Winslow was unperturbed as a swirling bullet of dust whistled past his face. He remained still on his spot, crossed arms while surveying the pair of students in a heated spar in the field in front of him.
"Whoops! Sorry, Winslow!" a girl called sheepishly before dodging a series of slashes from her opponent. "Just focus on your match," Winslow said, "There'll be more distractions set during the graduation rites. Don't be distracted."
The graduation rites at the Nonaphrontistery, for as far as the traditions were held, were not like the usual ceremony, speeches, and promenade. The pomp and circumstance involve the ultimate showcase of the students that have completed their respective courses on the nine Syntaxis Arts, gathering the students in a setting where they must 'earn' their diplomas. It was never handed to them simply.
This is also the last opportunity given to the students to open several career paths. During the graduation rites, interested factions from across the Empire have the privilege of witnessing the performance of the graduating students. Recruiters and corporate have always been interested in having a wordsmith's work force, making sure that the graduation rites of the Nonaphrontistery will never happen without an audience.
Winslow has done what he could as the valedictorian to ensure his batch does not fall behind during the rites. It was important to keep them focused so they would never be bothered with the professors' situation with the Juris.
The sparring pair were still in an ongoing match when Winslow saw from the corner of his eye. He turned a full glance, finding a certain young woman leaning against the wall. Winslow's brows rose.
"CK," he said. CK observed the match and giggled, "Is that Harper with a shotgun? Good for her. Her old bow and arrow never did her well in the past. Glad she decided on an upgrade."
"She decided to alter her fighting style to make maximum use of her reload time and switching from offense to defense," Winslow nodded. "Izak is also holding his ground. Nice, nice," CK said pleasantly while watching the boy with blades trying to close the gap between him and the girl with the shotgun.
A peer of students were giggling and trading jokes among themselves until one of them glanced over at Winslow's direction. He did a double take in surprise to see he had company.
"Huh? Is that…CK?" he asked, causing the others to look in surprise. "What? CK?!" another said in hushed surprise, "It's her, alright. I though they had her thrown in jail?"
CK noticed the sneaking glances on her. "Oh?" she said amusingly, "The others seem to be surprised I'm walking freely."
"They weren't expecting you to visit during practice, which is valid considering the severity of your charges," Winslow said. "That's alright. I'm not here for them, anyway," CK said and looked at him, "I need to speak to you."
Winslow's brows furrowed slightly. CK walked off and Winslow followed her wordlessly. They paused once they were a safe distance away from the field and out of earshot. The others began to whisper among themselves.
"Has something urgent come up?" Winslow asked. "Kind of? It's pretty urgent for me. Anyway, you have access to the administration's databank, right?" CK asked. She raised a finger when Winslow was about to speak, making a smug smile.
"I know you do. Every valedictorian is given access to the databank in order to make necessary changes to their batch's paperwork and credentials," CK said. "If you already knew, why bother asking?" Winslow asked irritatingly.
"For confirmation. Duh," CK rolled her eyes, "How far into the databank can you go?"
"What do you mean by that?" Winslow asked. "How much access were you given?" CK asked, "For example, is it possible for you to search up information on an incredibly important item owned by the Nonaphrontistery?"
"I can't be sure about that. I only use the databank to review our batchmates' past performances and their evaluation," Winslow said and held his chin, "Although…It is possible. I just need external help from another system."
"Perfect. There's something I need you to look up for me," CK said. "In the administration databank?" Winslow asked in disbelief, "I'm not letting you look into the databank. Other students are prohibited from accessing it, and the higher-ups will be able to tell if you tried to look into it. They might add a few more charges to your trial."
"Pfft, please. As if that's going to stop me. Compared to what I've been up to, this is harmless," CK said. Winslow's eyes widened at her words before staring sternly, "What did you do?"
CK smirked. "You've seen the curtain lights that erupted from the Maiden's Tower?" she asked. "That was you?!" Winslow asked in disbelief. CK's smirk widened.
