Two hours later.
The Black Sand Village just escaped a calamity, the beast tide was successfully repelled with all the forces of the village joined together.
But still this resulted in a lot of casualties of both civillians and guards. Apart from that there is a lot of damage to the infrastructure. Everyone couldn't help but heave a sigh of helplessness after the beast tide is finally over.
Sir Warden, immediately went back to check the kids. Luckily, no one from the Orphanage was injured or killed. Everyone is safe, including the students who belonged to the orphanage.
Only when Sir Warden thought until this point did he get reminded of Viswa.
He hurriedly went to check up on him.
He went to the guards who are responsible for the Circle 2 forest to ask if Viswa came out during the beasts tide. After all, since all the beasts around the village have gone berserk it shouldn't be surprise if the beasts in the four circles have gone berserk as well.
But the circles are well secured. Beasts might be able to go deeper, but they would have a lot of trouble coming out of these circles.
By the time Sir Warden reached the guards, he was surprised to see that there are a bunch of other Circle 2 students among them. And when he recognized their faces, he immediately had a slight suspicion.
But he didn't let it out. He just went to meet them.
An instructor is already taking their statements.
"So, instead of running outside the circle, the beasts are running deeper into the forest? They even broke the fences and entered? But the fences between the Circle 2 and Circle 3 are very strong.
A few beasts would have died opening them."
The instructor asked skeptically.
One of the students smiled wryly and said.
"That is exactly what happened sir. Over half a dozen wild boars broke the fence together with a lot of effort, they died in the process. We have seen corpses on this side of the fence and that side as well."
"I got the similar reports from the Circle 4 and Circle 3 as well. All the beasts have broken through the fences. They even ignored the aura measures that we placed on the fences and broke through as if their lives depended on it. Circle 1 might have been the same.
You guys can go."
The instructor was about to send them away, but one of students spoke up.
"Instructor, we have something to report."
"Okay, what is it?"
"One of the students that was in Circle 2 was injured severely in a battle with a beast, when the beast went berserk and ran away.
He was caught up in that mess and was dragged away along with a bunch of beasts."
Instructor widened his eyes in shock.
"Who is that student? Do you recognize him? Have you guys seen him being dragged past the Circle 2?"
"Yes, we know him and he was indeed dragged past the circle 2. As for the name, he is the new sensation in our academy. Viswa."
The student even looked at Sir Warden, when he said the name out loud.
Sir Warden was shocked and rooted on the spot.
He took a few deep breaths and asked.
"What is his status when he was dragged away?"
"He was bleeding heavily. He had a few bite injuries on his back and his leg was a sprained for sure. When we noticed the abnormality of the beasts, we were running back and then only we noticed him.
It seems like he was also making his way back, but he was locked in a battle with a beast and this unfortunate thing happened."
Sir Warden sighed and turned to the instructor.
"Who is in charge of investigating the Circles of the Forest?"
"We are sending the Circle 4 Students to check up on it. A special squad with the elites that are top of the class."
"Okay, can you let them meet me before they go?"
"Of course. Of course. It concerns the life of a student and he is such a talent too. I can understand how you feel. I will definitely let them meet you before you go."
"Okay, today the people from the Regional office are supposed to come. So, I will stay back and help them finish the investigation. Tomorrow, I will proceed with the investigation in the forest as well."
"But.."
"If you are worrying about the headmaster, you don't have to. If he doesn't give me the permission for this, I am resigning. Anyway, since the Orphanage has already been destroyed in this academy, there is nothing holding me back.
I was already assigned an instructor position in Grey stone Intermediate academy a long time ago. It is also a Sacred ground and it is not even that washed up like the Black Sand. It actually has prospects to reach its previous glory.
So, the headmaster must either agree or lose an instructor."
Sir Warden walked out and this time his demeanour changed completely. Before he left he gave a look to all the kids that just gave the testimony. He paused for a moment and said.
"You better pray that you guys are telling the truth. Otherwise, you should understand, once I am out of this academy, I am not longer your instructor then I don't have to use any of the regular means to deal you some punishment.
Whether a couple of Circle 2 students dropped dead in the middle of the academy, or they disappeared when they entered a mission, none of those things matter. Because even the headmaster wouldn't have the capacity to investigate a person like me and hold me accountable."
It is obviously a naked threat.
The instructor who took the testimony gulped and looked at the students.
The students were also scared. They were instructed to do this by their instructor and they were offered a large sum of money for this. After all, even the Circle 2 students didn't have huge future prospects outside of the academy.
They might be better off than the circle 1, but not by a large margin.
So, they just took the risk.
One must wonder why these people are so hell bent on doing these dirty deeds just to get some money even at the risk of ruining their lives. What exactly are the future options that they are this worried.
The instructor turned to these students and stopped them from leaving.
"You are all the students of Instructor Snake right?"
The students were stunned for a second, but they still nodded.
"Isn't it too coincidental that you are the only ones that spotted Viswa being dragged away by the beasts?"
"Sir, I swear on my life, I am not lying. Viswa was indeed dragged by the beasts."
One of the students hurriedly said.
The instructor shook his head and said.
"I can guess that you guys are involved somehow. To give you some advice, I would like you guys to either figure out a compromise with Sir Warden or escape completely.
Today the regional officers are definitely going to prosecute Instructor Snake and Instructor Fish, there is no way out. Other instructors might not be interested in taking you guys in, because you talent is not extraordinary to begin with.
Many of you are repeaters in Circle 2.
In a way, your future is over.
And I must say whatever words Sir Warden spoke now are completely true.
He indeed has the power to deal with you guys as he pleases, but he is a law-abiding man which let you guys have some time to live.
I personally think, you guys should just go ahead and confess everything to Sir Warden and push all the blame to your instructor. Try to get out of this mess as much as possible. You might get away with light punishment.
As for that kid Viswa, I can understand why so many people wants to kill him. He is standing out a little too much and not many people like it. People like him are bound to get killed. If what you said is true, you are lucky that he didn't die in your hands. Or wrath of Sir Warden is not easy to take."
With that, the instructor left.
After a while, the academy settled down and people from the Regional office arrived.
Sir Warden, Suman, and the headmaster, all three of them went ahead and greeted them.
They have been delayed a bit and it turned out, it is also because of the Beast tide.
Sir Warden was in a hurry and he just sped up the process a bit. For some reason, the regional officers gave him a face and accepted his behavior.
That night, everyone presented their case and their evidence along with some witnesses. Instructor Fish and Instructor Snake have been investigated and even the headmaster and other instructors related to these two instructors were not left alone.