“Grounded again…”
“Lightning, you should have studied instead of— wait, are you going out to fly again? After you just got grounded for flying earlier? You do realize that that’s not the smartest decision here, right?”
“Whatever. I’m not the smart one here anyways, Lyra. You know that.”
“Dusty! Don’t say that about yourself.”
“You know it’s true.”
“Stop it. Look, I’m not going to say anything except that you’ve really got to start doing better in your classes, Dusty.”
“Hmph.”
“No, Dusty. I mean it. I’m getting worried. You spend time meant for studying and practice for flying… I mean, if you actually end up failing… You need to focus, sis.”
“I do! I do focus and study and practice and all that stuff. But I need to fly, too! It’s not something I can just stop doing. Mom and Dad are clipping my wings here, Lyra! I mean, how would you feel if you weren’t allowed to play your lyre?”
“That’s different!”
“No, it’s not! Flying and pegasus stuff—doing stunts, touching the clouds, just being in the air—that’s what I’m meant for. Don’t you get it? That’s my special talent—my destiny—not music.”
“…”
“I never even belonged at that school in the first place anyways.”
“Now that’s not true!”
“Lyra. Can you seriously look me in the eye and say that you truly believe, without a doubt, that I belong at Mi Amore Cadenza’s Academy for the Musically Talented?”
“Well…”
“I thought so.”
“Lightning Dust, wait! I’m sorry!”
“No, you’re not! And don’t you dare say I belong at that hellhole, because I sure as Tartarus don’t! You and I both know the only reason I haven’t been kicked out yet is because our parents’ money is too good for the school to pass up on.”
“I…”
“Forget it, Lyra. Look, I’m sorry. It’s not you I’m angry at. I… I love you, but right now I just want to be left alone, okay? And that means flying. Go ahead and tell Mom and Dad, if you want. I don’t care.”
“…Where are you going, then?”
“Not far, and not for long, don’t worry. I only want to be by myself right now.”