Elwin recounted the sequence of events as clearly as he could, mustering his fear, telling absolutely no lie, for he was sure that Headmaster Abraxas would know immediately; all upon his explanation, his vision of violet pierced Elwin’s amber eye and into his soul, searching, divining, evaluating the truth of what was spoken. Behind him, the wide curtained window opened to the sight of the sacred mountain towering above; it was as if DEIA AETERNITAS, the MAHA of all MAHA, was judging him.
When the headmaster spoke, his voice was low and rhythmic, as of a volcano moments before eruption.
“I have heard news from the faculty that you asked for help from Professor Aionia. Is this true?”
“Yes, sir.”
“What have you learnt from her Tanaarship?”
“Of various things sir... of things such as recognizing energy, transferring it from one place to another, to help me improve in the Mahamastra.”
“Is that all?” He raised a single eyebrow, all of his vision still probing Elwin’s soul.
“Um... I –” and Elwin remembered the vow he made to Professor Aionia, and his heart sank to the floor. He grimaced and spoke once more.
“I also learnt that I should never use the power I learn for hate, to never use my power for ignoble purposes.”
There was a pause.
“So you did make the oath.”
“...”
“It is your first time tasked and trusted with a measure of this new power, and this is how you choose to squander it?”
Elwin tried his utmost to stem the squall of tears, now rising, having made evident of his rashness, his betrayal of the promise he made to Professor Aionia, and now that she would learn of his deeds... he would... he would be...
Headmaster Abraxas took a deep breath, and spoke once more.
“Do you know what would have happened if you had committed your actions outside of Aeternitas, in the streets of the wider world?”
“No, sir.”
“You would have been arrested by the Ministry of Order and put on trial for endangering civilian lives.”
“...”
“Are you aware of what sentence is passed if one is found guilty of bringing grievous harm to another, without acceptable reason?”
“...No, sir.”
“Do you see this black metal?”
Headmaster Abraxas raised a thumb-sized piece of pitch-black metal, almost obsidian-like, and handed it to Elwin. And instantly, all feeling from his fingers and hands were drained from him; he could sense no energy of the world nor the Elements with the hand that held it. It was a metal similar to those within his father’s time capsule.
“This is Tenebriton. It renders one unable to control the Elements.”
“...”
“If one is found guilty, this metal is ground into a powder and administered as punishment. Can you hypothesize as to what it does to a person?”
“No, sir.”
“It forever confiscates one’s ability to perform the Mahamastra. One is made to no longer possess the blessing of the FOUNDERS, or that of DEIA AETERNITAS.”
The terror of such a punishment ballooned in Elwin’s head. He found himself hard to breathe.
“You know what a person who cannot control the Elements is regarded, do you not?”
“Yes, sir... it’s an... they are... considered not belonging to humankind.”
“Correct.”
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“Please, sir, I’ve done a terrible thing, and I do not shy away from the consequences of my deeds. But please, do not... please, allow me to redeem myself!” Elwin pleaded feebly, his hands together in a prayer, all of his anger and rage now extinguished like a candle, with only soot as its remains.
“Understand that your actions today is tantamount to expulsion from the Academy for betraying its values. I am hard, but I am fair; I shall listen to your explanation before I met out the appropriate discipline.”
And so, over the course of an hour, Elwin meticulously described his relation with Lucian, of the injustices done to his father’s memory, of his experiences being boot by Lucian’s poison at school, all of his words enunciated clearly with his life at Aeternitas on the line; a single word threatening to bring down the knife just above it. He specifically recounted each of some half hundred examples from his life, of his fears, of his anger and experiences, Lucian beating him and abusing him through force and word at every opportunity.
Headmaster Abraxas listened intently, his eyes never betraying any hint of inner thought other than incisiveness. Elwin tried to explain that it was these series of past grievances that led him to his duel with Lucian; it was to protect his father and his legacy.
Finally, the headmaster announced his judgement.
“Elwin, the actions of a person are judged by the results it produces. It is not judged in law by the intention of the man, or the purpose of the man, although it would be dear to be judged by the latter, for who cannot sympathize with the man who seeks to do good, but is branded otherwise by civilization?”
“...”
