(Arin's POV)
The applause stopped abruptly, yet its echo lingered in the air, hanging heavy like cigarette smoke in a stuffy room.
Elian Delphine stood in the center aisle, separating the rows of spectator seats from the judgment arena. He did not walk hurriedly. His steps were relaxed, his loose academy robe swaying gently following the rhythm of his movements. His face was adorned with a thin, polite smile, too polite for someone who had just committed the insolent act of interrupting the Headmistress's verdict.
"Interruption, Your Excellency Headmistress," repeated Elian with a smooth baritone voice that reached the entire room. "Please forgive my presumption. I know this is a stage for heroes and villains, but I feel the script is a little... incomplete."
Headmistress Selena slowly lowered the gavel that was ready to strike. Her face showed not explosive anger, but high-level vigilance. She knew who Elian was. She knew this young man was not just an ordinary noble student seeking attention.
"Young Master Delphine," Selena's voice was cold, her eyes narrowing. "This hearing has reached a conclusion. Evidence has been presented clearly. Witnesses have been heard. Unless you bring new evidence that can annul the fact that methane gas was found at the crime scene, I suggest you sit back down before I drag you out."
"Oh, I do not deny the gas," Elian waved his hand casually, as if shooing a fly. He walked closer to the defendant's area, staring at Vesper who was trembling in fear in his seat. "Vesper is guilty. That is an undeniable fact. He brought the gas, he closed the ventilation, and he intended to kill. Nothing to debate there."
Elian turned around, putting his back to Vesper. Now his blood-red eyes stared straight at the prosecutor's table. At Elena and me.
"But what disturbed my sleep last night was not Vesper's crime," continued Elian, starting to walk around our table like a shark circling a small boat in the ocean. "But the narrative of 'heroism' built here. The narrative of innocent victims, trapped knowing nothing, and surviving thanks to sheer miracles."
Elena stood up from her chair roughly. The chair screeched on the floor. Her face was hard, her eyes burning with anger.
"What do you mean, Elian?" challenged Elena sharply. "Do not speak in riddles! Arin and Erika almost died there. You saw the medical report. You saw their wounds. You dare call their suffering a narrative?"
"The suffering is real, Elena. I do not doubt their wounds," answered Elian calmly. He stopped right in front of our table, resting both hands on the table, staring at Elena from close range. "But my question is: Was that suffering unavoidable? Or... was it a calculated risk?"
"Do not talk in circles!" snapped Elena. "Get to the point!"
Elian smirked. He straightened his body, then turned to face the judge and the audience in the stands.
"Simple logic, Your Excellency," Elian raised his index finger. "We are told that Arin was ambushed. That he knew nothing of Vesper's plan. Arin entered that cave because he was guided by Tom Garius who, according to your claims, was also a victim who knew nothing."
Elian looked at Tom sitting pale on the witness bench. Tom looked down deeply, avoiding Elian's gaze which seemed able to strip his soul.
"But let's use common sense," continued Elian, his voice strengthening. "If someone does not know there will be a gas attack... the normal reaction is panic, holding breath, and looking for a way out. But Arin? The medical report says he survived in that gas for more than fifteen minutes while fighting the cleanup squad. Fifteen minutes in high-concentration methane."
"He used breathing techniques!" cut Elena quickly, trying to defend. "Arin has extraordinary lung capacity and his Piston Heart technique allows for oxygen efficiency!"
"Ah, breathing techniques," Elian nodded as if agreeing, but his tone was mocking. "A good excuse. But breathing techniques only conserve oxygen already in the lungs. It does not create new oxygen. In an eighty percent methane concentration environment, even a superhuman would faint in three minutes due to anoxia. That is a biological fact."
Elian stopped walking in the middle of the room. He reached into his robe pocket slowly. That movement sucked all attention in the room until the atmosphere became silent.
"Unless..." whispered Elian, his voice lowering full of mystery. "...he brought his own air."
My heart pounded hard hitting my ribs. Cold sweat began to seep down my back. He was going to bring it out.
