It was cold. Very cold. So cold that it woke Lyra up. She tried to curl herself into a ball to conserve some warmth, but then realized. This wasn't the nice, comfortable bed that she was laying on. It was a cold, hard surface. When she opened her eyes, she realized just how dark it was.

Lyra rubbed her eyes a couple times trying to make out where she was. Slowly, her eyes were starting to adjust. She felt around herself before standing up. It was a dark room. It reminded Lyra of a lab from one of her classes back in Grendan when she was in Biology studies.

Lyra started to walk around at a slow pace. As she walked, her footsteps echoed. Her eyes were adjusting slowly to the place and she was able to make out more things. This definitely was a lab, but where? Grendan? No, it couldn't be Grendan. How would she have gotten back here? Unless this was a dream, but if that was the case, why would she feel the coldness?

Then again… it could be a lucid dream… It could have been her body was cold in reality and she was experiencing the same coldness in this dream.

What kind of lab was this? Luckily her eyes had adjusted to the darkness now. Lyra saw a wall appear. She placed her hand on it and followed until she found the door. As her fingers wrapped around the handle, Lyra froze. She wasn't the only one in the area. Various amounts of kei were being emitted and it was all coming from behind the door.

All of them were familiar, but not in a good way. Feeling their presence made her shiver. It was them.

Slowly Lyra opened the door. It was much darker in this room. There was no source of light in this room. She entered carefully. A wiser person would have most likely stayed in that room when sensing the threat, but Lyra was different. She was curious.

Lyra walked carefully and cautiously. She couldn't help but feel that she wasn't the only one in the area and she knew she wasn't. She could sense various amounts of kei in the area. They were coming from different parts of the facility. What she wondered; however, was that why they had yet to attack?

As she walked in deeper, the door suddenly swung shut, leaving the place pitch black. Lyra jumped from the loud echoing noise that was made from the slam. She then blinked a couple times, before deciding to channel some kei towards her eyes to enhance them and focus better. She decided to channel some towards her ears as well to make sure nothing appeared behind her.

'Much better.' She thought and soon started to walk again. As Lyra looked around she could see tall cylinder like tank lying there. She furrowed her brows as she noticed them and walked up towards one. It was empty and open. But then what was its purpose? Before Lyra could think of a reason, she felt someone appear behind her. Instincts took over and Lyra ducked as she felt something brush over her hair.

Lyra then rolled to the side and looked up to see a cloaked figure standing there with his dite extended out over the area where her head would have been.

Lyra's eyes narrowed. "You again…" she recognized the figure. They turned towards her, not saying anything.

Lyra stood up straight and reached for her dite. Her eyes widened as she realized she didn't have it with her. She glanced down to see if it may have been there, but there was nothing.

Lyra then felt a breeze and looked to see the figure had appeared in front of her and before she could react, he went lashing out at her.

Lyra grunted as she went flying back, crashing into the wall. "D-Damn you…" she panted, as she stood up straight again. The wall behind her cracked from the force of being thrown back. Lyra stumbled to take a step forwards. Everything was hurting now. She had not been prepared for that attack and because of that, took unnecessary damage. It was stupid of her. She should have seen it coming.

Lyra took a couple deep breaths and then looked up. There were two of them now. Lyra's eyes narrowed.

"You guys, seize to surprise me…" she muttered as the second one restored his dite. The two then disappeared. Lyra's eyes narrowed, as she focused, to see where they would come from next. She glanced behind her before ducking as one appeared to her left trying to strike. She then rolled away as the second one struck down. The floor tiles went flying everywhere as the blade went smashing down.

Lyra coughed and then went to get up, but then she felt shocking pain in her side. "Damn…" the first strike did way more damage than she had expected.

The two were now walking towards her. One sent out a large blast of kei. Lyra rolled out of the way as it struck the wall. The large moon was right there, brightening up the place. Lyra had to shield her eyes at first and allow her eyes to adjust again, which they immediately did. She then felt the other one appear right before her. Lyra jumped back to where she originally had landed in front of the hole now.

They both had her surrounded. One stood in front of her a couple feet away and the other one was standing where she had jumped.

"Just what do you want?" she demanded, but got no response.

"You are finished," the man said.

Lyra's eyes narrowed and grit her teeth, trying to figure out their next move and react based on that.

