The woman at the back returns a cold glare towards Straf, her arms are crossed and her expression is frigid. Straf smirks at her, and this only seems to whet her glare.

「Were you or the queen at any point aware that the grimoire was here?」

The oldest Federation mage asks, his voice low and tone serious.

「Nope. And I would be surprised if Lia knew. She lured me in with the promise of a cliched-ass magic school. If that was some sort of a plot to recover the grimoire without me knowing… Clever girl.」

Straf shrugs, chuckling a little at the old man.

「…Lia?」

The middle-aged mage beside him asks, glancing at his older fellow, then at Corvus.

「It's uh- It's what Straf calls the queen. A pet name, if you will.」

The headmaster explains, pointing his free hand at Straf while he brushes through his beard with the other one.

「A pet name? For the queen?…」

The old dark-gray bearded battlemage asks, exchanging a narrow-eyed glance with his younger colleague.

「…What exactly is your relationship with the queen?」

He adds as they both turn their eyes to Straf.

「Hmmmmmmm…」

Straf humms loudly as he grimaces, turning his gaze aside to think. It quickly returns to the woman, and he walks around the group of battlemages to meet her at the rear. They watch him with confused glares.

「…I'll tell you if she tells me about her relationships. How about it? Got a boyfriend? Husband?」

He asks, grinning down at her. Her arms remain crossed and her glare remains frigid.

「Improper and impertinent.」

She replies, then quickly glances at the rest of the mages.

「Hmmm? You look like the kind of girl who's waiting for Mr. Right. I don't claim to be one, but I'm definitely Mr. Good Enough. I don't have a mage in my harem yet, and big hat is a little too old-」

Straf says, chuckling with a large grin as he looks at the woman.

「Excuse me, but may you answer the question?」

The young man's smiling face snaps to Straf. His tone is polite, but has a distinct hint of harshness to it. Immediately after asking, his head returns to swiveling about.

「Huuuh? Twerp, I think you haven't been taught not to stick your nose into things that aren't your business. I wasn't talking to you.」

With his hands in his pockets, Straf stomps up to the young man and bends forward a little to better match his height.

「Ironic. Whether I am in a relationship or not is none of your business, Straf Katastrof Vindict.」

The woman chimes in, glaring at Straf as she enunciates his name. He turns his head towards her, then straightens out.

「Hmpf. Single after all, huh? Your choice, but there are very few men who'd appreciate your qualities.」

Straf replies, smirking at her while he scoffs. The woman experiences a brief difficulty maintaining her frigid expression, even blushing a little. He walks back to the front of the group beside Corvus.

「Answer the question.」

The old mage demands, glaring at Straf.

「Make me. I don't have to. You troupe of sad clowns put on big boy pants and now you think your attitude intimidates people…」

He replies, smugly smirking at the Federation battlemage. The whole group's mood grows more and more sour by the minute, and only the young man at the back appears indifferent.

「…The thing is, you should be wearing diapers 'cause all you can do is shit your pants in fury, and send angry letters.」

Straf adds, briefly spreading his hands before returning them back in his pockets.

「Seriously. What are you even here for? Weren't you supposed to search for the vampire? Do I look like one? I don't bite…」

He asks, looking at each of the mages' displeased and outright angered faces.

「…Unless you're into that.」

Straf peeks over their shoulders at the woman behind them, and winks at her. Her frigid expression quickly turns into a scowl, but then she turns her eyes away. She grimaces as her eyes dart aimlessly around.

「I've had quite enough. Answer our questions. Who are you? Where do you come from? Are you native to the Redwing Kingdom, or are you an outsider?…」

The middle-aged man steps forth, sharply glaring at him and speaking in a stern tone.

「We have scarce information on you. You have been registered with the guild since early summer of this year, and we have no previous records or mentions of you…」

The old Federation mage right behind him joins in, also staring at Straf like a hawk. The headmaster's eyes dart between the two parties with a look of discomfort about them beneath his bushy brows.

「…A mystery man of no background suddenly shows up in the middle of a political instability, reclaims the throne in the name of the sole surviving heir, and attains more influence than is reasonable…」

The younger mage continues, while the older one silently nods along.

「…Do you understand how this makes you look? Combined with the queen's rash and unusual actions against the Federation, it almost appears like you are the one at fault.」

He asks, tilting his head with the suspicion palpable in his wary, narrowed eyes.