“But how the law works, and how the world actually is, has absolutely no concern for your intentions. That is because what one man thinks is noble and just may be the opposite for another, and for countless others. Are you willing to slaughter half the world to impose your vision of truth upon the Earth?”
His mother and brother came to mind, as did countless people in his memory.
“...No, sir. I wouldn’t.”
“Correct. Because if one tried to enpound their wills in such a way, civilization would fail to function. Indeed, such a time has existed when all the world was crushed to its base, its people no more than refugees.”
“When was that, sir?” Elwin voiced quietly.
“Before our Age.”
“But it is unfair, sir... so unfair... what of the peoples who perished in anguish, knowing full well in their heart that they had the best intentions in the world?”
And with that question, Headmaster Abraxas lowered his head and let out a long, deep sigh.
“Civilization is about compromises, one being to another. It is not possible for all desires to be accomplished, because desires conflict.”
“...But I do know that my father was good, sir. I know it. It’s because of the lett –”
Headmaster Abraxas held up his hand, and Elwin stopped immediately.
“I am aware of your father’s contributions to the Republics. You have no need to convince me so. But how will you convince others of the truth you possess?”
“Through –”
“Through destruction and revenge, as of today? Through selfish violence?”
“It was... it was not...”
“The Academy Hospital reports five injured, three boys and two girls. Two of them report serious contusions from impact. All of them were struck by your water when you not only threw them off of you, but rent them out of the way, were they not?”
“Yes, sir.”
“Then you understand this. No matter the reasons for bringing sense to Lucian, the results you produced are clear. Your fellow Artens were unequivocally injured, almost seriously so. All those who looked upon you in that hallway looked upon you with terror and fear as you unleashed the Mahamastra.”
Elwin drooped his head. There was no argument to be made against such an indisputable fact.
“Would your classmates be convinced of your attempt to do good?”
“No, sir,” said Elwin, shaking his head.
“So what must be the step forward?”
“Earning back the trust of the Academy.”
The headmaster leaned back.
“But sir – ?”
“Speak your mind.”
“What –” he stammered, “– what of Lucian?”
“Elwin,” he sighed, his eyes locking onto Elwin’s, “A fundamental lesson in life is realizing and understanding that great many people exist. Not everyone shall like you or love you. And with great frequency, it shall be impossible to discern the reasons as to why, which will fill your heart with anguish.”
“...”
“But should you stray down the path of correcting every single one of them, in delivering justice to those that hate you, then you will be indistinguishable from that hatred you seek to annul. Is that who you as Elwin Eramir wish to become?”
“No, sir. I understand.”
“As for Lucian, I have made clear that he is not to accuse or slander the effort of any person, including you, even if he believes his words are just. As for the rest of his punishment in provoking this fight, I have entrusted it to the judgement of Professor Thales.”
“Yes, sir.”
“But your actions are more serious than Lucian’s, because no matter the provocation, it was you who threw the first swing. And for that reason, I shall be the one to give verdict on your punishment.”
And at the end of the headmaster’s statement, a single knock interrupted the oaken gates.
“Enter.”
The gates opened with care, and in stepped Professor Aionia.
She looked exhausted, her eyes carrying the weight of several sleepless nights; her cape singed in many places, as if she was in the midst of battle or arduous travel moments prior.
“You requested my presence, Headmaster?”
“Yes, professor. Elwin, you may explain what happened.”
And Elwin, with horrific shame, his head bowed, explained with exact words the severity of his actions that had transpired that day. He wanted to become a rat and withdraw into a corner at having to admit he betrayed the oath made to Professor Aionia.
He was not the good person he thought he was.
Professor Aionia’s expression darkened with what could only be gleaned as a wringing in her heart, of a mother disheartened by her son. Elwin saw the scar on her left hand still, from the night of the great forge, and at that moment, he wished to not exist.
After the complete story was relayed, she lowered her head, and turned to face the headmaster.
“Now that Professor Aionia has heard of your actions, I am certain she shall not object to the punishment that I have come to decide.”
Elwin tried in vain to swallow. His throat was dry.
“Something very dear shall be taken from you, until the day you earn the trust of others.”
“...and what must I give up, sir?”
“Your Quan.”