Today was different for Raven. For the first time since her enrollment, she found herself in the same class as her older sister, Celia. While it was comforting in a way, it was also a complete disaster in others.
"Raven! Why don't you look happier? Your older sister is now in the same class as you!"
"Raven, are you even listening?"
"Raven, there's no need to act so shy!"
Celia's relentless pestering echoed in Raven's ears, making it nearly impossible for her to focus. She clenched her jaw, forcing herself to tune back into Professor Grayheim's lecture. The elderly professor was currently droning on about the intricacies of mana amplification and how Dualists integrated magic with weaponry.
Unfortunately, none of it was registering. Celia's constant teasing wasn't helping.
"Celia Vermillion!" Professor Grayheim's voice thundered through the classroom, causing every student to sit up straighter.
Celia froze, her previous confidence replaced by a sheepish expression. "Y-Yes, Professor?"
"Are you talking during my lesson?" His tone was stern, his piercing gaze fixed on her.
"Apologies, Professor," Celia replied, her shoulders stiffening.
The professor's stern expression relaxed, replaced by a calculating smile. "Very well, then. Since you seem to have so much energy to spare, why don't you join me for a demonstration?"
Celia blinked, caught off guard. "A demonstration?"
"Yes," he said, gesturing toward the front of the classroom. "I was just about to showcase how Dualists integrate magic and physical prowess. You're a Dualist yourself, correct? This should be an excellent opportunity to demonstrate your skills."
Celia hesitated for a moment before nodding. "Of course, Professor."
As she walked toward the front of the class, Raven frowned. Something about the professor felt...off. His eyes had an unsettling gleam, as if this demonstration had a purpose beyond mere education. Raven's instincts prickled.
"Now," Professor Grayheim said, handing Celia a standard training sword while unsheathing his own. "Let's begin with a basic demonstration: weapon amplification."
Fire magic erupted from his blade, coating it in brilliant orange flames. With a swift motion, he swung at Celia. She met his strike with ease, her own sword clashing against his in a shower of sparks.
The class watched in awe as the professor walked them through various techniques, each attack slightly more complex than the last. Despite Celia's nervousness, she kept up with every demonstration, her movements fluid and precise.
But Raven's unease only grew. Her sharp eyes caught something the others didn't—the tiniest cracks forming along the edge of Celia's sword.
Strange… a standard training sword shouldn't be breaking this easily.
Her eyes narrowed as the pieces fell into place. The professor's earlier strikes had been calculated, deliberately designed to weaken the blade. His final demonstration would shatter the sword entirely, leaving Celia vulnerable. And when the inevitable happened, he would likely blame the academy's equipment for the mishap, absolving himself of any responsibility.
Raven's heart raced.
"Now, for the final demonstration," Professor Grayheim announced, his voice laced with an edge of excitement. His blade flared with intense flames, the fire dancing wildly along its edge. "Dualists can combine physical attacks with magical offense to create devastating techniques. Watch closely."
He lunged forward, his flaming blade arcing downward in a powerful strike.
Celia didn't flinch. She raised her sword confidently, ready to block the attack. But Raven's eyes were fixed on the cracks, now spreading dangerously across the blade.
It won't hold.
Before she could think, Raven was already moving.
The moment the professor's blade connected, a plume of smoke exploded from the impact, obscuring the front of the classroom. Gasps and murmurs erupted from the students.
When the smoke cleared, the scene left everyone stunned.
Standing between Celia and the professor was Raven, her hand gripping a dark blade that hadn't been there before. What had started as a simple pen was now a sleek katana, its edges shimmering with dark energy.
Behind her was Lumina Aurelis, golden light radiating from her as she formed a protective barrier around herself and Celia.
"Professor Grayheim," Raven said, her voice calm but icy, "what exactly do you think you're doing?"
The classroom fell silent. The students stared, their confusion and awe mirrored in Celia's wide eyes. Two members of the Enforcement Council had intervened in what was supposed to be a simple demonstration.
The professor, however, didn't falter. His expression was smooth, his tone unbothered. "I was simply demonstrating the techniques of a Dualist. Nothing more, Miss Vermillion."