Elian pulled his hand out. Between his index finger and thumb, he held a small red object that was dented and partially crushed.
A capsule shell.
"This was found at the crime scene," said Elian, lifting the object high so everyone could see it. "Forensic instructors thought this was ordinary plastic trash. But I... I have a hobby of researching alchemy in my spare time."
Elian walked toward the judge's table, placing the object in front of Selena with a soft tick.
"I performed residue analysis on this object in my private laboratory last night," explained Elian. "And the result was surprising. This object contains traces of liquid oxygen concentrate compressed at high pressure, mixed with a light explosive catalyst."
Whispers began to be heard loudly in the spectator stands.
"Micro Oxygen Capsule," Elian named the object. "A very specific counter-measure. An object designed specifically for one purpose: Surviving in an airless environment."
Elian turned, pointing straight at my face. His gaze was no longer bored. His gaze was sharp, deadly, and full of victory.
"My question is: Why would an 'innocent' student going for an ordinary exploration exam... carry sophisticated anti-gas equipment in his pocket?"
Silence.
Elena was speechless. Her mouth opened slightly, but no rebuttal came out. She knew she couldn't refute that logic.
"Unless," continued Elian, his smile widening into a devilish grin. "He already knew the attack was coming. He knew Vesper would use gas. He knew when, where, and how."
"That is speculation!" shouted Elena, trying to save the increasingly messy situation. "Maybe he brought it just in case! That is reasonable preparation!"
"Reasonable?" Elian chuckled. "Carrying snake venom antidote is reasonable. Carrying homemade micro oxygen tanks that have never existed on the market? That is not preparation, Elena. That is foreknowledge."
Elian walked closer to me. He leaned in, whispering loud enough to be heard by the front row.
"You knew Vesper would attack, Arin. You knew Tom was a double agent you used to bait Vesper. And instead of reporting it to the teacher to prevent this crime... you let it happen."
Elian's gaze pierced my eyes.
"You let Vesper detonate that cave. You let Erika and Tom's lives be threatened. You let terrorism happen... just so you could catch Vesper red-handed and destroy the Benzzi family legally."
"OBJECTION!" Elena shouted, her face pale. "That is a baseless accusation!"
"The basis is in Arin's pocket!" retorted Elian no less loudly, pointing at me. "That is called Entrapment, Your Excellency! Illegal Entrapment! He deliberately created a dangerous situation for political gain! In the eyes of the law, a person who allows a crime to happen when they can prevent it is an Accomplice!"
The courtroom atmosphere exploded instantly.
"He is right! That makes sense!" shouted a student from the stands.
"So Arin deliberately let them be gas-attacked?"
"Crazy... he sacrificed his own friends to trap Vesper? That is psychopathic!"
Public opinion turned around with lightning speed. The sympathetic gazes directed at me earlier now changed into gazes of suspicion and fear. I looked like a cold manipulator playing with other people's lives for victory.
Vesper, who had been in despair all this time, suddenly lifted his head. His eyes lit up seeing a gap of hope to escape. The Benzzi lawyer immediately stood up, ready to snatch Elian's argument to free his client or at least drag me down with them into the hole.
Selena Rhyms looked at me with a sharp and inquisitive gaze. Her gavel was still held in the air. She was in a difficult position. Under academy law, Elian's argument was valid. If I was proven to know and let it happen, this case could be null and void due to procedural defects, and I could be expelled for endangering other students.
My fist clenched under the table. Nails dug into my palm until it hurt.
Checkmate.
Elian was truly a genius. He did not defend Vesper or prove Vesper innocent. He only proved that I was also dirty. And in this court, even the slightest doubt was enough to destroy absolute victory.
Elian stood in the middle of the arena, spreading his arms as if he were the conductor of this chaos. He looked at me with a satisfied smile.
See, Rat? You can play with swords, but at the negotiation table, you are just an amateur, his gaze seemed to say.
Devina Delphine, Elian's older sister sitting in the student representative seat, straightened her body. She looked at her brother with an annoyed gaze, as if this side of her brother was what she hated most.
