Chapter 11. To Be or Not to Be

Monday morning began with a hoarse rooster that had wandered onto the Academy grounds. Its ear-piercing cries woke up the entire neighborhood.

Lyra groaned, cursed, turned over, covered herself with a pillow, and tried to go back to sleep, but something fluffy squeaked and wriggled under the blanket. The girl jolted and threw off the blanket, revealing a Nyrhl. It turned out that this animal had slept with her all night.

"Lucas!" Lyra shouted. "Lucas, why is this creature in my bed?"

The spirit that had manifested itself from the air looked at her as if she were mentally challenged, then looked back at the Nyrhl.

"Lyra, have you looked at the book 'Animal Taming' recently?" he slowly pronounced the simple truth.

Lyra scratched her head. "I need to reread that folio," she said thoughtfully, more to herself than to the spirit.

"I'm sorry," she turned to the spirit. "You know, it&#