「Look, big and brutal wars started by the way of chicken sandwiches and a peasant sitting on a bottle… I reserve the right to end them just as abruptly and bizarrely. Also, I don't think about you at all.」

Straf replies with his amused grin turned aside, leaning backwards a little with his hands in his pockets.

「What wars?- No matter… Do you know, or have you met Grand Magus Tolwick?」

「Who?」

「Do not play dumb. The queen's current court mage. Do you know him, or not?」

The old battlemage cuts in with his voice raised, his upper lip twitches in anger. Straf's eyes drift upward for a few seconds as he thinks.

「Ahhhhh… That guy… I don't know him, but yeah, I've seen him here and there. What about him?」

Straf asks, looking at the two in front of him. Another mage steps forward, much younger than the other two.

「Grand Magus Tolwick is a wanted criminal. He committed unspeakable crimes, performing sickening magic experiments during the plague. The queen knowingly hired him.」

A man roughly in his thirties says, speaking in a distinctly clear and crisp voice that's almost clashing with the grim and growling tones of the rest.

「…Not only that, she forced the guild in Draconis to reinstate him. Naturally, this will not be honored by the Federation, but it creates a disconnect between us and the Draconis guild.」

The old battlemage turns his eyes away from the man, nodding as he shifts his gaze towards Straf. The middle-aged mage nods as well as he listens to his older colleague talk, then looks at Straf and chimes in.

「This puts everyone registered with the Draconis guild in a precarious situation, do you understand? We know it was under duress, but who's to say more rules won't be broken?」

Gesturing with his hand, the middle-aged man speaks much calmer than before. Straf scoffs, his mouth scrunches to the side.

「She not only hired a wanted criminal, she also hired a bunch of people who were trying to fucking kill her, all so that there wouldn't be bad blood due to the asshole count's broken promises.」

Straf replies, leaning in towards them as he does, then shrugs his shoulders after he straightens out. The battlemages all glance at each other, thinking. Those that have beards stroke them pensively.

「It wasn't special treatment. Lia just wanted to be nice and caused a massive fucking budget hole. She didn't even know that asshole was a criminal, but she doesn't go back on her word.」

He adds, spreading his hands for a brief moment before returning them to his pockets.

「…Even if that were the case, her grimoire was the centerpiece of this incident. Due to her actions against the Draconis guild, and that which has happened here, we suspect intentional sabotage.」

The eldest battlemage declares, brushing his beard while glaring at Straf with narrowed eyes full of suspicion. He immediately lets out an amused huff in response.

「Is sabotage risible now, Straf Katastrof Vindict?」

The woman chimes in, still staring at him with the same frigid expression and crossed arms as she enunciates his name.

「Ahhh… Why don't you sad, sad bureaucrats just stop beating around the bush and say what you're trying to say already? She didn't sabotage shit. I don't care if you don't believe me, fuck off.」

Straf lets out an exasperated sigh, his amused grin fades into a slanted mouth, and his bored eyes jump at random between the grim collection of mages in front of him.

「Very well… There is a quick and simple solution to prove the queen had no ill intent. Hand over her family's grimoire and we shall turn a blind eye to the Tolwick situation, as well as this one.」

The old mage says, brushing his dark-gray beard.

「It is an excellent deal for your side, and I strongly suggest that you take it.」

The clear-voiced mage adds, looking at Straf with his head held high and his hands behind his back. His voice carries an implied threat with its tone. Straf's slanted mouth twists into a smirk again.

「…Or what? You'll file an official complaint?」

He replies, looking at him with a snide grin on his face. The headmaster's jaw drops at the question, and he quickly rushes in between the two parties, feverishly waving his hands to the sides.

「Now, now!… Please have some understanding for Straf, esteemed colleagues! Straf- He… He was under a lot of stress lately, I'm sure he'll give it some thought!…」

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Corvus exclaims, standing between the two as he feebly defends Straf. He raises his palm towards the battlemages, then turns his face over his shoulder towards him.

「Straf!… It's a great deal, just take it! You have no idea what the Mage Federation is capable-!」

The headmaster says as he places his wrinkly hand on Straf's shoulder, digging his fingers into it.

