The Academy's Unyielding Justice
"...Then, to conclude, I shall now announce the disciplinary outcomes for those involved in last week's violent incident. First: Eugene, first-year, Class F. Three violations of academy regulations have been confirmed. In accordance with procedure, I will now formally notify him of every charge."
A clear, high-toned voice rang through the Student Council's grand conference hall, which had fallen deathly silent. On the dais at the front of the chamber, a silver-haired girl stood reading from a long parchment unfurled wide before her, while the students in the gallery sat in their seats, holding their breath as they waited for her to continue.
"St. Clifford Academy Regulations, Article 3, Clause 4: All unauthorized private duels on academy grounds are forbidden. Clause 7: All acts of violence and private sanctions between students are forbidden. Clause 12: The use or destruction of any academy facility for personal gain is forbidden. The above constitute the regulatory violations confirmed on the basis of witness testimony and the circumstances at the scene. Eugene. Do you admit to these violations?"
Having finished the recitation, the girl shifted her gaze to the blond boy seated before her.
"I admit them. But—!"
A look of indignation crossed the blond boy's face as he listened. He seemed about to protest, but the girl's businesslike voice cut him off at once.
"You will be given an opportunity to rebut at the very end. I shall now proceed to announce the Disciplinary Committee's ruling."
She cleared her throat a couple of times, then continued in a tone even more grave than before.
Eugene. As a member of the most storied and honorable St. Clifford Academy, your conduct in violating numerous regulations and thereby diminishing the dignity of this institution cannot be called a light offense.
However, taking into account that the opposing party first committed acts in violation of the regulations, that you faced a situation of one against many, and, most decisively, that your actions were the unavoidable result of coming to the aid of a fellow student in distress, this Committee hereby sentences you to seventy-two hours of on-campus community service.
"Ah...!"
Whether from dread of the coming punishment or from a sense of injustice, the boy's expression had been dark throughout — but at the girl's announcement, his face brightened as if the gloom had never been there at all.
"However, the service hours sentenced today must all be completed within the current semester. Should you fail to fulfill them, you may be subject to additional sanctions. That is all."
The blond boy lifted his head and looked at the girl standing before him.
"You've been through a lot, Eugene. Balancing community service with your academic schedule may prove difficult, but I believe you can do it. I'll help however I can, so let's do our best together."
A gentle voice spilled from the girl's throat — one so warm it was hard to believe it belonged to the same person who had just been reading the verdict in such a rigid, formal tone. And as if to prove it was no pretense, a benevolent, warm smile filled her entire face.
"Senior Patricia! This is absurd!"
"He's right!! How can you show such favoritism to a commoner like that—"
"Silence."
At the clamor from the opposite side, Patricia Austin turned her gaze in that direction. Three boys entered her sight as she turned her head — one with red hair, one with silver, and one with black. Unlike the red-haired and silver-haired boys making such a racket, the black-haired boy of impressive build simply sat in silence, listening to her ruling.
"From the moment of enrollment until graduation, every student of this academy is granted equal legal standing. Whatever your prior station may have been is of no consequence whatsoever. Did the Headmaster not tell you as much at the entrance ceremony? That the only thing that matters here is ability."
The smile and the gentle voice of a moment ago had vanished somewhere, and in an instant she had reverted to her businesslike tone and an expression devoid of feeling.
"But—!!"
"I believe I told you to be quiet? I will now continue announcing the remaining disciplinary outcomes."
Ignoring the two boys' protests, Patricia resumed reading from the parchment.
It took a moment to adapt to the new reality that had suddenly confronted me. That was only to be expected. From the instant my memories had surfaced, I had no choice but to look upon this world through a gaze more alien than anyone else's.
Still, perhaps thanks to the brief explanation I had received beforehand, collecting myself didn't take as long as I might have thought. As the girl continued her announcements, my mind gradually began to settle into this new world.
"Scott Thompson, first-year, Class C. Five violations of academy regulations have been confirmed. In accordance with procedure..."
"Article 3, Clause 4... Clause 7... Clause 12... Article 4, Clause 1..."
"Accordingly, this Student Council sentences Scott Thompson to a two-week suspension and ninety-six hours of on-campus community service..."
The silver-haired girl read through the parchment without a single stumble. The silver-haired boy who had been raising his voice only moments ago lowered his head in resignation the instant he heard his own sentence.
"Philip Osborne, first-year, Class C. Four violations of academy regulations have been confirmed..."
"Article 3, Clause 4... Article 4, Clause 1... Article 4, Clause 3..."
