Ethan struggled to keep pace with the principal and Alfred, even with Sven's support. As they walked, he felt the piercing gazes of many students in the hallway, their whispers filling the air with rumors. But Ethan remained unfazed by their attention. He knew the significance of his choice, and that, in the grand scheme of things, these whispers wouldn’t matter. Everything had already shifted, and for the worse, the moment he decided to leave the academy. His primary motivation for attending was to improve life for himself and his parents. While evading the enforced military duties was one reason, he also harbored dreams of providing a better lifestyle for his parents after graduation. Yet, those dreams now seemed distant and no longer reachable. Unbeknownst to him, there were other forces at play that would further challenge his past ambitions.

"Ethan!"

The urgent call came from behind a dense crowd of students. Breaking through the throng was Seraphine, pushing past the students with palpable desperation.

"Seraphine?" Sven murmured as he saw her darting towards them.

"..." Ethan looked at her but said nothing.

"Guys! What's going on? You've been missing for an entire week! I've been worried, and the professors wouldn't tell me anything about your absences. And Ethan...," her voice faltered as her gaze landed on Ethan's worn-out appearance, "...why do you look so beaten up? Are you alright?" Concern was etched deeply on Seraphine's face.

"..." Ethan's eyes averted from Seraphine, unable to face her or articulate the events that had occurred during his week-long absence.

Seeing Ethan's hesitation, Seraphine turned to Sven, hoping to glean some answers. "Ethan?... Sven, can you tell me what happened?" Even though Sven seemed slightly better off than Ethan, exhaustion was evident in his posture.

Sven swallowed hard, about to speak, but was sharply cut off by the principal's authoritative voice. "That's enough, Seraphine!" His tone was a warning and stern.

"Principal?" She looked at him, taken aback by his brusque interruption.

"Now isn't the time for questions. Leave this place." the principal ordered, his gaze unwavering.

"But Princi-"

"I won't say it again." he snapped, his patience clearly worn thin.

Unable to counter the principal's directive, Seraphine shot one last concerned glance at Ethan and Sven. The weight of their unspoken troubles bore heavily on her heart. Without uttering another word, she watched as they were ushered away, disappearing from her sight.

She whispered to herself, her gaze fixed on their retreating figures, "I wonder where they're heading?" The events had stirred a mixture of unease and curiosity in her.

Shortly after, Ethan and Sven found themselves ushered into a magnificent chamber, resembling a grand courtroom. The walls, bathed in a sumptuous shade of emerald green, were complemented by elegant white moldings that highlighted the room's majestic architecture. Large, crescent-shaped stained glass windows allowed sunlight to stream in, casting mesmerizing patterns onto the gleaming wooden floor.

At the forefront, opposite the judge's bench, stood a solitary podium—the podium for the accused. It stood there, emanating a sense of gravity. The room was structured with rows of polished wooden pews, perfectly aligned on either side of the central aisle. To the left, a dignified wooden witness stand awaited its moment, silent and anticipatory. On the right, a spacious desk was situated, ready for the counsel to present their case notes, evidence, and arguments.

At the judge's seats sat three individuals—the council elders. Their total number remained a mystery to most, but today, only three occupied these esteemed positions. The one in the center was all too familiar to Ethan and Sven—a figure that invoked intense loathing deep within them.

'Grandfeld...'

Ethan's eyes narrowed, his gaze dripping with venom. Grandfeld was the man who could have averted the entire calamity that befell Thornfield village, the man who could have prevented the tragic loss of his parents. Sven, sensing the boiling anger emanating from Ethan, subtly placed a hand on Ethan's shoulder, urging him to maintain composure in this highly charged environment. The room was thick with tension, All around, professors from various corners of the academy gathered, their collective gaze trained on the two young men standing in the center. Some faces were familiar to Ethan and Sven, serving as anchors of familiarity in this sea of scrutiny.

There was Professor Eveline, Professor Harrington and Professor Stones. But interspersed among these known faces were others—strangers to Ethan and Sven. These professors were likely from departments or years the duo hadn't interacted with yet. The assembly of such a varied groups made it clear that this was no ordinary meeting. The stakes were high, and every eye in the room was focused on them, waiting for the proceedings to begin.

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Ethan and Sven walked tentatively to the center, each step echoing subtly in the vast chamber. The anticipation was nearly suffocating, but they tried to not let it bother them. They were, after all, at the epicenter of whatever was about to unfold.

Tap, Tap.

The sharp sound resonated through the room, capturing everyone's immediate attention. It was the ceremonial gavel, signifying the commencement of the trial.

"Silence!" Grandfeld's voice boomed, commanding instant quiet. Every whisper and murmur ceased, every rustling motion stilled. All eyes, once again, were fixated on the duo, and the weight of the entire academy's scrutiny bore down on them. The trial had begun.

"Ethan Hartfield and Sven Thornfield!" Grandfeld's voice reverberated throughout the chamber, firm and authoritative. "Today, you stand before this council to be tried for your transgressions and unlawful behavior, a direct affront to the academy's centuries-old edict. You have breached the sacred rule that prohibits leaving the Academy grounds without prior authorization!"