"Is that so?" Raven's tone was sharp. Her dark blade pulsed faintly, its energy swirling ominously. "Then perhaps you can explain why the sword you gave my sister was already damaged."
The professor's eyes flickered, a split-second crack in his composure. "Damaged? I assure you, all training equipment provided by the academy is—"
"Enough with the lies," Raven interrupted, her voice cutting through his excuses like a blade. "The cracks in that sword didn't appear during your demonstration. They were already there. You planned this, didn't you?"
Gasps rippled through the classroom.
"Planned?" The professor chuckled, though there was a nervous edge to it. "You're mistaken, Miss Vermillion. I would never endanger a student—"
"Then why were your earlier strikes so carefully calculated?" Lumina interjected, her voice steady and calm. "Enough to weaken the blade, but not enough to break it until your final attack?"
The professor's lips pressed into a thin line, his demeanor now tense.
Raven stepped forward, her blade still drawn. "Let me make this clear, Professor. If you ever try something like this again, I won't stop at defending my sister. I'll make sure you answer for it."
For the first time, Professor Grayheim looked uneasy. He was a seasoned instructor, accustomed to commanding respect and maintaining control in any situation. Yet now, standing before Raven Vermillion, his usual confidence wavered.
There was something unnerving about her. Her gaze bore into him—not the uncertain or deferential eyes of a student but something far more primal. In those crimson eyes, he saw no hesitation, no fear.
It was the gaze of a predator, calm and unrelenting, regarding him not as an authority figure but as prey.
What the hell is she? he thought, beads of sweat forming at his temples.
Behind Raven, Celia watched the unfolding scene, her emotions swirling. She was shocked, yes, but also grateful—and a little awed. She had always known her younger sister was strong, but this? This was something different altogether.
The air in the classroom grew heavier, the tension palpable. No one dared to speak, their breaths held as if even the smallest noise might shatter the fragile stillness.
Then, the sharp sound of footsteps echoed down the hallway. The door to the classroom swung open with a deliberate creak, revealing none other than Headmistress Caldren.
She stepped inside, her tall figure imposing, her piercing blue eyes cutting through the lingering smoke and silence. Her gaze swept over the scene—the broken training sword on the ground, the scorch marks on the floor, the professor's tense posture, and Raven standing at the center of it all with her dark blade still shimmering faintly in her hand.
"It seems I've arrived at an interesting moment," she said, her tone calm but laden with authority. Her eyes narrowed slightly as they locked onto Professor Grayheim. "Professor, care to explain what's happened here?"
Grayheim stiffened, his unease now fully apparent. "Headmistress, I was conducting a demonstration for the class, showcasing Dualist techniques. There appears to have been... a misunderstanding."
"A misunderstanding?" Caldren repeated, her voice carrying a subtle edge. "It looks to me as if this demonstration nearly ended in catastrophe. And I assume that broken sword isn't standard issue?"
The professor opened his mouth to respond, but Raven spoke first.
"Headmistress," she said, stepping forward, her voice steady. "This wasn't a misunderstanding. The professor deliberately gave Celia a damaged weapon, ensuring it would break under pressure. His final attack could have seriously injured her."
Murmurs rippled through the classroom as students exchanged shocked glances.
Grayheim's face darkened. "That's a serious accusation, Miss Vermillion. Do you have any evidence to support such a claim?"
Raven's gaze didn't waver. "The evidence is in the sword's condition. Its cracks didn't appear during the demonstration—they were already there when it was handed to Celia. Your earlier attacks were calculated to weaken it further."
Lumina stepped forward, her calm demeanor lending weight to Raven's words. "I noticed it too, Headmistress. The blade was already compromised when the professor gave it to her."
Headmistress Caldren's expression remained unreadable as her eyes flicked back to Grayheim. "Professor, do you deny these claims?"
Grayheim hesitated, the pause damning in its length. "Headmistress, I assure you, I would never endanger a student intentionally. If there was an issue with the equipment, it must have been an oversight in maintenance—"
"Enough," Caldren interrupted, her voice firm. "I'll determine the truth of the matter myself. For now, I want this matter brought to my office immediately."
She glanced at the students still frozen in their seats. "Class is dismissed for today. Everyone, return to your dormitories."