"Really? Two on one, isn't really fair now."

Lyra tensed as she saw a shadow being cast over on her. Someone was standing the hole that had been created. Before Lyra could even react, she felt the person jumping over her and then the man was striking down the figure to her left. By the time Lyra turned that way, she saw the person collapsing and the man was now running towards the figure that stood in front of Lyra.

Lyra watched as he attacked. The figure let out a cry as he was struck and fell to his knees.

"Heh… too easy." the man smirked.

The cloaked figure laid there, panting. "Heh… you think you've won don't you? Too bad… now that we have found her, we will win."

Lyra's brows furrowed hearing that. What did they mean by that? She looked up at the man who sighed, shaking his head. "Too bad… I'm not gonna let that happen." He said. She then raised a brow hearing that.

The cloaked figure just laughed, before disappearing. Lyra's eyes widened seeing that. What was going on?

She heard walking and watched the man come towards her. As he stepped into the moonlight she saw the red hair and familiar green jacket. "It's you again…"

"Now you should know better than to run into a rundown building at night." The man remarked, his face suddenly holding the familiar smirk again.

Lyra just stared at him. His face seemed so familiar. But why? Why was he so familiar? Who was he?

"Hey, you okay?" the man asked her.

Lyra jumped, clearing her mind and then sat straight, finally relaxing herself. "I'll be fine. Thanks for the help." She replied.

"No problem! Though like I said, you really should know better than to run into a suspicious place, unarmed."

Lyra shrugged, "Well you as a stranger have no right to scold me like that." Speaking of which, how did she even end up in this place? What was going on?

"Well a stranger still has the right to tell you right from wrong," the man sighed.

Lyra's eyes narrowed as she tilted her head to the right, "You know? You're right. I shouldn't call you a stranger. We know each other. Why?"

The man just chuckled, "It's strange how the human mind works. Oh well. It's late now and you look hurt. Come on, I'll walk you home." He said as he reached towards Lyra. Lyra looked up and saw his hand hover over her head. She felt something warm wrap around her and soon everything blacked out.

"Rest now Lye… You'll remember soon enough." A voice echoed in her head.

Lyra woke up welcomed by the bright light shining through the window. She squinted her eyes trying to look around. She shifted a little in her bed, which led to a throbbing pain that made her cringe and stop. Lyra tensed.

Pain… Was that from the match with Nina or last night? Last night? No that was a dream. But it felt so real. Was it real? It couldn't have been real. She was in a lab. It was a lab from Grendan.

No…

Now that she thought about it, it wasn't a lab from Grendan. The labs in Grendan were much bigger and different. Then where was that?

Lyra decided not to think too much about it. She glanced at the clock, and saw it was late in the afternoon. Late in the afternoon? How long had she been out?

"Damn it… why does everything have to be so confusing?" she growled to herself.

She then heard the door open and turned her head and saw Layfon enter.

"Oh you're awake." He noted walking in.

Instantly Lyra's face brightened. "Hey Lay-chan." She smiled to him. That was her name for him. No one else was allowed to call him that name and he knew it.

"How are you feeling?" he asked, pulling up a chair next to her bed and sat down in it.

"Ok… I guess… a little sore, but I'll be good. How long was I out?" She asked, scooting up so she was sitting up. It hurt, but she bore with it.

"Not that long," Layfon replied, "it's only been a few hours." He reworded what he said. Lyra just sighed leaning back staring at the ceiling. She placed a hand on her stomach, feeling the pain throbbing there.

"You okay?" Layfon asked, noticing.

Lyra looked over at him and then nodded, smiling. "I'm fine. I guess I just over did it." She replied debating whether to tell him about the dream. Layfon and Leerin… those two know about the dreams and the strange man that always appeared.

Instead she just sighed, relaxing herself. As she did, she could feel the pain decreasing. Way to go Lyra… first day of school and you get yourself knocked out…

It was quiet for a bit, but then Layfon spoke up. "So how are things in Grendan?" he asked.

Lyra just shrugged, "Well not much has changed.. Leerin still misses you." She explained. She then felt guilt rush through her again as she remembered her friend's tear-stained face fading away as she left in the train.

Layfon smiled at that. "Yeah she writes to me every week." He replied. Though he was smiling, Lyra knew he was feeling the same guilt as her for having to leave. Because of Layfon, they two had lost a lot of respect, but still the two moved on.

