A day has passed since the attack on Magus Academy. Like the news of Elizabeth's defeat, the citizens of the Scholarly City, Chasrol, were not immune to Magus Academy's secrets. This news broke soon after the events of the attack took place and concerned relatives were storming into the academy's premises to check on their family. No one could stop them because no one was awake to do so. Everyone, save for Azrael, Arthur, Alora, Chari, Amira, Calliope, Rose and the two missing, Tyson and Ubel, were in sleep-induced comas, with no sign of waking up anytime soon.
Upset parents, brothers, sisters, uncles, aunts, grandparents, and other family members sought answers from the surviving students. But Azrael directed all their attention to him, as the only senior staff member, to avoid the harassment of his students.
"There was an attack on our Magus Academy," he says, in a press conference, before all the concerned relatives. "Though the students who survived the initial sleeping spell and I have defeated the two assailants, we believe a third party was involved who helped the assailants terrorise the academy. This third party is without a doubt the cause of the mass sleeping spell and to that degree, the cause of the grief you all are currently experiencing."
"Grief?" murmurs a bald elderly man, who leans on a walking stick to support himself. "What do you know of grief?"
"Yeah!" shouts another man. "My son is enrolled here. He... he's..."
The man bursts into tears, unable to bear the weight of the words he wishes to say. A woman, beside him, looks at Azrael, "I assume you have no children you've ever lost before. But my husband and I..." She grits her teeth and takes a deep breath, "My husband and I have already lost a daughter. I'm pleading with you, we cannot lose our son also." The woman also breaks down into tears and the women surrounding her console her.
"You're right, I do not have children of my own," he says, gritting his teeth, thinking back to a bittersweet memory, "I have never experienced what you are going through. And I may never experience what you are going through. However, if there's one thing I know, that I wish to impart to the grieving relatives before me, it's that I will not rest until every student is accounted for. I will not allow evil to consume your family members. Until we find this third party, I ask you to hold onto hope."
"Hope," scoffs the elderly man. "My Tyson is nowhere to be found! How am I supposed to hold onto hope? Where is he? Where is my Tyson!?"
"Tyson is..."
"Tyson is what!? I WANT TO KNOW DAMMNIT!"
"I'm sorry, sir. But Tyson and the headmaster are currently missing."
"M...missing?" he asks, falling back onto the ground. "Missing?" he repeats hopelessly.
Someone next to him asks, "What do you mean missing?"
"In a collision with one of the assailants, Tyson, as well as Headmaster Ubel were transported to an undisclosed location."
"Undisclosed location? Where is that? Tell us!"
"I... cannot."
"You can't?"
"Yes... No," he says shaking his head, "It's not that I cannot say, rather, I will not reveal the location. I am unwilling to share this information with anyone unrelated to Tyson Fury and Ubel Zagan."
"That's—"
The man remains silent, knowing any further probing would work in Azrael's favour. But another man, one with a square-shaped face, scarlet hair and fiery eyes says, "Professor... Azrael was your name, yes?"
"Yes, and you are?"
"Ah, I apologise. I was unaware of those oblivious to my identity. I am Duke Helios Flare, Scarlett's father."
So, this is Scarlett's father. He has a calm demeanour and his soul is burning with a fiery passion. Judging by his large build, I can see he works out often—much like Scarlett. But I can sense the unrest in his mana. He's restraining himself quite a lot.
"I know this academy is capable of dealing with threats this country's knights would even struggle against, so I will not blindly accuse this academy of not being prepared for such an unexpected attack. But there is something that strikes me as odd."
"And that is?"
"This academy is prepared for threats such as black dragons and demons, yet the academy was so easily infiltrated. I must ask, was this an inside job?" The crowd becomes restless. "If so, I have to question the academy's integrity. As a long-time donor of this academy, and as a grieving father, I want to know whether my daughter is safe within this school."
What should I do? If I say one of the professors and a former student of mine were behind the attack, I doubt they would let this issue go. The academy's reputation would plummet and it might be hard for me to find out what the presence is below this academy. After thinking for a few seconds, Azrael says, "The assailants behind this attack were—"
"Not associated with the academy," interjects a middle-aged man in a purple, silk tunic and scarlet hose. His stern expression repulses the relatives surrounding him and the grey colour of his soul repulses Azrael.
Who is this? thinks Azrael, just barely able to hold in his fury.
Duke Helios turns to the man with a disgusted face and says, "Marquis Snaek Brastad, I do not recall speaking to you. Is this how little etiquette is in the Brastad household?"
Marquis Snaek Brastad? Who is he?
The marquis bows and fakes a smile, despite his mana flaring in annoyance. "I deeply apologise for the inconvenience," he says, ignoring Duke Helios. "However, Professor Azrael and I have matters to discuss regarding this recent attack on our academy."
"Matters that involve us, the relatives of those involved," says Duke Helios, sternly. "If you cannot discuss this before us, I expect you to at least discuss this matter before the Imperial Court of Justice."
The Imperial Court of Justice—the Genmoste Continent's largest purveyor of justice. This court is known for never convicting innocent individuals and always sniffing out corruption and foul play within the continent. The thought of appearing before the twenty-five judges of the Imperial Court of Justice is enough to send criminals quivering because of their harsh sentencing. At best, you receive the death penalty through a quick and painless public execution. At its worst, you can expect every member in your family line to be wiped from the continent's registry.
Even someone as well poker-faced as Marquis Snaek is, cannot feign a calmed expression in the face of such a horrifying threat. "T-the Imperial Court of... Justice. Surely you jest, Duke Helios Flare? What? Are you accusing me, one of Magus Academy's council members, of illegal dealings?"
So, he's one of the academy's council members. Azrael stares him down, disappointed. I expected powerful individuals; however, if the other council members are as powerful as he is, I need not concern myself with their measly rule over the academy. And if the other council members are as conniving as this man is... I doubt they would allow me to do as I please.
"It is but a suggestion, Marquis Snaek," says Duke Helios. "You need not quiver in your boots if you are innocent, correct?"
"Aye," he responds. "However, even innocent men such as I would quiver after hearing the Imperial Court brought up. You should understand that no man who has entered that court's doors has ever left unprosecuted."
"No man, you say? If I recall there was one man who walked away unprosecuted."
"There was?" asks the Marquis. "And who was this?"
"You do not remember? It was the news headline of the century. The man who has walked away unprosecuted was the headmaster of this academy, Ubel Zagan."
Ubel was trialled? Well, knowing his personality, I think I shouldn't be surprised.
"Ah, yes. My memory must be deteriorating with old age," he says, forcing a smile.
Duke Helios stares the marquis down before saying, "I expect every detail of your meeting with Professor Azrael to be reported to the three Ducal houses and the royal family no more than a day after the meeting's end." With those words, the Duke backs away and leaves the academy's premises. So do the other relatives, after checking in on their family members once more.
Marquis Snaek wipes the sweat from his brow and says, after everyone has left, "Professor Azrael, the council seeks an audience with you."