Everyone looked around with the sudden news they were just given: William is being removed as head director of the academy?!
Allen could not believe the news. William had done nothing wrong, and yet here was this Triumvirate member, named Edmund, who announced William's removal out of nowhere. Allen was beyond furious.
"Just what is going on?," Allen asked, raising his voice, and standing up from his seat.
"I'm with Allen on this one too," Stephen stood up, also joining Allen.
William put his hand up to stop them, to which they reluctantly listened to him.
"Do you mind clarifying for me, Edmund?," William asked, tilting his head. "Those are rather large claims you have against me. I suppose it would be only fair to elaborate, now wouldn't it?"
Edmund gave a deep sigh, as if he wasn't wanting to elaborate for him, and just expected William to come with him.
"Very well," he did a slight nod. "For failing to be at the academy at the time of the fire mage attack, most of the voting members of the Triumvirate have voted in favor of temporarily removing you of your position as head director of this academy"
Both Allen and Stephen were just about to try to step in again, but once again William put his hand up to stop them. Allen and Stephen gritted their teeth, but they had to listen.
"And, anything else?," William asked, his eyes seeming to be fully concentrated on Edmund, almost trying to read his thoughts. "I'm sure that's not all, is it?"
"In addition, due to the circumstances surrounding your past, and currently in the present surrounding this fire mage assault on the academy, the Triumvirate members suspect your potential involvement with the fire mage attack. Therefore, you will also be arrested under these claims. You will be receiving an audience with the Triumvirate, with your trial being held"
William sat in silence for a moment, eyes closed. He seemed to be thinking about and processing the situation he was suddenly put into.
"Very well," William finally answered, getting up from his seat. "I, of course, will go along with you. You will have my full cooperation"
"Good, otherwise we would have had to try other measures," Edmund cleared his throat, as he gestured to the magical knights all throughout the room.
"William-"
"Martha, I need you to take care of the academy and its students during my absence. If all goes well, I should be returning shortly. Am I clear on that?"
"But William-"
"Am I clear, Martha?," his eyes seemed to be almost staring into her.
"Very well. Please stay safe, William," she nodded, with a slight sigh.
William seemed to pause for a moment, almost taking in what Martha had just said. He finally then turned, and began to quickly gather his things, while Edmund and the other magical knights seemed to be waiting impatiently.
Allen could still not believe what he had heard. William being removed, under such stupid claims. Not to mention, his temporary leave had nothing to do with the fire mage attack.
In addition, how could they think he could even be involved with the fire mage attack? Why would William be involved in attacking the very own academy he has been working so hard to change for the better? Allen thought it was absolutely absurd.
"Father, you cannot be serious!," Stephen was the first to speak up. "You cannot just let these… let the Triumvirate do this to you!"
"I am definitely with Stephen on this," Allen added, his hand on his sword's handle. "You can't just let them do this to you!"
Both Thomas and Cecily remained on the side, staying silent. It wasn't though they didn't want to do anything, but rather there wasn't much they could do in this situation.
The Triumvirate member and the magical knights looked between both Allen and Stephen, as if they just dared them to try something. But that wouldn't stop Allen. He wasn't going to let them do what they wanted to his mentor, and Stephen's father.
"You have done nothing wrong," Allen spoke up again. "You could easily stop-"
"Enough!," William raised his voice, to the point where it shocked everyone within the room. "You are not to intervene in this at all!"
Allen felt an immense and sudden pressure at William's words, that seemed to almost get him back to his senses. Allen has never seen William speak like this before.
The closest William has ever raised his voice was during the time their training club was first formed, before August had joined. All of the training club members, minus Alice/Sarah, had faced William in a duel in order to go on a club trip.
However, it had been cut short, after Allen had almost managed to knock his glasses off with his sword. But even then, William did not get as intense as he did just now.
"Yes, Head Director," both Allen and Stephen responded, listening to his words.
"Good, you'd better keep your own students, or better yet, your own former students in line," Edmund spoke up, obviously annoyed with Allen and Stephen's actions.
"They will listen to me, and if they're smart, they won't try anything further," William gave them one last stern look, before finally starting to head away from his desk.
"Good," Edmund did a slight nod. "Now, we will be taking you to the Triumvirate headquarters, and-"
But before Edmund could finish his sentence, the door to the room had suddenly opened again, however with a different unexpected, but recognizable visitor.
"Walter Garet," William acknowledged him. "What brings you here, on such short notice?"
"I came to see what this commotion was," he answered while he looked throughout the room, before his eyes landed on Allen for a moment. He turned his attention back to William and his guests. "What brings a member of the Triumvirate, alongside such high ranking magical knights in our Head Director's office?"
I recognize him, Allen thought to himself, as he stared him down. Walter Garet, or rather Mr. Garet, the other Vice Director other than Ms. Clark.