"Accordingly... Philip Osborne is sentenced to... a two-week suspension and seventy-two hours of on-campus community service..."
The red-haired boy, too, seemed to have given up on any further self-defense. Given their present circumstances, it wasn't a bad choice. Continuing to protest when the charges had already been conclusively proven would have been no different from begging for a heavier sentence.
"Last. First-year, Class B. Edwin Reed."
The girl named Patricia was calling a student's name.
Edwin Reed... I'm certain I've seen that name somewhere before.
The girl glanced in my direction, then resumed reading from the parchment.
"Burned Les's hair away with a fireball, leaving burns across his scalp..."
"Used a cutting spell prohibited against persons on Martin's left ear..."
"Under the pretext of a sparring match, used a live blade to inflict a laceration on Eldridge requiring one week of recovery..."
"During outdoor class, in a place beyond the professor's sight, subjected Kimmons to a group beating..."
The contents the girl was reciting appeared to be the charges committed by this person named Edwin. The further she read through the parchment, the more the silver-haired girl's face darkened with deep disgust. The jurors watching, too, each frowned or sighed, making their own distaste plain.
"...The above constitute the nine regulatory violations ultimately confirmed. Edwin Reed. Do you admit to these violations of academy regulations?"
"..."
Having finished the recitation, the girl was calling Edwin's name again. And it really wasn't an unfamiliar name. Where had I heard this... ah.
"Edwin Reed?"
"..."
It came to me. Edwin Reed. My memory was a little hazy, but he was definitely a character from a book and a game I had been reading. He'd appeared early in the story, I was sure of it... wait.
"Edwin Reed!!"
"Yes?"
A sudden loud voice, accompanied by a piercing gaze directed my way, made me answer before I could think. And when I followed the source of that gaze, I found a silver-haired beauty sending a look of pure hostility straight at me.
Why is that girl looking at me like that? And why is she calling me Edwin Reed? My name is...
All manner of thoughts raced through my mind, and I soon understood. Why the girl was calling me by that name. Why she was glaring at me. And... just what kind of person I had become in this place.
"Compose yourself. Should you face this Committee with that attitude again, it will be judged as a slight against the Student Council's authority, and you may be subject to severe additional punishment. Bear that in mind."
"...I will bear it in mind. And I admit to the violations as well."
I know this scene. I'm certain of it.
"Haa... Then I shall continue with the announcement of the disciplinary outcome."
The silver-haired girl let out a deep sigh, then began reading from the parchment once more.
Edwin Reed. Having violated numerous academy regulations and thereby diminished the dignity of the school; having inflicted various acts of violence upon fellow students in order to satisfy his own sadistic impulses; and having shown, despite this, not the slightest sign of remorse — the nature of these offenses being exceedingly grave — this Committee, taking such points into account, hereby sentences you to a sixty-day suspension and demotion from Class B to Class D.
Upon your return, your studies shall continue in Class D, and any subsequent promotion or demotion of class shall be determined according to your own academic achievement. That is all.
"..."
"Edwin Reed. Do you have a rebuttal?"
"...I do not."
At my meek reply, the girl and the Student Council officers seated as jurors behind her all wore looks of bewilderment. I couldn't say I didn't understand their reaction. Had it been the original Edwin Reed, he never would have accepted the sentence so quietly.
"...Then, with this, I hereby adjourn the Disciplinary Committee. Furthermore, the sentences announced today will take effect immediately after five o'clock this evening. Should any student who has received a suspension be found remaining on academy grounds thereafter, they may be subject to additional sanctions. That will be all."
The look of bewilderment lasted only a moment. The silver-haired girl, Patricia, finished what she had to say and declared the Disciplinary Committee adjourned.
The students rose from their seats and began chatting among themselves. And the handsome blond boy, Eugene, approached Patricia as well. Taking both her hands in his, he said something to her. Caught off guard by his sudden approach, Patricia couldn't get a word out — she simply flustered, and her face even seemed a little flushed.
Only when other students drew near did Eugene release her clasped hands and turn to converse with the others as well. Finally freed, she took a step back and fanned her face again and again.
I looked around. To my left and right sat the silver-haired boy and the red-haired boy, both wearing vacant expressions, as if their souls had left them.
Scott Thompson and Philip Osborne. Learning their names only made it more real. The place I was in now was the very beginning of a certain story — and if I wanted to survive in this world, I would have to act.
Edwin Reed. To change the fate that would originally have seen me written out of this place.