"A very interesting argument, Elian," said Devina annoyed as if reluctant to praise her brother, "If this is proven true... then this case must be reviewed. Arin is not a victim, but a provocateur."
Elena looked at me in despair. We couldn't deny it without revealing the fact that Tom was a double agent. And if that was exposed, Tom would be destroyed, and my credibility would be gone.
We lost. The victory already in sight was snatched away just like that by Elian's sharp tongue.
Vesper started to smile. Karl, who had been pretending to be crazy, started a terrifying little laugh.
Just as Selena looked hesitant and was about to lower her gavel to postpone the session...
BOOM!
A loud thud shook the main door of the court hall.
Not a knock. It was the sound of breaking down.
The five-meter-high double doors made of thick teak wood opened wide roughly, hitting the walls beside them until plaster fell.
The entire room went silent instantly. All heads turned toward the door.
Midday sunlight burst in, creating silhouettes of a row of people standing in the doorway.
The sound of heavy and synchronized metal footsteps echoed.
Clang. Clang. Clang.
A row of knights in gold-white armor entered in combat formation, splitting the crowd of students who panicked and moved aside. They were not school security guards. The Golden Lion emblem engraved on their chests showed their far higher identity.
Royal Knights.
And in the middle of that line, walked a young man.
He was not wearing a student uniform. He wore the official Royal Prince robe blood-red with gold embroidery, and a ceremonial sword hung at his waist. His red hair shone like fire, and his face was cold, authoritative, untouchable.
Prince Albert Hall.
Behind him, followed the figure of a girl in a holy white robe with her head bowed deep, holding a royal healing staff. Diana.
Albert walked straight toward the judge's podium. He did not care about Elian, did not care about Vesper, and did not care about Arin. His eyes were only fixed on one point: Authority.
Devina Delphine, usually arrogant, immediately stood up and bowed respectfully. Even Selena Rhyms came down from her chair to greet him.
"Your Highness Prince," greeted Selena while bowing.
Albert did not answer. He went up to the podium, stood beside the judge's table, then threw a parchment scroll sealed with royal wax onto the table.
"This session is adjourned," Albert's voice was heavy, absolute, and accepted no argument.
Elian, who had dominated the stage earlier, now turned to face the Prince. His smile faded slightly, but he did not look afraid.
"Your Highness," greeted Elian with a polite tone containing a hint of mockery. "We are in the middle of crucial legal proof. Royal intervention in student court autonomy... isn't that a bit excessive?"
Albert turned slowly. His sea-blue eyes met Elian's blood-red eyes.
The clash of two great powers happened in silence.
"Student law?" Albert snorted softly, as if hearing a bad joke. "You are playing judge in a sandbox, Delphine. While there is a real threat before your eyes."
Albert pointed at Vesper who was still smiling in relief earlier.
"Use of Methane Gas and sabotage of Dungeon infrastructure in territory of assets funded by the Kingdom... that is not juvenile delinquency, but a violation of the code of ethics."
Albert's voice rose, echoing throughout the room.
"It is categorized as a National Security Threat and Domestic Terrorism."
Vesper's smile vanished instantly. His face turned ashen.
"Based on Royal Decree Number 402 on Terror Countermeasures," continued Albert coldly. "This case is taken over completely by the Capital Military Court. The defendant will be taken right now for high-level interrogation by Royal Inquisitors to find the illegal gas supply network."
"Military Court?!" shrieked the Benzzi Lawyer, his face deathly pale. "But... Prince! My client is still a minor! Academy law protects—"
"Academy law is null and void when National Security is threatened," cut Albert sharply, his eyes flashing. "No lawyers. No suspension. No procedural debate. Take him!"
Albert turned to Elian again.
"Your argument about 'entrapment' or 'victim's intent' is irrelevant in a military court, Delphine. In military law, whoever presses the trigger of a chemical weapon is a terrorist. Period. Regardless of whether the victim knew or not."
Double checkmate.