Lyra then sighed, not liking the silence that was forming again. "So how have things been for you? I thought you said you were going to start over." She asked facing him. Of course they had just met after years and with everything that had happened, it was somewhat depressing, which is what kept the silence forming.

Layfon let out a small laugh, "Well… I was planning on it, but ended up saving someone and then Student Council President wanted me to join the Military Arts." He explained with a sigh.

"Obviously you would…" She rolled her eyes laughing.

"More like forced to…" he sighed running his hand through his hair, "So what about you? Why did you come here?" he suddenly asked.

Lyra tensed up for a second. Obviously that question was going to come up. Her face softened a little, " I didn't get in trouble, if that's what you think." she started, "but… I'm tired of waiting and Grendan won't accept me so I figured time to move on and why not start at the same school that you ended up at?"

Layfon's face softened, as he understood what she meant. "So he still hasn't returned?" he asked.

Lyra shook her head. "And the dreams are getting weirder."

Layfon's face brightened a little "So you're remembering more?" he asked hopefully.

Lyra nodded, "not only that but more people are in it. People I've never seen before."

Layfon nodded listening. "What about that one man?" he asked.

Lyra just nodded her head. "Yes, he's still there. Though recently. It was weird…"

"Did you have one again?" he asked.

Lyra nodded, "Twice. One was the first day of class and then there was another last night."

"Were those strange figures there as well?" he asked.

Lyra nodded again, "In the last one, the people and the man conversed. They said something about now being able to defeat us since they knew where I was." She explained to him the dream she had with her in the lab and the attack.

She trailed off seeing Layfon with narrowed, "That's really strange…"

"Why…?" Lyra asked nervously.

"While coming in, there were a lot of student officers and part of the hospital was closed off.

Lyra blinked, "Really? What happened?"

Layfon shrugged, "They wouldn't tell us. But apparently something happened last night in one of the labs. The entire section is shut down." He explained, "Which worries me. Are you sure it was a dream that you had last night?" he asked.

Lyra stared at her bed sheets thinking, "Yes… it had to have been. I mean if it really did happen then I would have been in worse conditions right? Plus I woke up in bed."

Layfon sighed, "I don't know Lyra… but this can't be good now. These aren't just dreams anymore."

"You think they're real?" she asked.

Layfon shrugged, "I don't know. That's something that you should be able to tell."

Lyra shook her head, "They're all like dreams. If it were real I would have known."

Layfon shrugged, "I don't know. But I would be careful while here now Lyra."

Lyra just sighed as she leaned back on her bed, scooting down. "Well yeah… Obviously… This time I'm not going to be a burden."

"But why here?" he asked.

Lyra blinked as she thought. "Well… Somehow the queen found out about me wanting to switch into the Military Arts there and she refused. Instead she told me if I really wanted to join then I should go to Zuellini, where you were," Lyra explained.

"I see…well I have to say, you've improved a lot." Layfon complimented.

"Well it helps having your strong brother's best friend teach you, you know?" She stated, "but that was all I knew when we first used to spar. Savaris taught me a lot that I know now."

Layfon gaped and almost fell out of his chair. "What? You trained with him?"

Lyra couldn't help but giggle. "Yeah it's true…" she explained, "I was out in the forest training, working on a certain move when suddenly Savaris appeared offering me help."

Layfon thought for a second before replying, "I guess it has to be true… especially for someone who recently started fighting."

"Yea, he's been training me for three years now." She added.

"Wait… three years?" Layfon blinked.

Lyra just nodded, "Why do you think I always got closer to beating you near the end?"

"How come you never told me?" he asked.

"Eh… that was at his request…" she replied.

Layfon just nodded his head slowly.

"How's the Captain?" Lyra asked suddenly.

"Oh the Captain is fine, she's resting now."

"That's good to know. She's really strong and determined." Lyra noted.

"Yea… Nina's a good Captain…" he agreed, "I'll let you rest now. We'll be training for the upcoming Platoon match." He announced getting up

"When is the match?" Lyra asked.

"Umm… in a week." Layfon replied thinking.

"That's enough time to get ready." She said.

"Well I gotta go now. I have work." Heading toward the door, "See ya!"