"Not just that. The one thing that the Tower was protecting is in my possession now. I just need to learn how to use it," CK said. Winslow's lips parted in shock.
"You're out of your damn mind," he scoffed. "Hush. Cussing is bad for you. Your angels will be upset with you," CK chided while Winslow ran a hand through his hair problematically.
"No wonder the faculty has been searching through everybody's belongings…" he muttered and looked at CK, "CK, you need to return whatever you took from the Tower. The Tower has gone dormant and will possibly shut down. What do you think that means for the school's defense? Have you forgotten that the Juris has been active recently?"
"What if I don't want to?" CK raised an eyebrow. Winslow glared, "What are you up to?"
He watched as CK's gaze assessed his eyes back and forth. "Hm…" she said and turned around to walk away. Winslow's eyes narrowed and he reached a hand to grab her wrist, "CK—!"
Slash!
Winslow moved back as a blade swung upward, nearly cutting a strand of his hair. He regained his footing and looked at CK warily. Winslow's eyes widened to see the spear in her hand, the surface of holy gold almost glowing under the sunlight.
"That weapon…" he said in disbelief. He frowned. Holy gold is an exclusive material only used by the Radiance Church and cannot be duplicated by anyone else. How did…
CK twirled the spear in one hand while observing it. "In all fairness, this thing is not that heavy. It does burn a bit, though," she said.
Winslow regained composure and spoke seriously. "Hand that spear over," he said. "Not until I get some answers from you," CK said and dispelled the spear in hand.
"Your churchmates have been investigating inside the Nonaphrontistery in secrecy. Do you mind telling me why?" CK asked. "Investigating?" Winslow was more confused, "What do they even need to investigate?"
"That's why I'm asking," CK crossed her arms, "I normally wouldn't pick fights with churches, but I'm pretty sure that external factions such as the Radiance Church cannot simply intervene or involve themselves with things here inside the Nonaphrontistery—especially if it involves my trial."
"I am hardly understanding a word you say," Winslow frowned. "I can't give complete details, but one of your paladins tried to get into a daemon-infested place that has a lot to do with my supposed violation of the Individualist Law," CK said, "He was killed by them. My condolences, but his actions still reflect much on your Church's suspicious intentions."
Winslow's gaze softened. "And the body?" he asked. CK shook her head, "His head was severed, but the body is maintained. I'll show it to you when we have time."
"…You said it was a daemon-infested place," Winslow said seriously, "The school has never accommodated any daemon-related facilities as far as I know. How do you know where that place is?"
CK smiled. "Have you tried reading my thesis on sifts? It should tell you that it's possible to open a sift to take me from one dimension to another," she said, "In my case, it was a place related to the daemon I 'enslaved'. Your churchmate was there, got offed, and I only got myself more unanswered questions."
"It could have been a paladin on an expedition. He was probably sent to wipe out an infestation, so even if it was related to your trial, you can't say the Church was trying to do anything to your trial on purpose. You'd be putting words into others' mouths," Winslow stated. CK sighed.
"I guess hiding information can't do me good with you," she said and looked at him in the eye, "That place was a dungeon belonging to one of the 72 archdaemons of Almadel."
Winslow's eyes widened in alert. "I know little about your Church, but surely they still know how politics work," CK said, "The archdaemons wouldn't turn a blind eye if your Church just deliberately walked in one of their leaders and attempted to exorcise the whole place. A paladin all by himself, I should add."
"Don't you find that a little bit suspicious?" CK asked. Winslow was silent while staring out into space thoughtfully.
He sighed and looked back at CK. "How does this relate to you wanting to break into the administration's databank? You need information on the Church?" Winslow asked.
"It's something else, actually. My interest is still related to the Tower. I'm just telling you about your churchmate's activity now for reasons," CK smirked, "Consider it blackmail, if you want. Or in another perspective, I'm just a student concerned about why an external faction is suddenly getting involved inside our school grounds suspiciously. Take the candy you want."
