Chapter 036:

“So you are saying that he killed himself?” Ike asked.

“Like I’ve been saying for the past half an hour, yes, the suspicious student took his own life after I confronted him,”

“Explain again how he did so,” Ike commanded monotonously as he stroked his chubby chin.

Holding back the desperate desire to pull on the man’s many chins, Alexander sighed before repeating his story for the umpteenth time.

He remained truthful for the most part while omitting some details and embellishing others.

Ike nodded along and scribbled some notes down rather studiously.

‘I wonder how much of this is just him trying to get back at me?’ Alexander wondered, rolling his eyes before wincing in pain.

From the moment he had woken up, his jaw had been killing him for some reason.

…………………………………………………………………

“I understand. I will personally apologize to His Highness Clive for overstepping on his authority,” Alec announced formally to the two figures facing him.

To others he was an impressive figure, being a core member of Iron-wall’s magic tower at such a young age, but to the people before him, he was nothing but a brat; and he knew that well.

“It is good that you understand,” The headmaster replied with an equally solemn tone as his calm eyes reflected the young magician’s figure back.

Sitting beside her grandfather, Lindsy was biting her lip with an unwilling expression plastered across her face; it was clear that she was very much against the idea.

She wanted to say something multiple times, but every time she opened her mouth to speak, the awe-inspiring sight of Minerva smashing her way through earthen dragons flashed in her mind.

A spell of awkward silence descended as the three paused to think briefly.

“Did the assailants have any unique traits that would make them easier to identify in the future?” Alec finally spoke.

Lindsy shuddered as she thought back to the encounter from a few hours ago. Despite multiple high-grade magicians joining hands in attacking him, the grotesque young-looking man seemed immortal, regenerating from every injury with ease. If it weren’t for the fact that the man left of his own accord after some time…Lindsy wasn’t sure what they would have had to do.

The headmaster was silent for a while before sighing after noticing Lindsy’s state.

“Our fellow teachers from Graveclaws will be handling the matter concerning the assailants,”

His deep, and aged voice spoke calmly.

Lindsy was about to speak up when she was interrupted by her grandfather’s raised hand.

“Rather, we should focus our efforts on something else, you see, it was not one group of assailants, but two,”

Both Lindsy’s and Alec’s eyes opened widely.

“Though we are still unfamiliar with one of the groups, the other, we know all too well. The Iron Wolves,”

The moment the duo heard the name, bells rang in their minds. The Iron Wolves were a club of influential members of Iron-Wall society, only what distinguished them from the rest was their strong nationalist beliefs. Most notably, it was this particular group of people who most strongly pushed against the construction of Union Academy.

“So Captain Commander Nox…” Lindsy asked.

“Yes, the reason he and the two kings left the academy was to deal with an attack on the Lehman territory,”

Alec nodded his head, ‘Marquis Lehman is known for his fondness of people from Graveclaws, going so far as to accept refugees. If I remember correctly, his territory has the highest concentration of foreigners. An attack on his territory would be in line with the goals of the Iron Wolves.

For her part, Lindsy merely sighed, though she disagreed with the methods employed by the Iron Wolves, she did empathize with their message.

“What of the Moore child,” She asked her grandfather, looking to change the subject.

At this, the headmaster laid back in his chair and allowed his eyes to drift toward the ceiling. “Yet another issue we unfortunately have little control over,” His aged voice sounded bitter. “In the evening, the board shall meet and discussions will be had concerning student Moore,”

“I for one am against the idea of him continuing in Unity. It is clear that he has no control over his power and will undoubtedly present a danger to the other students,” Lindsy remarked, looking toward Alec who nodded his head in agreement.

“I understand your viewpoint, Lindsy, make sure you are vocal in tonight’s meeting. As for what I think…” The headmaster closed his eyes as King Seeker’s words rolled about his mind, “I think I might dare to be a bit more idealistic,”

…………………………………………………………………

“Greetings to the bandit,” Vice Captain Jeremy spoke with a mocking smile at the approaching Dirk.

“Greetings, Vice Captain Jeremy. I was called upon by Captain Rosenthal,”

“Indeed, he’ll be in his office, careful though, he’s in a bad mood,”

Dirk nodded before opening the door leading to Captain Rosenthal’s office. He grimaced after noticing that Jeremy followed behind looking like a playful cat enjoying a show.

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Sitting behind the desk set in the center of the room was a man, stout in stature, with intimidating bearing. His fat failed to completely conceal the layer of well-built muscle adorning his body and his graying hair failed to completely fade its golden hue.

Dirk gulped, recalling memories of his youth.

“Sit down, the both of you,” He commanded easily as he closed the book he had been reading. He eyed his men for a moment before resuming. “I’m sure you two have heard by now the news concerning Unity Acadamy and Lehman’s territory.

The two men sitting across from him nodded.

“Good, then I will make this brief. The incident at the academy was perpetrated by three individuals belonging to two factions. Of these parties, what concerns me now is the Iron Wolves,”

Dirk flinched at the name while Jeremy grimaced.

Captain Rosenthal watched his men’s body language for a moment before his eyes drifted toward a crystal he had on his desk. Within the crystal, a moment he held dearly replayed over and over. His daughter, then six and more cute than beautiful was wielding a sword as she flailed about merrily claiming to become a knight as strong as her father.

“Captain,” Jeremy nudged.

