Principal Kael nearly knocked his chair over as he rose, his old bones stiff but his instincts alert.
The air in his office rippled like a pond struck by a stone, and in the space of an instant, a circle of blue fire blazed into existence on the floor.
Out of it stepped King Cillian himself, cloak of royal blue trimd in gold, an unmistakable circlet on his brow.
Beside him stood another man Kael would not mistake for anyone else, the High Magus, Master Edric, his eyes glowing faintly with residual mana.
And behind them was the rest of the group, the armored n that were the King’s personal guards.
Kael bowed at once, staff pressed to the ground. "Your Majesty, High Magus..."
"Spare the courtesies, Aldred." Cillian cut him off, his voice rough with command. His grey eyes pinned Kael to the spot. "Where is the boy? The one with the SSS-rank potential."
Kael swallowed. "Noah Webb, yes. He is here in the Academy. But before you see him, Your Majesty... you must understand the context of our current... situation."
Edric tilted his head, arms folded inside his robe. "Context?"
The Principal exhaled. "For the past three months, the boy has been... absent. Detained by the Investigation Authority."
That made Cillian straighten, his eyes narrowing. His guards bristled, hands on hilts. "Detained? For what reason?"
Kael nodded once, carefully choosing his words. "Noah’s na was linked to the disappearance of Juniper Rowe."
"Several witnesses swore she left her companions to et him on the night of her disappearance. That alone was enough for Osiris Lawless to seize him for questioning."
The King’s jaw clenched, his expression darkening. "You are telling the child with the greatest potential this kingdom has seen in its entire existence is the sa one who has been rotting in Osiris’ cells?"
Kael raised his palms in placation. "I assure you, Your Majesty, there is no evidence he was ever involved. Not then, not now. He remains innocent. The only thing binding his na to that tragedy are testimonies, and testimonies alone."
Edric’s voice was soft, but the sense of danger in the room only grew. "And yet, Osiris kept him inside his cells for months."
The Principal dipped his head. "Yes. I believe Osiris... overreached. But the boy has been recalled. He is once again under Academy protection."
Cillian’s gaze softened only slightly, though fire still smoldered in his eyes. "I will see him myself. I will judge his innocence, and potential, with my own eyes."
"Of course." Kael murmured, reaching across his desk. His fingers pressed into the runed circle embedded in the wood.
The lines lit with a low hum, a signal spreading through the academy.
He focused on entertaining the king and High Magus, until a few minutes later, when the heavy door to his office creaked open.
Professor Oliver stepped inside, clad in his simple teaching robes.
His steps almost froze the instant he saw who occupied the room, but he quickly grabbed a hold of himself. His breath caught, but he didn’t allow it to show on his face, maintaining his composure.
He bowed low as he stepped inside. "Your Majesty. High Magus."
Cillian’s eyes flicked over him, assessing. "Mage Oliver."
Kael straightened. "Professor Oliver. Bring us Noah Webb. At once."
Oliver’s brows rose a fraction, but he masked his surprise quickly.
"Yes, Principal." He glanced once towards the King and Edric, then pivoted, boots echoing as he left the room.
The silence that followed was taut. Kael shifted back into his seat, resting both hands atop his staff.
Cillian broke it with a voice like gravel. "When this is done, Aldred, I will speak with Osiris myself. If there was no evidence... if this child was locked away on suspicion alone... then I will have answers. And I will have them today."
Edric gave a thin smile, his eyes never leaving Kael. "Indeed. Osiris has many explanations to provide. Let us hope his tongue proves more useful to him than his arrogance."
Kael only bowed his head again in answer.
"Tell ," King Cillian humd, a frown appearing on his face, "how many people know of this?"
"Just myself, Professor Cecilia, and you two, your Majesty." Kael answered. "I sealed the letter I sent to the High Magus myself. No one would’ve been able to break it in ti."
Cillian’s face twitched almost imperceptibly at the ntion of Cecilia, but he didn’t call any attention to it. "Good. That’s good."
"But the boy has been moved to the Gold-tier, so I’m not sure if the news can be contained."
"It can." Edric cut in. "Being in Gold-tier ans nothing. The only explanation that shall be given is that he has S-rank potential, just like his peers."
"That should work." Kael nodded.
"Good." Cillian leaned back in the chair he had been provided with. "Let’s keep it that way. No one must know that we got our hero."
[][][][][]
Steam still clung to Noah’s skin as he stepped out of the small adjoining bathroom, a towel draped loosely around his shoulders.
Droplets of water slid down his hair, and his uniform hung neatly on the chair where he had left it.
He had just finished his shower, his muscles pleasantly loosened, when a knock echoed against the door of his room.
Noah frowned. Only Professor Cecilia ever cos to his room, and he doubted that she would be here at this hour of the night.
He ran the towel once across his face before tugging on his shirt and trousers. The knock ca again, louder and more insistent this ti.
He opened the door.
Professor Oliver stood in the hallway, eyes narrowed.
"Noah Webb," he said, "you’ve been summoned. The Principal requests your presence in his office. Imdiately."
Noah blinked, his fingers tightening on the towel he still held.
He tilted his head, his mind running a mile a minute. "The Principal?"
Oliver gave the smallest nod. "Yes. Dress quickly. I’ll wait here."
For a mont, Noah just studied the man. His shadows whispered in the corners of his mind, so urging him to refuse, others murmuring that this was it, the test, the chance.
He ignored them, stepping back into his room.
He dried himself swiftly and slipped into his gold-trimd uniform, fastening the buttons with steady hands.
When he caught sight of himself in the mirror, the reflection stared back with blank eyes, but he could almost hear the shadows laughing, whispering, ’They’ve noticed you at last.’
With that done, he opened the door again. "I’m ready."
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