If Allen remembered correctly, he first met Mr. Garet, back when the club members had asked William about wanting to go on their club trip. Allen, alongside William himself, had suspected Mr. Garet could have been involved with Allen's duel against Nathaniel Rivertide, where Nathaniel had used a magical artifact, given to him by none other than Reynold Windblade himself, confirmed by him when Allen met with him. While Mr. Garet was not involved with the magical artifact, he could have been the person behind putting Ms. Lynde, Nathaniel's teacher, as the person to oversee the duel, tipping the duel further into Nathaniel's favor.
"These individuals from the Triumvirate have been instructed to remove me temporarily as Head Director of the academy due to the recent fire mage attack on our academy," William explained, as he held eye contact with Mr. Garet.
"The Triumvirate's academy," Edmund corrected him, as he cleared his throat. "Your former position was to oversee it, not to own it"
That jerk, Allen thought to himself. I just want to-
Allen gritted his teeth as he kept his hand off of his sword's handle as he remembered what William had told them. But, he couldn't help but feel very frustrated as Edmund kept speaking.
"Regardless, he will also be taken in and a trial will be held, under the claims of his possible involvement with the fire mage attack," Edmund added.
Mr. Garet raised an eyebrow at Edmunds recent words, with a very blank expression on his face. "I see"
Mr. Garet turned his attention back to William, before he spoke again. "William, just know that the academy will be properly handled and conducted during your… temporary leave"
William had paused for a moment, almost as if he was processing Mr. Garet's words. He finally gave him a short nod, before finally leaving the room with Edmund and the other magical knights.
"Oh, and one last thing," Edmund turned his head to Mr. Garet. "We will be back later to sort the… details of his temporary removal"
"Understood," Mr. Garet gave him a final nod, before Edmund closed the door to William's former office.
They can't just do this!, Allen thought to himself, caught in his emotions again.
Allen looked over at Stephen, who seemed to be thinking the same thing as him. But before they could do anything, they were immediately stopped by Mr. Garet himself, holding both of their shoulders. It was a rather firm grip, which surprised both of them.
"I would not do anything if I were you, boys," Mr. Garet advised them, in a very stern voice. "Unfortunate as the situation is, not even you two alone could take on those magical knights, let alone the entire Triumvirate"
Allen once again gritted his teeth at the situation. He did not like how Mr. Garet was handling this whole thing. They could have done something!
"That's enough you two," Ms. Clark finally spoke up, walking up towards the two of them.
"Ms. Clark," the two of them spoke, immediately calming down a bit with the soft but understanding tone Ms. Clark had given off.
She leaned down facing both of them, with a hand on each of their shoulders. "I understand both of your frustrations, however given the situation, there isn't anything any of us can do. Believe me, if I could have done something, I would have"
Her face suddenly was filled with regret. Both Allen and Stephen could immediately tell, that out of all them, perhaps she was the most upset about it.
"However, we need to get our priorities straight. Can I count on both of you to assist me, while your head director is gone?"
"Yes, you can," both of them nodded, starting to regret their actions out of anger and frustration.
"Good, thank you," she gave a small smile while she patted the top of both of their heads, for a brief moment.
"Hmph," Mr. Garet immediately looked away, almost in annoyance.
"I wish she'd do that to me," Thomas finally spoke up, with a small smirk on his face.
"Idiot," Cecily said, as she quickly smacked the top of his head with a few papers of most likely study material she had been holding.
"Walter, can I trust you to help me get the academy straightened out regarding the sudden removal of William?," she gave him a stern look.
"Yes, yes you do. I already promised him, alright?," Mr. Garet let out an annoyed sigh. "You can get off my old back already"
"Good. For now, let's get some documents sorted, and work with the student council as we prepare an official announcement to the rest of the students," she gave him a small smile, but almost with a look like he did not have a choice.
"Very well, I'll play this game of yours," he closed his eyes as he most likely mentally prepared himself for the work that would follow.
As Ms. Clark and Mr. Garet managed to cooperate to sort out some of the paperwork left on William's desk, Allen was filled with mixed emotions.
After all, his once mentor, the person he has trusted and looked up to the most, was once again gone. And there was nothing that he could do about it.
Just what is going to happen to the academy while William is gone?, Allen thought to himself, as he started to grow worried. Could this be the work of the person Reynold warned me about?
Allen thought back to his conversation with Reynold Windblade. The warning he had given him before he left Reynold's office.
If my client is anything like I know them to be, they won't stop here. I advise you to watch your back as your upcoming tournament draws near, Reynold's voice filled Allen's mind.
With nothing else to do but to put their trust in Ms. Clark, and hope Mr. Garet remains on his word to William, the training club members in the room will wait patiently for what will come.
However, the events that would follow were nothing they would be expecting. Allen's remaining time at the academy for his first year was about to change drastically.