"Bye." She waved as he left. After he left, it was suddenly empty.

Lyra sighed looking out the window. The sun had already set and it was quiet. So boring… she looked up at the ceiling. She hated to just sit around. Lyra wasn't one to rest. She remembered how any spar in Grendan would lean to Leerin having to stand guard over her, making sure she rested. But here… that wasn't the case.

"I should just leave, one less person to worry about." She said getting out of bed. She felt the same soreness course through her body again. Lyra cringed for a second, but then everything was fine.

Lyra sighed. Over in the corner of the room, she found her uniform neatly folded on a chair. She also found badge on top that had the roman numeral 17 on it. Lyra smiled looking at it. So they accepted her. That was good. She was now one step closer. She grabbed them and went into the bathroom to change.

Getting out of the hospital was easier than expected. Lyra snuck through the building without getting caught. Most of the doctors and nurses were busy dealing with the officers that were in the area.

Layfon was right. There was an entire section blocked off.

Lyra narrowed her eyes. Could it be true? There was a possibility, especially with the pain that was coursing through her body. But then that means… that man. He was here!

Now Lyra knew what needed to be done. That man had to be close. But being out for a day and a half, that was enough time for him to get away.

Lyra frowned as she exited the hospital. Well that was easier than expected… she thought.

Lyra then continued to walk past the officers that were giving out orders and investigating. Lyra felt slightly nervous walking past them. As if they would catch her and demand for answers from her, but luckily that didn't happen.

She managed to get out easily and was off back towards the city.

It was night when she got into the city, but it was still lively. Lyra smiled as she looked around at the different shops. There were some interesting shops. She noticed a nice bakery on the corner of the street. Lyra walked that way. As she got closer, she could smell the wonderful smell of bread coming from the direction.

Lyra paused to breathe in the scent. "Ah… that smells good." She then felt her stomach growl. Lyra's face fell as her hands went to her pocket.

No money.

"Wonderful…" Lyra thought.

Her stomach growled, wanting food. Lyra sighed as she patted her stomach and then continued on past the shop. Her stomach growled, wanting her to go in.

"Sorry no money." She said to her stomach and then sighed, "I need a job…"

"You seriously do need a job," Leerin's voice popped in her head.

Lyra smiled, thinking her response

"Eh…Do I have to? "

"Well I'm not going to cook everything for you," Leerin would always scold.

"But I can cook for myself," Lyra insisted.

"Well do you have the ingredients?" Leerin asked, her face still holding the strict, scolding expression.

"Eh…At the moment yes…"

"And how long will that last you?"

"Alright. Fine. You win."

It was Leerin who always supplied her with the ingredients she needed, since she was at lazy times. Not just that. Even though they lived in an orphanage, they had to supply themselves for the food. The orphanage could only pay for so much. The older and longer one stayed there, the more they would have to contribute. Lyra contributed a lot, by working and helping keep maintenance. She would even cook every now and then, but Leerin was the one that made most of the food and made sure the group had their nutrients. It was because of her that she stayed with the orphanage. Or else Lyra was planning on moving out as soon as she could.

Lyra loved Leerin like a sister. The two were inseparable. Leerin was the one who helped Lyra to her feet when she first discovered her brother was missing. Leerin helped Lyra become emotionally stable.

Lyra then made sure she did all she could to make sure Leerin was smiling as well. However, the next day after the conversation, things got weird. Leerin came running up she looked like she had been crying…

"L-Leerin is everything alright?" Lyra asked worriedly.

"It's Layfon! They found out!" She said bursting into tears.

"Found out?" Lyra asked.

"The man he fought… he had information and released it to the public. Now Layfon has been arrested." Leerin explained.

Lyra tensed, hearing the story. To think that Layfon would do something like that. She never expected this to happen and seeing Leerin this distressed, was even worse.

Lyra took a deep breath. "So what's happening now?"

"I don't know but word is he's going to be executed!" Leerin said crying.

Lyra narrowed her eyes, "I don't think that the queen would go that far now…"

"But Lyra…"

Lyra stopped her. "No she wouldn't, but still this is bad. Where is Layfon now?"

"He's in custody…"

Lyra bit her lip. She couldn't say what was on her mind. It would hurt Leerin more and right now she needed comfort. She then reached forwards and placed a hand on her friend's shoulder.