"You're also a member of the Church, Winnie. What would the faculty think of your standing if they heard about it?" CK asked, then paused, "Hm… Actually, no. The school wouldn't give a flying flipper about it. But you are kind of a goody good guy. You wouldn't just let this happen out of your conscience."
"…So that's how it is," Winslow wanted to chuckle as he shook his head, "You really laid your intentions bare, haven't you?"
"I'm only saying you'll benefit from accessing the databank for yourself. It's a win-win situation! You get to learn what the Church is up to—since you're so clueless—and I'll get some harmless information about my own business," CK smiled persuasively, "What can it possibly hurt you with?"
Winslow looked at her sternly, but admittedly, he can't find anything to refute her with. He sighed and held his forehead, "When you put it that way, it almost seems like I'm the one left with no other choice."
'Ironically, you're the only person I can approach to help me,' CK thought amusingly. It should have been her with the limited options, but hey, bluffing has its perks.
"Tsk… The terminal where the administration databank operates is at the second floor of the administration building. However, I can access it from one of the cubicles that the professors use on the third floor," Winslow said, "There aren't many professors, but that place is never empty unless it's curfew."
"But there'd be a security system, wouldn't there?" CK muttered. "Either that, or the professors themselves. Let's just hope what you're looking for isn't truly taboo," Winslow said seriously, "We'd have to go to the second floor in that case."
"Great. So, it's a deal?" CK asked expectantly. "Hand me the spear first," Winslow said. CK sighed and summoned the spear of holy gold, letting Winslow take it from her hand.
Winslow examined it before nodding to himself. He could use this to train. He looked back at CK.
"Curfew starts at 10 tonight. I'll meet you at the library building," Winslow said. "Music to my ears," CK grinned pleasantly, "See you later, then. Have fun training for the graduation rites!"
Winslow watched as CK walked off happily. He dispelled the spear in his hand before walking back to the field, ignoring the questioning and curious gazes of the other students who saw him speaking with CK.
In contrast to the winds and joyous banter in the training fields, the marble halls and pristine archways of the observatory were silent. Enigmatic. The central tower has been the most noticeable scenery as it was located at the heart of the school, but hardly anyone pays attention to it.
It was like a painting's reflection in the water. Something you could see but wouldn't bother touching as if it was a knowing illusion. A silhouette glided across the marble floors, casting a pitiful but scornful look at the surroundings.
"What a plight you have suffered. Sooner or later, the Maiden's Tower will be just like this place: Forgotten and useless, and we can't do nothing about it," the silhouette sighed, "And then, there's the Juris. The misfortune of the school has doubled over the years."
"Hah! Don't act so sympathetic. Your actions have resulted in this mess after flicking that domino so recklessly," another voice scoffed a few meters away. "Silence," the silhouette snapped, "That 'domino' had it coming."
Everything spiraled out of control after Theodore Erzem fell into a comatose mysteriously. The school's extension was attacked, and professors were deployed, his apprentice is put on trial, and now, the Tower entrusted to him has gone dormant. The worst of them all is that the men of the Emperor have suddenly taken interest.
"Bothersome fool," the silhouette grumbled in annoyance. Even when asleep, Theodore Erzem is still a force to be reckoned with.
"Tsk, there's no use crying over spilled milk. What's the next move?" the other voice asked. The silhouette looked at the large telescope pointing northeast.
"There's a silver lining to the Tower's dormancy," the silhouette smirked, "Each Tower guards a relic related to each of the nine Archetypes. The relic from the Maiden's Tower has gone missing, so we'll take advantage of that."
"We find the [Maiden's Manuscript]. I don't care if we have to kill the person who currently possesses it. As long as the administrators do not get their hands on it yet, we still have a chance."
"That's only a supplementary mission. Don't forget why we're here," the other voice said. "If you want that 'thing' so badly, just take it. Professor Erzem's office shouldn't be attracting any people unless they know just how important that 'thing' is," the silhouette said.
That must be the other reason why people directly from the Empire are defensive. But they're too late. Should they get the [Manuscript] as well, it'd be controlling the school and the Empire with blackmail. An opportunity like this cannot go to waste.