Chapter 6 A DAY

~LYRA~

I swallowed the sudden tightness in my throat, pushing the observation down deep. Kai was my best friend, the boy who’d patched my scraped knees and shared his dreams of flying before he ever bonded.

I’d never seen him like that. Never. He was safety and history, not… whatever made Selene’s cheeks color.

“Got the cakes,” I said, holding up the warm paper packet Mira had just handed me, the sweet scent wafting up. “Extra honey drizzle, just like old times. Want to join us for a quick bite? We can find a quiet spot away from the main path.”

Kai’s eyes lit with nostalgia. “Old times. Remember when we’d hide behind the spice carts and eat until we felt sick? Your mother caught us once and made us scrub the kitchen floor.”

I laughed, the sound easier now. “Twice, actually. And you always blamed me for the sticky hands.”

“Because it was usually your idea,” he shot back, green eyes twinkling. He fell into step beside us as we wove through the crowd, his taller frame cutting a natural path.

Selene walked on my other side, chiming in occasionally with questions about Academy life, how the dragons felt up close, whether the training was as grueling as the stories said. Kai answered patiently, his voice warm but guarded, never revealing too much.

“Training’s tough,” he admitted at one point, as we slipped into a quieter side alley lined with empty crates. “But flying… there’s nothing like it. The wind, the freedom. Makes everything else fade.”

I unwrapped the honey cakes, handing one to each of them. The pastry was still warm, flaky layers giving way to sweet filling. “Sounds incredible. I bet Zephyr’s even bigger now.”

Kai took a bite, nodding. “He is. Mischievous as ever, though. Keeps the instructors on their toes.” He looked at me then, really looked, green eyes softening. “What about you, Lyra? Still climbing walls and dreaming bigger than the district allows?”

The question hit closer than I expected. I chewed slowly, savoring the honey to buy time. “Something like that. Helping at the stall mostly. Keeping an eye on this one—” I nodded toward Selene, who was happily eating her cake, cheeks still faintly pink whenever Kai spoke.

“Making sure she doesn’t trip over her own excitement before the Ceremony.”

Selene swallowed and wiped a bit of honey from her lip. “Lyra’s being modest. She’s the one who always knows the best spots in town. And she’s strong, stronger than she lets on.” Her voice held genuine affection, but I caught the undercurrent of hero-worship when she glanced at Kai again.

We talked for what felt like hours but was probably only twenty minutes, reminiscing about childhood antics, laughing over the time Kai tried to “ride” a neighbor’s stubborn mule and ended up in the mud. Kai’s laugh was deeper now, but the way he teased me felt unchanged, easy and familiar.

“You still have that stubborn streak,” he said at one point, bumping my shoulder. “I can see it in your eyes. The purple hair suits it, by the way. Always did.”

Heat crept up my neck. “Flatterer. It’s just hair. Weird hair that doesn’t match anyone else’s.” I gestured vaguely at Selene’s golden-yellow waves and imagined Mother’s matching braid back home.

Kai shook his head. “It’s not weird. It’s you. Stands out in a good way, like a storm on a clear day.”

Selene nodded enthusiastically, though her blush lingered. “I’ve always liked it. Makes Lyra look like she carries her own magic.”

The conversation flowed naturally, human and unhurried. We shared stories, Kai mentioning the pressure of his father’s legacy without complaint, just acceptance; Selene asking shy questions that revealed her nerves about standing on the field; me deflecting with jokes while my secret plan simmered underneath.

Every so often, I’d catch Selene stealing glances at Kai, her fingers twisting the ribbon bundle. It was innocent, expected even. Kai had that pull, rugged charm wrapped in kindness, black hair framing a face that had hardened into something more striking over the years.

But he was my friend. My oldest friend. The thought of seeing him any other way felt like crossing an invisible line I wasn’t ready to approach.

As the market noise grew louder again, signaling the afternoon rush, Kai straightened. “I should head back before someone notices I’m gone longer than planned. But this was… really good. Unexpected. We should do it again sometime, when things settle after the Choosing.”

“Yeah,” I said, meaning it. “Don’t be a stranger, Kai. Even if the Academy walls are tall.”

He hugged me once more, quick and brotherly, then gave Selene a friendly nod. “Good luck with the ribbons and the Ceremony. You’ll do great.” With a final wave and that easy grin, he melted back into the crowd, plain clothes helping him disappear.

Selene let out a small sigh as we started the walk home, ribbons and remaining cake bits in hand. “He’s even nicer than I remembered. And handsome, isn’t he?"

I kept my tone light, swallowing the odd twist in my chest. “He is. Always has been. But he’s Kai, our Kai from the old days. Don’t go getting ideas.”

She laughed, bumping my arm. “I’m not. Much.”

The rest of the walk home passed with lighter talk, plans for how to hide the honey scent from Mother, which ribbon would look best in Selene’s yellow hair.

But my mind lingered on Kai’s green eyes, his unexpected appearance, and the way the reunion had stirred up old comforts I had forgotten. I had grown so accustomed to mother's indifference and obvious favoritism towards Selene that I had forgotten what it meant to be seen, even for a little while.

One day until the Choosing. My secret weighed heavier now, tangled with the sweetness of honey cakes and the echo of a friend’s laugh.

Back home, Mother greeted us with questions about the ribbons. We showed her the bundle, smiling innocently, while the hidden cakes sat safely tucked away. As evening settled and the house filled with the usual routines, I retreated to the attic for a quiet moment, fingers tracing the loose floorboard.

Kai’s words echoed: It’s you. Stands out in a good way.

I hoped he was right. Because in a day, I planned to stand out on that field, one more time, purple hair and all, whether the dragons noticed or not.