Elian fell silent. His brilliant argument just now, the logic web he arranged neatly to entrap me... everything was swept clean by the sledgehammer of absolute authority. Albert did not play by Elian's rules. Albert destroyed his game board.
Vesper began to tremble violently. He knew what Military Court meant. It was not just expulsion from school. It meant dark dungeons, torture devices to extract information, and execution or life imprisonment in salt mines.
"NO! NOT MILITARY! MERCY!" Vesper screamed hysterically, struggling as two Royal Knights stepped forward and grabbed his arms. His magic cuffs were replaced with heavy iron chains. "MASTER ELIAN! MASTER KARL! HELP ME! DO NOT LET THEM TAKE ME!"
Karl, seeing Vesper dragged like an animal, immediately slumped in his chair. He pretended to faint, or maybe truly fainted because he was scared half to death he would be dragged into the same hole.
Vesper was dragged out of the room, his screams echoing horribly in the hallway, then disappearing when the door closed.
The court atmosphere was deathly silent. No one dared to make a sound.
Elian stared at Albert for a moment, then chuckled. A dry laugh.
"Military Court..." muttered Elian, shaking his head. "Wow. You really used a sledgehammer to crack a walnut, Prince. Is the Kingdom so afraid of one student's mischief that it has to deploy elite troops?"
"I am not cracking a nut, Delphine," replied Albert coldly, stepping down from the podium and standing right in front of Elian. The distance between them was only one step. "I am exterminating pests before they lay eggs in my warehouse."
Their eyes locked.
"A warning for you and your Faction," whispered Albert, loud enough for Elian to hear but not others. "Stop playing with fire in my backyard. Or next time, the one dragged won't just be your accountant."
Elian smiled widely, as if the threat were a compliment to him. He bowed respectfully with an exaggerated and mocking style.
"Message received, Your Highness. Glad to see the Lion finally wake from his sleep."
Elian retreated, giving way. He had lost this round, but he succeeded in forcing the Prince to intervene directly. To him, that was a victory in itself. He managed to prove that he was a big enough threat that the Royal Family had to move.
Albert turned, his cape fluttering.
"We leave."
The royal entourage turned back toward the exit. The session dispersed in whispering chaos.
I exhaled a long breath I had been holding. My legs were weak. We were safe. Vesper was finished. Our plan succeeded, though in an unexpected way.
"We must thank him," whispered Elena beside me, pulling my arm. "Let's go."
We rushed to catch up with Albert before he exited the hall.
"Your Highness!" I called.
Albert stopped. He did not turn completely, only glanced slightly over his shoulder.
"Thank you," I said sincerely. "You saved us from..."
Albert raised his hand, stopping my words roughly.
"Do not misunderstand, Arin," said Albert coldly, without looking at me. "I did not do it for you. I do not care about you, your plans, or your little intrigues."
His voice was flat, without emotion.
"I did it because the Delphine and Benzzi Factions have become too insolent. They thought academy law could protect them forever. I just reminded them who truly owns this kingdom. Stability is the priority. You just happened to be on the side benefiting stability today."
Albert stepped again. "Do not cause trouble again, or you will be the one I drag next."
He walked away with firm steps.
However...
The girl walking behind him, Diana, stopped for a moment.
The pale blonde girl in the white robe looked back.
Time seemed to slow down around me.
Diana's sea-blue eyes met my blue eyes.
Silence.
No words were spoken. But in that gaze... I felt a strange sensation.
It felt like looking into a cracked mirror. There was sadness, recognition, and something very familiar in the depths of her eyes. Something calling to my instinct. The vibration in my chest did not come from my artificial heart, but from my own blood.
Who is she? I wondered. Why do I feel I know her?
"Diana, come," called Albert from the front without turning.
Diana jolted in surprise, as if just waking from a dream. She broke the eye contact quickly, bowed deeply, then hurriedly trotted to follow her master, disappearing behind the large double doors.
I was transfixed in my place, staring at the closed door. A big question hung in my mind, bigger than Vesper, bigger than Karl.
"Who is she really..." I whispered softly.