Around the room, the professors, held stern, judgmental expressions, ready to uphold the academy's longstanding traditions.

The severity of the situation was unmistakable. In any ordinary institution back on Earth, this might have been a minor infraction. But in this magical realm, it was a grave violation—an academic decree steeped in age-old traditions, codes, and mystical practices that had withstood the test of time.

Ethan and Sven stood their ground, silent, both fully aware that their decisions had inevitably led them to this very moment.

"According to the academy's regulations, any who violate this age-old rule will bear the consequence of having their student status terminated!" Grandfeld declared.

Whispers started crawling all through the room, until one individual in the room spoke out.

"That rule is excessively strict!" Professor Eveline interjected passionately.

"Professor Eveline!" A voice rang out from the opposite side of the room, dripping with indignation. "How dare you voice such dissent in this hallowed chamber! It is not our place to question the academy's longstanding decisions. We must uphold the traditions!" The professor, clearly in favor of the students' expulsion, shot a stern glance in her direction.

"Originally, these regulations were established to protect students from dark entities lurking outside. Those threats have long since diminished in proximity. Expelling them for such a reason now is outdated. We need to evolve and adapt with the times!" Her voice resonated with genuine concern and determination to defend her charges.

"Who could simply stand by, knowing their village and homes were in danger, especially if they had the chance to prevent it by arriving on time?" she added.

"Threats loom everywhere, even if we are blind to them. To believe the academy is immune to danger simply because of its might is naive," another professor retorted from the same side as the previous one. "The recent obliteration of a village near the kingdom's border stands testament to that!"

Ethan's heart raced and his grip tightened, the reference to the village hitting too close to home. His eyes burned with fury as they met the professor's, a silent challenge in his gaze.

"Ha! How dare you, a mere student, cast such a defiant look towards a noble!" The professor sneered, his own anger evident. "You overstep your bounds, boy! I should—"

Tap, Tap.

"Enough!" Grandfeld's voice sliced through the room, cutting off the professor's tirade.

With a restrained fury, Ethan watched as the professor seemed to momentarily shrink, like a dog reprimanded by its master. Ethan thought bitterly, 'Noble scum! They can't stomach the fact that I, against all their expectations, made it into the academy.' It was clear to him now: these nobles, with their inflated sense of entitlement, together with Grandfeld, who was clearly nursing a grudge over Ethan's knowledge regarding his lightning magic, were aligned in their desire to see him expelled.

Grandfeld shifted slightly in his seat, his eyes sharp as ever. "Professor Eveline, while I respect your perspective, the rules of the academy are clear and longstanding. We could debate their validity for hours on end, but there's more to Ethan's situation that you're not aware of, something that underscores the severity of this decision."

Professor Eveline's brow furrowed, her gaze questioning. "What are you insinuating? To my knowledge, Ethan and Sven only broke the rule concerning unauthorized departure from the academy. What other misdeed could possibly warrant such dire consequences?"

Grandfeld leaned forward slightly, "It's not a mere rule-breaking I speak of, but rather the unintended and unfortunate repercussions of Ethan's choice to leave our grounds."

"Ethan," Grandfeld intoned, "how are you feeling? Any unexplained aches in your body?"

Ethan cast a wary glance at Grandfeld, trying to gauge the elder's intent. "Yes, there's some discomfort, but I'm not quite sure why."

"And would it be correct to assume that this pain isn't a result of any external injuries?" Grandfeld probed further.

Ethan nodded slowly, "I haven't engaged in any physical altercations, so yes, that should be the case."

Grandfeld nodded, his gaze shifting momentarily before settling back on Ethan. "To provide clarity on Ethan's condition, let's hear from the person who examined him during his unconscious state. Doctor, please step forward to the witness stand."

The courtroom doors creaked open to reveal a middle-aged man, his steps echoing with a measured cadence as he made his way to the witness stand. A palpable tension filled the air, and the room was filled with hushed whispers. It was evident that this man's arrival had stirred a myriad of reactions.

Professors Eveline, Stones, and Harrington exchanged anxious glances, clearly troubled by the sudden turn of events. Sven's eyes met Ethan's, a flicker of recognition and concern evident in his gaze. It seemed Sven had an inkling of the revelation that was about to be laid bare.

"Doctor, thank you for joining us." the headmaster began with a formal nod.

"Of course."

"Please enlighten the court about Ethan's medical findings."

After a momentary pause, the doctor began, "Upon a comprehensive examination, we've discovered a concerning anomaly..."

Ethan's brow furrowed in confusion, trying to decipher the doctor's insinuations. On the surface, his discomfort seemed like a result of physical malnourishment or perhaps the effects of prolonged immobility.

"The young Mr. Hartfield appears to have tapped into his Primordial Vigor pool."

'Primordial Vigor?' Ethan pondered internally, unfamiliar with the term and its implications. However, the reaction of others in the room was immediate and telling. Many exchanged startled looks, their expressions of shock.

"It's evident that Ethan has overdrawn from his Primordial Vigor, leading to a diagnosis of..."

"...Mana Vein Atrophy," the doctor announced gravely.