"There you are," Roldar said when he eventually noticed Arin.
The moment he spoke, Rhory, Koa, and Tiago turned as well. Their eyes, which had been elsewhere, settled on Arin.
They quickened their pace and met her halfway, closing the distance between them and the two men beside her.
"I see you've been given your uniform. It fits you just right," Koa spoke first, in an attempt to make it look like the had no misunderstanding with Arin.
But Arin simply just stared at him looking surprised that the same Koa who had stood there and watched her get beaten, now sounded like they were old friends exchanging compliments.
How thoughtful of him.
Tiago realizing Arin wasn't buying whatever Koa was trying to sell, quickly stepped forward.
"We would like to take our roommate with us so we can get him settled properly,"
Tiago was already reaching for Arin after he spoke as though the matter was already decided.
But Arin suddenly took two steps backward and blurted out, "They bullied me."
The words landed in the corridor like a dropped stone and everyone went quiet.
Arin did not let the silence stretch long enough for anyone to rush her or brush it aside.
"We weren't practicing," she continued. "They bullied me. They burned my clothes with the intention of killing me. It's a miracle I escaped them."
Still no one spoke.
Arin could not help the small satisfaction that crept into her chest when she saw the brief flash of panic on Tiago's face.
That's right. Go on. Explain your way out of that.
Tiago let out a strained laugh, glancing quickly toward Roldar.
"She's talking nonsense," he said quickly. "Look at her. There isn't even a mark on her body. If we had done what she's accusing us of, there would be obvious marks. But there aren't any. She's just trying to—"
Tiago was still speaking when Roldar cut in.
"Surely you do not take me for a fool," Roldar said calmly. "I noticed something foul the moment I arrived and saw what was happening. You thought I left, but I did not. I stayed back and heard you lot. I also saw when your roommate ran away."
That should have been comforting for Arin to hear. It should have meant someone finally believed her.
But it wasn't.
Because Roldar had just said he was there when she ran away.
And she had run away naked.
Does this mean he saw me?
Rhory, Tiago and Koa seemed speechless for a hot minute before Tiago finally broke the silence.
"And so what if you saw us?" Tiago said, lifting his chin slightly. "You would do well to keep your mouth shut, old man. You know who my father is. I can have you removed from this academy and ruin you. So if you know what's best for you, you will pretend you saw nothing."
When he finished speaking, Varyn and Halven stepped away from Arin and moved to the side.
"We should leave, Roldar," Halven said quietly. From his tone, it was clear he did not want them involved in whatever mess was unfolding.
And that made Arin afraid.
If they walked away now, then what?
Meanwhile, Roldar did not move to join them. He remained exactly where he was.
Then he smiled.
Not the kind of smile that meant amusement. The kind that made a person uneasy without knowing why.
Instead of stepping back, he took a slow step toward Tiago.
Which was not the reaction Tiago had expected at all.
Roldar did not stop until he stood directly in front of Tiago.
Up close, the difference in their composure became obvious. Tiago stood stiff, jaw tight, while Roldar looked almost relaxed.
"You have grown bold," Roldar said mildly. "Threatening academy staff in the middle of a corridor."
Tiago scoffed. "I simply stated a fact."
"Is that so?" Roldar nodded slowly as if considering it. "Then perhaps I should also state a few facts."
The corridor fell quiet as Roldar raised one finger.
"Last winter. The sparring grounds behind the east hall. You and your brothers decided it would be amusing to force two first-years to fight each other until one collapsed."
A second finger joined the first.
"And two months ago. The alchemy wing. Someone thought it would be clever to switch a reagent and watch the explosion."
As Roldar said this his gaze shifted to Koa, and it made him stiffen.
Roldar raised a third finger.
"And then there was the matter of leaving the academy grounds to wander the woods just beyond the kingdom on the night of the denouement of Orlo Archer. Where a snake chased you…" he pointed at Tiago, "…toward the lower ravine. Such a shame. Accidents happen so easily when young men think no one is watching."
Arin felt the air catch in her lungs.
Roldar was clearly choosing his words with care, dancing around the truth instead of saying it outright.
But Arin understood what he wasn't saying.
The fact that he was listing the details of what they had been doing that night meant only one thing.
He knows.
The color had drained from Tiago's face now.
Roldar lowered his hand and looked at each of them kindly.
"Now," he said calmly, "imagine how interesting those little stories would sound if repeated in the presence of our guest today."
He tilted his head slightly.
"That being the Emperor himself who is now inside."
That single sentence had everyone shifting their weight in stunned silence. Including Arin, who had not expected to be anywhere near the Emperor so soon.
Even Varyn and Halven looked taken aback.
Roldar continued as if he had merely mentioned the weather.
"So perhaps the simplest solution is this. We can all walk inside together, greet His Majesty properly, and discuss everything. I am certain he would be very interested to hear how the sons of such an esteemed family conduct themselves within these walls."
His gaze settled on Tiago again.
"And I am equally certain word would reach your father rather quickly. So shall we?" Roldar finished pleasantly.
No one answered.
Tiago, who moments ago had been shouting threats, now looked as though he had forgotten how to speak.
Roldar waited a moment.
Then he added lightly, "I asked a question that requires an answer. Shall. We?"
Before Tiago could respond, Rhory stepped forward quickly.
"That will not be necessary," he said firmly. "Pardon the disturbance. We will take our leave and meet everyone inside for the ceremony."
He turned to his brothers.
"Let's go."
Without waiting for them, he began walking.
Tiago did not argue this time. He followed.
And Koa followed as well.
The three of them left the corridor in stiff silence.
Only after they disappeared around the corner did the tension finally break.
Roldar suddenly let out a long breath.
"Oh good heavens."
He lifted a hand to his chest as if steadying his heart and leaned slightly toward Varyn and Halven, clutching their arms for support.
"Those lads truly are as terrifying as everyone says," he muttered. "For a moment there I thought my old bones would give out."
"Terrifying?" Varyn said in disbelief as he held onto Roldar to support him. "You just faced them down like a magistrate passing judgment."
Halven nodded in agreement. "I have never seen anyone stand up to them like that. You sounded like a completely different person, Roldar."
Varyn frowned thoughtfully. "And those things you mentioned. The wandering outside the academy grounds. The incident with Orlo Archer. How did you even know about that?"
Roldar straightened slowly, brushing invisible dust from his sleeve.
"Oh that," he said lightly. "Nothing mysterious. I overheard some students gossiping. And a few ministers chatting as well."
He waved a hand dismissively.
"You know how rumors travel through an academy. They say rumors carry at least fifty percent accuracy."
He gave a sheepish chuckle.
"I simply took a guess and hoped the other fifty percent would carry me through."
Varyn and Halven exchanged impressed looks.
"Well," Halven said, shaking his head, "your guess worked."
"Indeed," Varyn added. "You frightened them more effectively than any punishment could."
Roldar gave a modest shrug, as though embarrassed by the praise.
Arin said nothing and simply watched on.
Because she knew he was lying.
The way he had listed those details had not sounded like guesses.
And the way he had spoken to them just moments ago did not sound like the trembling old man now pretending his knees were weak.
Arin's eyes narrowed slightly.
Who exactly are you… Roldar?