’What?’
Elma was stunned—and naturally so—once she heard the words of Raven Nightshade.
The whole thing, from the death of the Head of Student Affairs, to the slaughter of the guards, were a big surprise to her. She had no idea any of it would be happening, and she definitely had nothing to do with them.
So… what in the world was happening here?
"I won’t repeat myself, Elma." Raven’s deep voice cut through the silence as he glared at her with his stoic gaze.
She imdiately felt the pressure that accompanied his words.
"I—I am confused… what is—?"
"No need to play dumb, student." The man dismissed her defenses like they ant nothing. "You did a good job erasing the footages and also covering your tracks so we couldn’t trace you back, but you were sloppy with your mode of execution."
"W-what are you even—?"
"I’m talking about your flas." Raven pointed at her, his brows raised in mild annoyance.
"My… flas?"
"Precisely. All of the victims were burned to a crisp by a fire-type Spirit Art, and—"
"But I’m not the only one with a fire-type Familiar! Why are you picking ? Because I’m a girl? Because I’m a commoner? I’m just a scapegoat for you to choose and—"
"Do not insult my intelligence or the thorough process we go through in terms of investigation…" Raven cut her words short, his piercing gaze boring through her stubborn front.
"I’m not insulting anything! I didn’t do—!"
"Then why did we find your Magia Signature in the flas? It perfectly matched the wavelength of your recorded signature… or rather, the signature of your Familiar."
"W-what…?"
"What do you have to say about that? Is there another student here that possesses the sa Familiar as you? Even if they do, will they have the sa signature as yours? The answer is, as you know, no."
"I… what…?"
"We have many ways to investigate and trace Mages, and one of them is Magia Signature. Thankfully, you left such a big ss that it was easy to pull out enough remnant Magia to draw up an accurate signature."
Elma’s widened eyes began to lose focus as she struggled to listen to Raven’s words.
She was damned.
Magia Signatures were like fingerprints—unique to an individual and difficult, if not downright impossible, to replicate. As such, having a person’s Magia Signature in a particular place was as good as admittance that they were there and did what they were accused of.
How exactly could she defend herself against sothing like this?
’I’ve clearly been set up, since I still haven’t gone to the Staff Quarters since I beca a student here…’ She thought to herself. ’And while it’s popular knowledge that you can’t forge Magia Signatures, it isn’t impossible to do so.’
As an avid reader of the Original Novel, Elma knew the loopholes of this world’s system, and that included a way to forge Magia Signatures.
’But, not many people know about that thod now… and those who do should have no business killing the Head of Student Affairs and framing for it.’ As she had that thought, a sudden spark burst in her head.
Her eyes bulged as she slowly began to tilt her head to look behind her.
But—
"Where were you last night? Do you have an Alibi?"
"I… erm…?"
"Were you in your dorms? The library? The cafe? Anywhere we can feasibly place you during the period of the cri?" Raven asked, offering her one last lifeline that could help prove her innocence.
However, Elma knew the reason she did not imdiately jump at this as her defence.
"I… took a walk."
She was supposed to et up with Ashfelt, per his recomndation, so they could discuss matters regarding the novel and their plans moving forward. He gave her a ti and place, sowhere secluded, with no recording footage so they could have a secure conversation.
Who would have thought that going there would co back to bite her in such a way?
Perhaps soone did.
’H-hold on…’ Her eyes widened even more. ’Ash bailed on and didn’t show up for the eting—a eting he suggested himself—and now I’m being accused of this?’
Not only that, but the sophistication of the cri and how it all led to her was not sothing that could be enacted by just anyone.
For one, even though she had quite a few enemies, none were capable of this.
The only one who could do sothing like this was Ashfelt, and that was because of one pri reason.
’He’s like … a Transmigrator!’
He knew the thod of Magia Signature, and he could fulfill all the conditions necessary to pull it off.
Finally, he had two Souls as well, so he could definitely have a fire-type Familiar.
’I have to say sothing! I have to tell them that it isn’t , but him!’ Elma thought desperately to herself, not caring to consider why Ash would betray her even after all the assurances he gave her regarding his loyalty.
Perhaps he considered her too wild a card.
Maybe he wanted to do things alone and didn’t want her help.
Maybe he felt threatened by her existence and figured she would eventually stab him in the back.
All of these were reasonable fears to have, and it wasn’t like Elma hadn’t thought about them herself, so she wasn’t particularly concerned with the reason behind his actions—at least, not at the mont.
Her major concern was survival.
"I didn’t do it! It was… was… w-was…!" Her eyes bulged as soon as she realized a damning truth.
’I can’t say it’s him! Why can’t I say it’s him?!’
The answer dawned on her the mont she turned to her back and faced the mastermind himself.
’Ashfelt… you bastard!’
All she saw on his face was shock—as if he was truly surprised to see her being accused of such a gory offense. However, Elma knew better than to take his innocent expression at face value.
That was nothing more than a mask ant to hide his true feelings: a sly mockery of her compromised position and his utter victory.
"You… YOU…!!!"
Elma already realized it: she couldn’t say or do anything to prove that Ash was the one who committed the cri because it would reveal his secret as a Transmigrator.
All thanks to the effects of the Soul Contract.
As her eyes t his, she could see a glint sparkle in his eyes… almost like he was taunting her.
Despite putting her in such a trap, she could not turn the tables.
She could not do anything.
’WRONG!’ Elma thought as she gritted her teeth. ’If I can’t prove my innocence, you think I’m just going to let you walk?!’
WHOOOOSH!
In a flash, Elma discarded her previous position and charged at Ash, activating the power hidden within her true Soul.
Space instantly distorted and—almost as if she teleported—she appeared right in front of him.
’I’ll kill you!’
Even if she didn’t succeed, she would be able to prove that he was hiding his true strength—a cri punishable by death in the Empire.
’Your Wind Spirit won’t be enough to stop , Ash!’ Her eyes turned bloodshot. ’You’ll have no choice but to display that Fire Familiar that you used to fra , won’t you?!’
Thankfully, the Soul Contract did not restrict her from attacking him.
This way, she could prove her innocence… and even if she couldn’t, she would simply have to go down knowing that she killed the man who screwed her over.
But—
"Idiot…" She heard a fleeting voice say to her.
WHAM!
In an even faster flash, coupled with the sound of a thunderclap, Elma felt her body crashing into the ground by an overwhelmingly powerful force.
The hand that grabbed the back of her head was strong and powerful, impossible to resist.
It forcefully planted her face on the ground and perfectly restrained her—all within the blink of an eye.
’D-damnit…!’ Her vision blurred imdiately and she could feel the pull of unconsciousness slowly take her away.
Before everything went blank, though, she was able to see the face of her aggressor.
"Stay away from my brother…"
It was Seth Zephyr.
"... You murderer."
************
Ash heaved a sigh of relief as he watched Elma lose consciousness thanks to Seth’s swift actions.
’As expected… I can always count on you bro!’ His thoughts echoed. ’I was beginning to get worried for a mont there.’
In any case, his plan had co full circle—well, almost.
Elma was being charged for the murders he committed, just as he wanted.
’Since I can’t link the White Death murders to you, this was the next best thing… create an entirely new case for you to take the fall for.’
It was ironic in a sense.
’You fra soone for being the White Death, only for you to also be frad.’ Ash chuckled within himself, watching Elma’s unconscious body for a second longer.
’I’m sorry for betraying you….’
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