Eryndor stood at the entrance of the grand hearing chamber, his gaze sweeping over the gathered nobles, instructors, and high-ranking officials.
At the far end of the room, seated at an elevated position, was Lord Callius Orwen.
His presence alone confirmed everything. This wasn't a simple disciplinary hearing. This was a power move.
Orwen wanted to discredit him, to have him labeled as reckless a disruptive force unworthy of the Academy and the royal court.
But Orwen had made a mistake.
He assumed Eryndor would walk in unprepared.
Eryndor exhaled slowly, stepping forward.
The game had begun.
The Accusation
The head magistrate, a stern-looking noble in dark robes, cleared his throat.
"Eryndor Valeria," he announced, his voice echoing across the chamber. "You stand accused of unauthorized access to royal archives, an act that violates Academy law and jeopardizes sensitive information."
Murmurs spread through the room. Some students in the audience exchanged glances. Others whispered behind their hands.
Eryndor remained calm.
The magistrate continued. "These are serious charges. If found guilty, your standing in the Academy—and your noble reputation—could be permanently damaged."
Eryndor folded his hands behind his back. "I understand the severity of the accusation."
The magistrate nodded, satisfied with the formal response. "Good. Then let us begin."
He turned to the side. "Lord Callius Orwen, as the primary witness, you may present your case."
All eyes shifted to Orwen.
The noble lord smiled—polite, composed, confident.
A predator playing the role of a concerned noble.
Orwen's Trap
Lord Orwen rose from his seat, stepping forward with the poise of a seasoned politician.
"Honored council," he began, his voice smooth and deliberate. "We stand here today not out of personal vendetta, but out of concern for the integrity of this Academy."
Eryndor resisted the urge to smirk. Lies.
Orwen continued, "The young Lord Valeria, while undoubtedly talented, has shown concerning tendencies recklessness, disregard for tradition, and now, a blatant violation of Academy law."
More whispers.
Eryndor kept his expression neutral.
"This incident," Orwen went on, "is not simply about a student accessing records. It is about discipline. Order. The rule of law. If we do not hold even the most promising students accountable, what example do we set for the kingdom's future?"
He spread his arms dramatically. "I do not call for extreme punishment only fairness. If Lord Valeria had a valid reason for his actions, let him present it now."
He turned, his gaze meeting Eryndor's.
Orwen had set the stage, placing Eryndor in a precarious position. If he defended himself too aggressively, he would look guilty. If he hesitated, he would appear weak.
But Eryndor was already two steps ahead.
Eryndor took a slow breath, stepping forward.
"Lord Orwen, you speak well," he said, his voice carrying through the chamber. "But your argument has one fatal flaw."
Silence.
Even Orwen raised an eyebrow. "Oh?"
Eryndor met his gaze. "You assume I had no reason for accessing the archives."
He turned to the magistrate. "But I did."
The magistrate frowned. "Explain."
Eryndor reached into his coat, pulling out a sealed document—one bearing the royal crest.
"I did not enter the archives out of curiosity," he said. "I did so under the authority of Crown Prince Darius Eldoria."
Gasps filled the chamber.
Even Orwen's expression stiffened for half a second.
Eryndor continued, holding up the document. "This is a royal mandate granted by His Highness himself, authorizing my research into political threats against the crown. It was delivered to me the day before I entered the archives."
The magistrate took the document, scanning it carefully. His eyes widened.
"This seal… this is authentic."
The murmurs grew louder.
Eryndor turned back to Orwen.
"You were quick to accuse me, Lord Orwen," he said smoothly. "Yet had you taken the time to ask before making your claims, you would have realized this was an official investigation."
Orwen's expression remained composed, but Eryndor saw it the slight tension in his jaw.
He had not expected this.
Checkmate
The magistrate turned back to the assembly. "Given this new evidence, it is clear that Lord Valeria did not act unlawfully. The accusations against him are dismissed."
The finality of the words echoed through the chamber.
Eryndor watched as the expressions of the gathered nobles shifted. Some looked impressed. Others intrigued.
But most importantly, Orwen's position had been weakened.
The noble lord sighed dramatically. "It seems I was misinformed." He turned to Eryndor with a polite smile. "My apologies, young Lord Valeria. It appears this was a misunderstanding."
Eryndor smiled back.
"We all make mistakes, Lord Orwen. I just hope next time, you verify your information before making false accusations."
The words were laced with a challenge.
Orwen's eyes flickered. For the briefest moment, the mask slipped revealing the predator underneath.
Then, just as quickly, the mask returned.
With a final nod, Orwen turned and left the chamber.
Eryndor watched him go, his smirk fading.
This wasn't over.
Orwen had lost this round.
But now, the war had truly begun.