「You gotta be fuckin' shittin' me…」

Straf loudly replies, tilting his head with an incredulous and amused smirk, completely disregarding the headmaster's hushed tone as he's covertly whispering towards him.

「…You want the grimoire? Come and fucking take it.」

He adds, glaring at the old battlemage in front of him. Corvus visibly winces, clenching his teeth with his eyes forced shut.

「We just might…」

The clear-voiced man swiftly replies. The headmaster turns around, raising his hands again.

「Esteemed colleagues, as I said, he's a little tired-」

Corvus says, attempting to placate the battlemages.

「Headmaster… Straf can speak for himself, can he not?…」

The middle-aged man asks, glaring at Corvus before turning his sharp gaze back to Straf. Corvus meekly nods his head and backs out from between them, back to where he was standing.

「…But do you speak for the queen, Straf Katastrof Vindict?」

Chiming in, the oldest battlemage angrily enunciates Straf's name, narrowing his eyes further. An uneasy silence begins while the two sides glare at each other, sans the smiling young man at the back.

With his hands in his pockets, Straf draws breath as he opens his mouth to reply.

Gonnnnngggggg… Donnnnnnngggggg… Gonnnnnnnngggggggg…

Before he can say anything, the heavy bell tolls. Straf and the mages continue glaring at each other while the sound resonates through the halls, both sides unwilling to raise their voice over it…

…

A few moments earlier…

Cycelia is looking at her exam paper, reviewing her answers. She furrows her brows and tilts her chestnut head.

「Nnnhhh…」

《Most of these are just educated guesses, but…》

She lets out a soft, troubled sigh as her eyes dart up and down the exam sheet.

《This should be enough, right?… I studied hard, there's no way I'd fail now… Right?》

A sense of unease fills Cycelia as she bites her lower lip from anxiety. She picks her quill back up from the ink pot, with half a mind to correct some of her answers. She looks up and down the paper again, searching for the answers that do not resonate with her as strongly as she feels they should. Looking at one of the first few questions, she tilts her head in mild confusion.

《Huh?… Did I write that? My mind is such a mess right now… Focus!》

She lets a determined huff out of her nose, causing Neela to briefly glance at her with her brows furrowed, before returning to her own exam. Tisha is rubbing her temple with her fingers, squinting downwards.

Cycelia brings the sharp tip of the quill near the scribbles answering the first question, looking at them with a pensive gaze.

Gonnnnngggggg… Donnnnnnngggggg… Gonnnnnnnngggggggg…

「Gah!」

Just as she finished building up the determination to correct the answer, her jaw drops at the sound of the bell.

「Okay, that's enough! Quills down or I'll fail you!」

Aria hops off her desk and shouts in a threatening tone, glaring at the students. In panic, Cycelia drops the quill near the pot and shows her empty palm with a tight-lipped grimace on her face. Neela and Tisha let out exasperated sighs and set their quills down as well, glancing at each other with their lips stretched and narrowed. The professor proceeds to walk up and down the class, collecting the students' raised exam papers from their hands. When Aria draws near, the three girls reluctantly raise their sheets as well. Aria glances at them, then takes a quick peek at the papers.

「…Hm.」

She enigmatically humms out, then continues onward, back down to the teacher's desk.

「Alright, you're free to leave! The exam results will be available tomorrow near the class schedules!」

Professor Aria announces as she takes a seat at the desk and sets down the papers. The three stand up, and make their way to the door.

「Ahhhhh… I'm not even sure I'll pass at this rate… What about you, Neela, Tisha?」

Cycelia asks while they flow with the crowd.

「At this point I'd be surprised if I'd pass…」

Neela replies, helplessly shrugging her shoulders.

「Whatever… At least if we all three flunk this term, we'll be able to have fun together in the next one…」

Tisha throws her hands up, then places her arms behind her head as they descend to the bottom.

「…This one's not even on us! It's not like we fooled around! We studied hard!」

She adds, grumbling as Damian joins their side.

「What about you Damian? Do you think you'll pass the exam?」

Cycelia asks, tilting her chestnut head at him.

「Hm? Of course I will… Why are you even asking?」

He replies with his brows furrowed, appearing genuinely perplexed. Cycelia's face gains a lightly amused grin at the sheer audacity.

They make their way out of the classroom, where Straf, Corvus, and a group of mages in blue robes are all facing each other in the center of the hallway while the students swerve to avoid them all.

