SSS Awakening: I Can Create Skills By Will

Lyra wasn’t finished.

Her expression sharpened again.

"You still took an unnecessary hit."

Ryn blinked.

"Oh."

Lyra continued calmly.

"The arrow that struck your side. You could have avoided it."

Ryn rubbed his ribs unconsciously.

"I let my guard now and relaxed after claiming the core"

"You did"

Her answer came without hesitation.

"You relaxed for half a second before adjusting your stance. That is enough time for an experienced marksman."

Selene quietly crossed her arms but didn’t deny it.

Lyra continued.

"I taught you how the mana layering technique could be used defensively."

Ryn sighed.

"Yeah... I remember."

"You should have tried it."

Arthur raised an eyebrow slightly.

That caught his attention.

He indeed learnt and practiced the technique with her before.

Lyra’s gaze remained steady on Ryn.

"Your defense should be tighter by now. The moment you felt the arrow’s pressure, your instinct should have triggered that technique."

Ryn nodded slowly.

"I’ll fix it."

Lyra studied him for a moment before moving on.

Her eyes shifted to Althea.

"You reacted quickly after the core was thrown."

The enchanter straightened slightly.

"You tried to bind Arthur before he reached it. That decision was correct."

Althea allowed herself a small breath of relief.

"But," Lyra continued.

"You remained stationary while casting."

Althea nodded immediately.

"Yes... I noticed that too."

Lyra gestured lightly.

"A caster that cannot move becomes an easy target. Your judgment was good but your body position gave the enemy time to react."

Althea didn’t argue.

"If you help me improve that, I’ll work on it."

Lyra gave a short nod.

"I will."

Her gaze then shifted toward Selene.

The marksman met her eyes calmly.

"You chose the correct high ground at the start," Lyra said.

Selene nodded once.

"It gave me control of the field."

"And you used that position well."

Lyra glanced toward Nox.

"You pressured the scout effectively."

Nox supported excitedly.

"Yes, she did"

Lyra looked back at Selene as she continued.

"But you became frustrated." making Selene frown slightly.

"When Arthur redirected your arrow, your focus shifted."

She didn’t deny it.

Lyra continued.

"You had other options at that moment. But emotion clouded your decisions."

Selene sighed.

"...I see."

Lyra’s gaze softened slightly.

"Control your emotions and your accuracy will become far more dangerous."

Selene nodded.

"I understand."

Then Lyra turned toward Nox.

The scout straightened like a student caught by a teacher.

"You surprised me."

Nox blinked in surprise.

"Uh... thank you?"

Lyra continued calmly.

"Your speed and evasive movement were better than I expected. You forced the marksman to commit most of her attention to you."

Nox looked proud again.

"I run a lot."

Lyra gave a small nod.

"But your pathing can still improve. I have a few drills in mind for that."

Nox’s excitement immediately doubled.

"Really?"

"Yes."

Then Lyra’s gaze slowly shifted across the group again.

Finally it stopped on Arthur.

The room became quiet again.

Arthur stood relaxed but attentive.

Lyra studied him carefully.

Then she spoke.

"And then... there’s you."

Arthur met her eyes calmly.

He didn’t look nervous, but he also wasn’t grinning like he had during the fight. Right now he looked more serious. He understood this wasn’t the battlefield anymore. This was a lesson.

Lyra studied him for a moment before speaking again.

"You impressed me."

Arthur raised a brow slightly.

Lyra continued.

"Your tactical awareness stood out the most. You watched the entire battlefield and not just the opponent in front of you."

She gestured lightly across the hall.

"You noticed when Selene committed her attacks. You noticed when Althea began enchanting them. You waited for the moment that would change the flow of the fight."

Arthur scratched his cheek.

"I just watched for an opening."

Lyra shook her head slightly.

"No. You created one."

A few of the others looked at Arthur again.

Lyra continued speaking calmly.

"Your unpredictability also played a role. You used the arrows against their own team. You made decisions quickly and you didn’t panic."

Arthur shrugged lightly.

"It was fun."

That made Selene click her tongue again.

Lyra continued as if she hadn’t heard him.

"You also stayed calm through the entire fight. Even while making decisions you were talking, joking, observing."

Lyra didn’t smile but her eyes softened slightly.

"That kind of mindset is useful."

Then her tone shifted.

"But."

Arthur already knew something like that was coming.

Lyra crossed her arms.

"You take risks."

Arthur nodded slowly.

"Yeah."

"You gamble on moments that could go wrong."

She gestured toward him again.

"If Althea’s binding spell had caught you for even a second, the entire outcome of the drill might have changed."

Althea blinked, slightly surprised that the commander mentioned it.

Lyra continued.

"You have the strength to support your confidence. That much is clear."

Arthur didn’t reply to that.

"But real battles are different," she said.

Her voice carried weight now.

"In a real fight, overconfidence kills. A single mistake. One moment of underestimating your opponent. That is enough."

Arthur nodded seriously.

"I understand."

Lyra studied his face for a moment, making sure the words had landed.

Then she continued.

"You also lack a true defensive skill."

Arthur didn’t deny it.

He already knew that.

Lyra gestured toward him again.

"You rely on movement. Your intent step. Your awareness. Your timing."

Arthur spoke honestly.

"That’s true."

"But what happens when you’re tired?" Lyra asked.

The question hung in the air.

"What happens when your body slows down? Or when the enemy corners you physically?"

Arthur didn’t answer immediately.

He had thought about it before.

But he replied rega.

"I’d be in trouble."

Lyra nodded back.

"Exactly."

Arthur folded his arms.

"I’ve been thinking about that myself."

His voice was calm.

"I’ll work on it."

Lyra watched him quietly.

Then she gave a small nod.

"Good."

There was something in her expression now that hadn’t been there earlier.

Approval.

"I’m glad you said that."

Arthur tilted his head slightly.

Lyra continued.

"I’ve seen many explorers with talent."

Her voice carried a faint weight now.

"They become strong quickly. People praise them. They start believing they’ve learned enough."

Her eyes sharpened.

"And then they stop improving."