“Captain Commander Nox will oversee the investigation regarding the attacks on Unity and the Lehman territory. I do not need to tell you what the results of this investigation will yield,”

“Yield? We’ll be lucky if we hear anything back. Everyone knows about the relations had between the primary troops and the Iron Wolves,” Jeremy said with a scoff. “Even if Captain Commander Nox were willing to be impartial, I do not doubt in my mind that Sebastian and or Julian will have something to say about the matter,”

Captain Rosenthal nodded at Jeremy’s words before fixing his gaze on Dirk. “So we are all in agreement that those bastards from the Iron Wolves are most likely going to walk free despite muddying my daughter’s pride. What say you, bandit?”

Jeremy also looked over, equal parts intrigued and amused.

Dirk understood what his master was asking of him. It was for this reason that he had pulled him and his brothers out of the woods.

“I say…” He paused, finding the words, “Let’s have a chat with them ourselves,”

…………………………………………………………………

Prince Clive Dune’s Point of View:

Iron-Wall palace was impressive in both size and appearance and among its many halls, they currently occupied the second best, the first obviously belonging to King Gregory.

Clive felt his father’s gaze upon him and he struggled not to look back at the man. He stood a step below his seated father beside Vice Captain Commander Gunther.

As for the Captain Commander herself, she stood before them in front of a group of boys who were kneeling.

It was clear by the fact that bloodied bandages covered most of their bodies, that the boys were still gravely injured yet here they were, away from the necessary comfort of a good bed.

‘Idiots,’ Clive thought grimly. He knew all of the boys standing before them but still his eyes couldn’t help but be drawn to one in particular: Zackary Moore kneeled in the center with his head bowed so low you could not see his eyes. His childish appearance appealed to one’s heart especially so when considering that his bandages were considerably more bloody than those of his peers.

Yet it was this same harmless-looking youth who wreaked havoc upon his newly introduced classmates.

Clive felt a shiver slither down his spine remembering the boy’s frightening form as it tore into anything that stood before it. It was not the first time that Zackery transformed but this time it was different. Not only was he stronger than ever before, but he also lasted much longer.

In the background, Clive barely registered Captain Commander Eursela’s voice as she recounted the incident in further detail.

Clive’s feelings toward Zackery were shallow yet complex and varied. Shallow in depth as he did not interact much with the boy but complex in that he understood the boy’s plight. Born a monster not of your own will but forced to carry that burden as if it were. This young man had watched his mother die before his eyes and heard as his father was broken repeatedly.

Though he could not fully sympathize as he did not have a beast lurking in his bowels, he understood just fine. His own beast bore a crown.

“After the confrontation with student Timothy Baek, the assailant dislodged a poisoned tooth from his maw and swallowed, taking his own life. According to Professor Ike’s interrogation of student Baek, the assailant had not divulged anything of worth before killing himself,” Captain Commander Eursela said in a voice too bored to be proper.

“This flute was acquired from the dead body by student Baek,” The Mad Bear, Professor Minerva spoke next as she lifted an ancient-looking flute.

“After being examined by the shamans, it can be confirmed that this flute triggered the beast’s awakening,” Eursela continued, “Student Baek was searched, and nothing else related was found,”

“This flute, coupled with the descriptions of the second assailant provided by Professor Minerva has all but confirmed our suspicions, my lord,”

“The Protected Ones,” King Henry’s stern and heavy voice rang out for the first time since the meeting started.

Eursela nodded her head lightly. She took the flute from Minerva’s hand and climbed the stairs before kneeling in front of the king with both hands offering him the artifact.

King Henry took the flute and regarded it impassively.

‘Is it Ivory? No, it’s bone; old ones at that,’ Clive deduced from the brief glimpses he snuck.

A brief silence fell as the king’s people waited for him to speak.

“Mike of house Daniels,” He finally spoke.

“Y-yes, your majesty!” One of the kneeling boys whimpered, barely raising his head.

“You have failed your mission entrusted upon you by your superiors, I leave your punishment to your parents,” Mike sagged from the pressure, his body now fully lying on the floor.

“I thank Your Majesty!” Marquise Daniels spoke hurriedly, bowing deeply.

King Henry nodded. He did not speak directly to the other boys, but their parents thanked him as well.

Finally, his gaze rested on Moore.

Clive braced himself as did everyone else. Throughout the entirety of the meeting, he had not once even so much as spared a glance at the boy, but now he regarded him steadily as if just now acknowledging his presence.

Moore’s head remained lowered but Clive saw him shivering nonetheless.

“Moore,” The king spoke.

Zackery shivered intensely for a moment before raising his head hesitantly and tiredly. He still did not dare to meet the king’s eyes.

“You have gravely injured your handler. You have attacked the youths of a kingdom we seek to partner with. You have besmirched your family and my kingdom with your distasteful actions and above all else…you have lost,”

“...” Zackery did not reply, merely regarding the ground beneath him with hollow eyes.

“Look at me,”

The silence intensified.

Clive clenched his gloved hand, trying to rid himself of his fear.

“Moore, recall that you are your father’s son, and look at me,” King Henry’s voice now held a certain pressure, forcing everyone to avert their gaze.

Clive was thankful for the fact that he was facing away from his father.

On the ground, Zackery finally stirred as he lifted his lifeless head further and held the king’s gaze.

“Tell me. Why do you still deserve to draw breath,”

Zackery’s breathing became ragged but still, he desperately maintained eye contact even when everyone else had already looked away.

“O-one more time,” He finally spoke; his voice was garbled as if he had not spoken in years. After uttering the plea he lowered his head once more.

Minerva sighed and Eursela’s eyes grew sharp as she unhooked her sheathed sword and placed it beneath the boy’s chin, raising his head once more.

King Henry did not react to the boy’s plea, he merely sat on his throne as still as stone.

The silence built once more and just as Clive began squirming in anxiety, his father finally moved.

Unexpectedly he seemed to remember the flute in his hand and, surprising everyone, he lifted it to his mouth.