The room erupted in hushed whispers and hurried movements as the students gathered their belongings and filed out, casting lingering glances at Raven, Celia, and Lumina.
Once the classroom was empty, Caldren fixed her gaze on the four of them—Raven, Celia, Lumina, and Grayheim.
"You four, come with me to my office," she said, her tone leaving no room for argument.
Raven nodded, her katana dissolving into dark wisps of mana before vanishing entirely. She placed a reassuring hand on Celia's shoulder, who looked at her with a mixture of gratitude and concern.
The group of four—Raven, Celia, Lumina, and Professor Grayheim—walked in silence behind Headmistress Caldren as she led them to her office. The atmosphere was tense, each step echoing ominously through the corridor.
Once inside, Caldren gestured for everyone to take a seat. Her office was grand yet minimalistic, lined with towering bookshelves and adorned with a large window that bathed the room in soft light. At the center stood an imposing oak desk, behind which the Headmistress seated herself.
"Now," Caldren began, folding her hands neatly on the desk, her piercing blue eyes scanning each of them, "I want a clear explanation of what happened during that demonstration. We'll start with you, Raven."
Raven sat upright, meeting Caldren's gaze without flinching. "During the final demonstration, I noticed something off about the weapon Professor Grayheim handed to my sister. It had visible cracks even before he began. His earlier attacks seemed calculated to further weaken the blade so that when his final, stronger strike landed, it would shatter. If I hadn't intervened, Celia could've been seriously injured."
Caldren's eyes shifted to Lumina. "Do you corroborate Raven's observation?"
Lumina nodded, her voice calm but firm. "Yes, Headmistress. I noticed the cracks as well. The blade wasn't just worn—it looked deliberately compromised. I took action alongside Raven to ensure Celia's safety."
Celia, sitting beside them, looked down at her hands before speaking. "It's true. I didn't notice the cracks myself at first, but now that I think about it, the sword felt... off. It wasn't balanced properly either."
The Headmistress's gaze then settled on Professor Grayheim, who had remained silent throughout. His expression was strained, his composure visibly fraying.
"Professor," Caldren said, her voice sharp, "this is a serious accusation. What do you have to say in your defense?"
Grayheim straightened in his chair, his tone measured but defensive. "Headmistress, I assure you, any issues with the sword were unintentional. I selected it randomly from the equipment rack before the lesson. If it was damaged, then it must have been due to negligence in the academy's maintenance protocols, not any action on my part."
Caldren's eyes narrowed slightly. "Negligence in maintenance? Unlikely. All equipment is inspected regularly, especially those used for demonstrations."
Raven leaned forward slightly, her voice cold. "If it was a mistake, Professor, why didn't you stop when the cracks became visible? You're skilled enough to have noticed them mid-demonstration."
Grayheim stiffened but kept his tone steady. "I was focused on showcasing techniques to the class. My intention was to educate, not to harm. I had no reason to believe the sword would break."
"Your intention?" Caldren repeated, her voice cutting through his defense. "Raven's intervention suggests otherwise. I want to believe my staff would never endanger a student, but the evidence doesn't paint a favorable picture, Professor."
The room fell silent for a moment, tension thickening.
"I'll be conducting a thorough investigation," Caldren continued. "The damaged sword will be inspected, and I'll speak with the maintenance staff to confirm its condition prior to today. Until then, Professor Grayheim, you're suspended from teaching. Leave your duties to an interim instructor."
Grayheim's jaw tightened, but he nodded stiffly. "Understood, Headmistress."
Caldren turned her attention to the sisters. "Celia, are you hurt?"
"No, Headmistress," Celia said quickly. "Thanks to Raven and Lumina, I'm fine."
"Good." Caldren's expression softened slightly as she addressed Raven and Lumina. "Your quick thinking and teamwork prevented what could've been a disaster. Both of you showed remarkable judgment and composure under pressure. Well done."
Raven and Lumina nodded in unison, though Raven's expression remained stoic.
Caldren stood, signaling the end of the meeting. "You're dismissed. I'll keep you informed as the investigation progresses."
The three students rose and exited the office, leaving Grayheim behind to face Caldren's scrutinizing gaze.