「Straf.」

Cycelia calls out, smiling as she approaches him with the rest. When she draws near, her smile fades into a look of confusion as she notices Straf is glaring at the mages ahead.

「Um… Hello?-」

She turns her emerald eyes to the blue-robed group, meekly greeting them.

「Good afternoon.」「Hello.」「Afternoon.」「Greetings.」「Good afternoon, your highness.」「Your majesty…」「Ah, hello!」

They all reply without any delay and stare at Cycelia with an intense gaze. The sight of their heads snapping directly to her is as bizarre, as it is unnerving.

「Eh? Huh?」

Blinking, her surprised eyes dart between them all while bearing a nervous smile on her face.

Despite the uncannily returned greeting, the mages say not a word more, appearing content to be simply looking at her. The smiling young man behind them all breaks the eye contact, however.

「…We will take our leave, headmaster. We have a few things to discuss later.」

The oldest mage at the front declares as he peels his piercing eyes away from Cycelia and turns them to Corvus. The headmaster nods in reply, and the mages walk past Straf, merging into the student crowd.

「Headmaster… You called for the Federation's battlemages?」

Damian asks, stopping near Straf's side as he looks down at him with a bored expression and a slanted mouth.

「Yes, Damian… I believe the danger has passed, but I cannot take any chances. They will search the Academy for the vampire, then depart shortly after the term comes to an end.」

Corvus steps closer, nodding his head as he brushes through his long beard.

「Battlemages? Like mages who fight in wars?」

Cycelia asks as her gaze jumps between Damian, Straf and the headmaster.

「Not quite… While the generic term is used for career war mages, the Mage Federation's battlemages are different. They're an elite unit.」

Damian replies, turning his eyes to her. Corvus silently nods along.

「Yes, as Mr. Damian has said, they're an elite unit that is sometimes dispatched to incidents such as these…」

The headmaster says, adjusting his glasses.

「…Believe it or not, while the young man with them may just be the rank of an adept, he is far, far more capable than me as a combat mage. Even if Straf is not around, you will be in good hands.」

He adds, placing his hands behind his back as he looks at Damian and the girls.

「What? But he looked like a kid! Even younger than Damian!」

Tisha exclaims, furrowing her brows with a face of shock disbelief.

「Looks can be extremely deceiving, Ms. Tisha. I am a scholar at heart, not a spellcaster, and the Federation's battlemages are the complete opposite.」

Corvus replies with a little smile, then turns his bespectacled eyes to Straf.

「Straf, it's about time for the funeral. Will you join us?」

「Tsk…」

Straf simply turns his head aside with a click of his tongue, and lets out a frustrated sigh.

「There's a funeral?- Ah, for Professor Arkeis, isn't it?」

Damian briefly furrows his brows before the realization dawns on his face. Corvus returns a silent acknowledging nod.

「Is it okay if we come too?…」

Cycelia asks, gently tilting her head at the headmaster.

「Yes. Yes, of course. Though it's not only a funeral for the professor, but also for the skeleton… As well as Archmage Diebin.」

Corvus nods, smiling at Cycelia. He clarifies the details, gesturing with his hand a little before returning it behind his back.

「Why bury that guy? Just throw him outside and let the birds and horndogs have him!」

「Tisha…」

Tisha throws hands up in outrage, forcing a fatigued sigh out of Neela as she softly chides her yet again with a visibly tired face.

「Even though… I understand the sentiment, I believe that despite his actions against all of us, he at least deserves a dignified burial…」

Corvus replies, adjusting his glasses with his head lightly lowered before raising his eyes back up to the frustrated northern princess.

「…How you treat the dead speaks much of your person, and there is no honor in disrespecting them. Funerals are a rite for the living, not the dead, Ms. Tisha.」

「Tsk…」

Tisha clicks her tongue, scoffing in reply to the headmaster as she turns her blue eyes away.

「Well… Shall we, Straf? If you'd like to, follow me…」

Corvus asks, turning his eyes to him, before heading down the hallway. Damian and the girls follow the headmaster, though Cycelia briefly hesitates and looks over her shoulder to look at Straf.

「You sure like funerals for people who don't deserve one, Lia…」

Straf grumbles, nonchalantly passing by her with his hands in his pockets. She quickly hops behind him, catching up to his side as the group takes a turn after Corvus…