Trial (2)
Naturally, there wasn't a single student at Tianis Academy who didn't know Kyle Arden. The blood of the Arden family, the continent's one-of-a-kind dunce, and a notorious delinquent. It would've been weirder if he wasn't famous. And that infamy had only grown in the six months since the trial half a year ago, as more of the crimes he'd committed around the academy came to light.
But lately, his bad reputation had been fading. All thanks to Kyle Arden's recent actions. His behavior and demeanor were so different that people wondered if it was really the same guy, gradually shifting students' perceptions. If things had continued just a little longer, his image might have stayed as just a jerk with a bad personality all the way through graduation.
But now, rumors that had spread about two weeks ago were eating away at the goodwill he'd built up. Tianis Academy was buzzing more than ever, all about one topic: Kyle Arden.
"Hey, you hear about that?"
"Oh, about that senior getting arrested?"
One student sneered. "What senior? The bastard deserves all the shit we can throw at him. You know how many students died in that last incident?"
"Well... still, Ian..."
His voice was way too loud. The girl looked troubled. The student cafeteria was packed. The guy knew it but kept going anyway.
"Don't forget Enri. You know what wiped out our village? Black mages are evil, no matter what anyone says."
"But there's no proof that senior's in league with black mages. Isn't it too soon to judge?"
Another student chimed in. "I've seen him from afar a few times. He looks like a villain with those sharp eyes, just like the rumors, but he didn't seem like the delinquent type up close."
Ian snorted at his friend's words. "You ever see a villain show their true colors right away? They act like normal students, then who knows what they do behind closed doors."
The neighbor who'd turned out to be a black mage's minion back when his village vanished.
"And haven't you heard? They threw him in a holding cell. That pretty much settles it."
Students working at the Student Council Hall were spreading word of Kyle Arden bit by bit.
"...Who knows. Could be locked up for something else."
"Hey, as a friend, I'm telling you—don't defend him so hard. You think people change that fast? Trash is trash..."
In that instant, Ian's body twisted sharply and floated up. Someone yelled at him.
"Don't talk shit about hyungnim if you don't know jack! It's always punks like you...!"
"Well, if it isn't the pride of the Knight Department, Evan. But could you let go of my collar? Hanging with certain people rubbing off on you?"
"You son of a bitch!"
Evan couldn't contain his rage. He clenched his fist to swing, but someone stopped him.
"Evan, cut it out. Too many eyes."
"But Veil! That Ian prick's spouting bullshit...!"
Veil just shook his head. This would only hurt hyungnim's reputation more. Ian, still gripped by the collar and squinting, spoke up.
"You know, Evan? You're under suspicion too. This just makes it worse for you. I don't wanna get tangled up with that delinquent..."
"Ian, this is your warning. Say one more word, and I won't hold back."
A cold, curt line. Veil was a genius beyond doubt, so Ian shut up. Unlike his brother, Veil had the full backing of the family—no point poking the bear.
"You too, knock it off. Let's go."
"Damn it!"
Veil urged him once more, and Evan let go. They moved to a quieter spot.
"Haa... Veil, what now?"
Evan sighed heavily the moment they sat. It'd only been a day, but the mood was sour. All sorts of nonsense rumors were spawning and twisting even now. At this rate, hyungnim would be accused of selling out the country in less than a week. They needed to do something. But no good ideas came, no matter how hard he racked his brain. That frustration gnawed at him.
"You know it too. Hyungnim's... magic skills and knowledge are abnormal. And since it's you, I'll say it—I saw him use black magic at the entrance exam. There's gotta be some connection."
"I thought it was weird too..."
Hyungnim's black magic knowledge was no joke. Once, after a black mage attack, he'd asked a professor about it—all 7th-circle spells or higher. Hyungnim had known them like it was obvious, and his magic knowledge matched. It was suspicious. No one acquires that much in so little time. Even if he'd hidden it on purpose, too many things didn't add up. Evan sometimes wondered where hyungnim's power and knowledge came from.
"So you're just gonna sit on your ass? We know how this ends."
"I know. But there's no way to help hyungnim. The family won't step in either."
Another trial after the one half a year ago. No matter how much he begged, they'd probably refuse. And at the academy, they were just regular students—no status to leverage.
"Haa, fuck. What do we do? Haven't seen Senior Rana either..."
Evan's short lament. Veil, deep in thought, murmured low.
"Well... it's not like there's no one who could help. She's got bad blood with him, but if it's her..."
"Bad blood? Oh! No way!"
Evan caught on and shot up. "Let's go! To the princess!"
"We don't even know where she is. First..."
But Evan ignored him and bolted. Veil sighed softly at the sight.
"Was hyungnim feeling like this too...?"
Looking after a headstrong friend was harder than he'd thought. He suddenly understood why hyungnim was so strict with Evan.
"Haa..."
Veil let out one last sigh and followed.
Meanwhile, at the same time, Rana was in the clock tower of Tianis Library. The clock tower was normally off-limits. The library's system kept it tightly controlled. But it wasn't impossible—with permission from the library spirit, Shasha, entry was allowed.
"Ranaya! Got it!"
With a poof!, Shasha appeared. Behind her floated a paper several times her size.
"Thanks, Shasha. For helping with this."
"Hehe, no prob..."
Shasha floated shyly around Rana.
"Whatcha need the map for?"
The paper was none other than a map of Tianis.
"Yeah, looking for someone."
"Who? That guy?"
Rana shook her head at Shasha's question. "Not Kyle. Just... a villain I wanna find."
"Got it! Like a criminal hunt?"
"Exactly."
It might not be what Shasha thought, but the word fit.
"Shasha, can you leave me alone for a bit?"
"Gotta tidy the library anyway, so I'll be gone. Play later?"
"Thanks. I'll bring almond cookies next time."
"Yay!"
Shasha rubbed her face on Rana's cheek in delight, then vanished with another poof!.
Confirming Shasha gone, Rana unrolled the map and channeled mana to cast a spell. Over a hundred dots appeared on it—positions of familiars scattered across the academy.
"You hearing me?"
The familiars responded. Linking with so many at once was new, but aside from a headache, no issues.
"Kids."
Final check done, Rana called to her familiars.
"Find them. Whoever framed Kyle."
The master's command. Familiars scattered across the academy. Sensations flooded into Rana—through her links, she saw and heard everything they did.
Rana sorted the incoming info and muttered.
"Whoever you are, you messed with the wrong guy."
Daring to touch sweet Kyle.
"No forgiveness."
She'd find them and make them pay.
"Just you wait."
She'd make them regret touching Kyle. Rana's anger echoed through the clock tower.
A day after the investigation flew by. Eat, think, sleep—morning already. Slept fine. Even harsher spots hadn't fazed him before, so the bed was comfy enough. Oh, and food was decent. He'd figured it'd be slop after Sophia the investigator left disappointed, but it was proper. They kept promises.
But post-wakeup, nothing to do. What in this tiny cell? Mana cultivation, basic body training. Even that wrapped in 2-3 hours. Bored as hell.
"Fucking boring. No visitors?"
Staff said no set visiting hours. Friends should've heard by now. Rana, Evan, or Veil first, probably. Closest to him among those involved.
About an hour of spacing out, staff knocked. "Kyle Arden. Visitor."
"Got it."
He prepped and followed to the visiting room. And who waited there...
"Senior, hi~"
"...Why're you first?"
"Huh? I'm number one?"
It was Cloi.
"Yeah. Haa..."