that way, maybe I should leave." Lyra said, jokingly turning around, as if to leave.

Ty grinned and said, "Have fun riding the elevator all the way to your room."

Lyra raised her eyebrows, "I will! Now, I hope you have fun walking alone. I am very much used to being alone so it won't bother me at all."

Lyra turned and walked to the steps to wait for the elevator.

"No, wait, I was kidding! Come back." Ty voice echoed behind her.

"Too late!" Lyra said with a smirk and stepped onto the elevator.

As she was a floor down from the dragons nesting area, she heard a beating of wings above her. She ignored it, thinking it was just a dragon rider taking his dragon out for a flight. As she reached two floors down, something grabbed her from behind and she was pulled up into the air. She heard gasps around her as she was grabbed from the elevator. She knew who it was.

"Ty! You put me down right now!Ty!" Lyra shouted, growing hot.

Laughter sounded above her, heightening her frustration and anger.

"Tharos! This is not funny. Come on and put me down!"

More laughter followed her shouts including the dragon's.

"Don't worry Lyra, we are almost there." Ty voice said.

Lyra sighed and waited until they put her down. Tharos landed next to her and Ty started to get down.

"That was very rude, Ty. Never do that again. Ever." Lyra said, annoyed.

Ty jumped down next to her and smiled.

"Come on, Lyra. Don't be that way. You knew we wouldn't drop you."

"Don't come on me, that's not the point. It is rude to grab someone like that without warning. You should know better. How old are you?" Lyra scolded him.

Ty laughed and reached out for her shoulder.

"Now you're teaching me. Okay, I admit. It was foolish and impolite. I am sorry. It was a rash move. Will you forgive me?"

Lyra moved away from his hand and turned around.

"I don't know, I'll have to think about it."

Ty smiled and grabbed her in a hug.

"Come on. Please." Ty begged jokingly.

"Ty. You are so. Uh! Frustrating sometimes." Lyra said.

She shook him off and walked to her room, making sure to slam the door a little. Lyra locked the door and got changed into her night wear. She took her braid out, combed it and rebraided it. Once she was finished, she unlocked her door, washed her face and then got into bed. Sleep enveloped her quickly.

Lyra opened her eyes to find herself lying on the floor of a white forest.

Oh no, I know where I am.

Lyra sat up and looked around her. The blue light came into view, beckoning her to follow. Lyra refused this time. She instead got up and started to run in the opposite direction. She ran as fast as she could, not wanting her dream to go the same way as the other. She looked behind her for a brief moment and then looked back to the direction she was running. As soon as she looked back. The blue light was right in front of her. Lyra barely stopped one foot away from the light. Lyra suddenly got a chill. She noticed she could see her breath. She looked down and saw ice forming on the ground and on her legs. She looked up and started to back up, her breath quickening.

The blue light flickered and then disappeared and darkness enveloped her. The darkness disturbed Lyra. She could always see in the dark, not being able to see, to know what is out there, scared her to death. The smell of smoke drifted around her. The cold seeped away, replaced by extreme heat. Lyra looked around but still could not see anything. A scream pierced the silence. Lyra turned to where it came from. Another shout echoed in the darkness. Lyra tried to walk in the direction of the cries but tripped over something and hit the ground. The ground was warm and it felt soft, like it was covered in ashes. Reaching out in front of her, she touched what felt like a stone. She recoiled, and scooted back. Her back hit another stone and suddenly the blue light appeared in front of her, her vision restored. Lyra's breath caught in her throat as she found she was back in the graveyard.

"No." Lyra whispered.

Lyra put her hands on her face.

"Why am I here? What is this trying to tell me? Why do I carry this burden?" Lyra whimpered.

Taking her hands away from her face, she looked around. Cries started echoing around her. Cries for help. Lyra shouted back. She started to run in the direction of the voices. Tears started to make paths down her dirty face.

"I can't let them die. They are my people. Where are they? Why can't I help them? I am too late. I failed them." Lyra wept.

"Lyra! Wake up! Lyra! It is just a dream! Come back to me! Lyra!"

Lyra suddenly felt arms around her and realize that she was fighting them. She stopped and looked up at Ty. Tears still streamed from her face.

"I couldn't save them! They were all dead! I failed! We are alone! So alone! I came too late." Lyra cried, burying her face in his chest.

Ty held her until she stopped crying and held her even after.

"You are not alone. I am here and I will always be here. There is hope still. Sleep, Lyra. I am here and will keep you safe. Sleep."

Lyra laid in his arms until she fell asleep again. This time, she dreamed of something else. She felt like she was drifting around in a large pool, with no edges or floor. It was completely dark and silent. She smiled because she finally felt completely at peace. She then heard a voice whisper over the waters. "We have not abandoned you, Princess."

Lyra woke up alone in her bed. Sighing, she rubbed her eyes and pushed herself out of her bed. She heard a light knock on the door and then Ty poked his head in.

"You're awake! Awesome. You can get dressed and meet me at the library." He said with a smile.

Lyra nodded and then Ty closed the door. Lyra pulled on a dark purple shirt and some tan pants. She braided her hair down the back and slipped on her boots. She then made her way out the door and headed to the library.