"We have to have faith, Leerin. I'm sure the Queen will consider the reasoning why Layfon would do something like this," she said, hugging her best friend, "all we can do is hope for the best and crying won't help."

Leerin nodded wiping her eyes.

Lyra sighed… that was one of the toughest times. One was calming Leerin and then also trying not to show her own disappointment in what Layfon did. How grateful was she to the Queen when she heard his sentence was expulsion.

At least his life was spared…

"Oof. Ow!"

Lyra grunted as she collided with someone falling back.

"Whoops sorry about that." The person apologized.

Lyra groaned, rubbing her back and shook her head. She then looked to see a hand in front of her. Following the hand, she saw the person and recognized it to be the sniper from her platoon.

"You okay?" he asked.

Lyra then blinked, as she finally came back to the present. "Oh… um sorry about that. I wasn't even in this world," she let out a small laugh, scratching the back of her head, before taking his hand to help her up.

The sniper chuckled, "don't worry. You weren't the only one. Lyra, right?" He asked helping her up.

Lyra nodded her head as she brushed down her uniform, fixing it. "Thanks…and yup. That's right, but sorry, I forgot your name." She added, feeling a little bad that he managed to remember her name but she couldn't remember his.

"Haha it's all good. Sharnid Elipton, sharp-shooter of Platoon 17," he replied pointing to himself, "And the best looking guy around." He pasted a goofy smile.

Lyra raised a brow. "…Er right… so…" She replied nervously.

Sharnid chuckled. "Ha just kidding!" He said in a singsong voice. "By the way, that spar with the captain was impressive."

Lyra blinked, "Really?"

Sharnid nodded his head, " that's the second one I've seen. Layfon was the first. Nice job." He complimented.

Lyra scratched the back of her head and couldn't help but smile. "Thanks… the captain was really strong herself." She remarked.

Sharnid nodded her head. He then yawned, stretching, "so where are you heading, Lyra? Last time I checked you were supposed to be resting in the hospital," he remarked, as he turned and continued to walk in the direction he was heading.

Lyra blinked and then turned and decided to follow him, "Well I really didn't feel like lying in bed and I wanted to see the city," she explained.

Sharnid just let out chuckled again, "yeah, I'd rather be in the open air than lying around."

"Yea right," came a voice out of nowhere. Lyra jumped, letting out a small yelp. She looked around wondering where the voice came from and then noticed the small pink petals floating around her.

"Oh hiya!" she smiled and waved at the petal and then stopped wondering whether that was seen or not.

"God Felli, you scared her shitless!" Sharnid replied laughing.

"Please, you know I hate your choices in your rash word play." Felli responded in her monotonous voice. "And besides, you are the laziest person just going around to every bar possible."

"Oh, Felli-chan, don't say that, you'll get me a bad impression on all of the good ones." He protested, not even caring that Lyra was standing right there, wearing an awkward impression on her face.

"She can hear you, baka."

"Oh yea…"

"Just shut up"

"Right. And why are you even here?"

"GET ME IN THIS CONVO PLEASE!" Lyra could never stand being let out of things. The trio had a moment's worth of awkward silence, and then Sharnid started laughing.

"What's so funny?!" Lyra asked.

"Oh nothing nothing." He replied in his singsong voice again. "But seriously Felli-chan, why are you here again?" He said still smiling.

"I was told by Nina-sempai to make sure you didn't do anything to Lyra-san." Felli replied in a monotone voice, not even the slightest bit entertained

"Felli-chan! You know I'm not like that!"

"Pervert, I not that way!"

This whole time, Lyra had an extremely awkward face on. Then she did it again. And Sharnid doubled over laughing again

Felli just gave up and left the conversation.

"Don't you have any sense of humor?" Sharnid asked.

"Of course I do… I guess it's different from your definition of humor though." She replied.

Sharnid just shrugged, "Hey, new shop opened, wanna check it out? My treat." He asked randomly.

"Really?"

"Yea why not? What's a better way to become a good friend by going out to eat? Besides I can see you're hungry." He replied.

"You got that right… how'd you know?" she sighed in relief.

"I have my ways…" Sharnid replied.

Lyra just gave him an awkward look, "right… well Thanks a bunch!"

"Ok then, let's go" He smiled leading the way.