“Are you sure this will work? They are connected you know. Besides, how can we trust Professor Becks? The fact that he knows about the assassins attack and that Adrian met the principal makes him suspicious.”

“Nobles- they care little about connections, all they care about is benefits. You tell me Nat, who offers more benefits? Besides, I care little even if Becks is a spy, but we can’t let Adrian have his way.”

“I don’t know, Aston. My intuition is telling me- something is not right about that first-year, we shouldn’t mess with him.”

“You are being para-“

“You know what my intuitions are capable of, how many times it saved our lives.”

Silence ensued.

“Don’t worry. Think for a bit, we sent the one with the best stealth among us, Astler to negotiate. And we are both level 7 and 8. Even if the hidden guardian comes out, what could he do? Rather, we will have the valid excuse to interfere. Moreover, we are just trying to scare him. Even in the worst case, nobody will know who killed him.”

“I hope I am just paranoid.” The tall and handsome man, standing beside the vice principal, sighed.

The eerie silence of the night took over as the conversation came to an end.

Moments later.

“WHAT!?” Both of them looked at each other, expressions of shock and disbelief mirrored through the faces.

Both of them began to rush towards the Fredrick House, thinking of all the possible scenarios that could have happened. But no matter the case, the enemy was able to kill a level 6 earth circler, which boasted the strongest defence, before he could even send a distress signal. Both of them activated all their passive essence and properties- ready for a tough battle.

They did not care about stealth anymore as they broke through the front door and rushed to the central hall. They could smell the metallic smell of blood as they got closer to the central hall.

Once they got to the scene, what they saw would be embedded into their minds forever.

A battered young man was sitting against the wall- his chest messed up with blood, eyes barely open; he was coughing out blood in regular intervals. He was holding a dagger with what looked like his only usable hand. The dagger along with the hand was besmirched with blood- the blood of the corpse that was lying a few meters away from him, the corpse that belonged to none other than their colleague.

They looked around, trying to detect the lingering presence of a high level circler but they were only met with disappointment, and relief. But they did not drop their guards down, as they were veterans- they knew more than anyone what underestimating the enemy could lead to.

The tall and handsome man, Nat looked at his comrade and raised his brows. The burly middle aged man only nodded in return. They were brother in arms who went through life and death together, no words were needed to convey their intentions.

But before they could begin what they were about to do, the frowned as they looked back towards the door.

“What happened here?!” They could hear the principal’s urgent voice along with the footsteps of a few people.

They panicked, while they were rushing, they only though of ‘what happened’- not ‘what could happen next’. They just realised the situation they were in. But alas, it was already too late to run.

The principal along with two other entered the scene- both of them wearing a white coat with golden embroidery. They were the highest ranked faculty members in the Academy, below only the principal and the tower masters.

The newcomers ignored the two as they looked at the bloodied members in the room. They gasped as they rushed towards the ‘barely’ living one amongst them. One of the deans was a middle aged beautiful woman, she looked slightly older than the principal. But those who knew her would rather commit suicide than bring up her age.

There was a saying among the academy instructors- Dean Jenkins knows more about your body then you do; she can dissect you and make sure you do not lose your life, and your consciousness. And if you ever feel like contributing to field of medicine as a guinea pig, call her anything along the lines of ‘old’.

She squatted and began to examine Adrian’s body gently and thoroughly. Nobody interfered as they knew that none in the Academy could match the dean of medical department when it comes to diagnosis.

“How is he?” The principal asked as she bit her lips.

The dean sighed and shook her head, “I am surprised he is still alive. 13 of his bones are broken, the broken ribs punctured his lungs- fortunately missing his heart by a few millimetres. He also faced a severe case of concussion even though his skull looks fine. Apparently, he also used life force. Even if he takes a high grade healing potion, it will take months for a complete recovery.”

She started to use healing magic on him.

Meanwhile, the other dean- a feminine looking young man with long silky hair- flipped the corpse. He was not surprised at the body’s identity as he had already noticed the duo who was already there, and the hole on the floor. He took a glance at the duo before looking at Adrian and the dagger.

“What a beast! He killed a high level circler despite being a low level one.” His masculine voice belied his appearance.

The principal looked at the vice principal- her face devoid of any emotions, intents devoid of any malice. The scene caused even the neutral deans to gulp.

“Do you remember the one rule we instructors must follow even at the cost of our lives?” She asked, her voice had no trace of rage.

But this emotionless voice gave both of them goosebumps.

“Rastia, I can ex-“

“Is the title of tower master earned through the blood of students?” She asked, the tone remained unchanged.

“Don’t act like a saint. That boy was the one who killed Alexis and framed Davian. You-“

“Show me the evidence.”

“You saw how he killed a level 6. So he should also be able to kill a-“

“That is not an evidence. By that logic, all of us instructors are suspected killers.”

“This-“

“This ends here. The high king will be hearing what happened here today.”

“Are you out of your mind? This is a matter of-“

“Did you realise that you almost plunged the whole Confederation into chaos by assaulting him?” She pointed at Adrian.

“I assure it’s just an acc-“

“Accident? 13 of his bones broke, his lungs were damaged, he was even forced to use life force and you have the audacity to say it’s an accident.” Her tone rose for the first time, her stare almost pierced through the vice principal’s heart.

“I-“

“I apologise on his behalf.” This time the vice principal’s handsome comrade interrupted him.

“Your decision will hurt not just the whole Academy, but also you. Let’s leave this matter to rest now and negotiate later, shall we?” He bowed.

“Do you think-” she was interrupted as someone grabbed her shoulder.

She looked behind and saw it was the dean of the combat department, Braveheart. Everyone has forgotten his real name since he charged deep into enemy territory and killed dozens of mid level circlers and a few high levels to rescue his captured comrades. He was only a level 5 circler back then.

“Leave it, he is right- it will hurt the Academy.” He said gently and then looked at the duo and said in a different tone, “This better be the last time. The next time a student is involved in the conflict, there will be another murder in the Academy.”

Both of them had chills running down their spines. Though it was an unspoken rule that deans always needed to be neutral in conflicts between tower master candidates, the man in front was an exception. Even the tower masters had to think twice before confronting him.

“Thank you. We will keep that in mind.” The tall man bowed again before beckoning his comrade to leave with him.

He took a glance at Adrian and turned back. He frowned. He looked back at Adrian again- everything seemed normal.

‘Strange. I am sure he had a smile on his face.’ He frowned as he left with the vice principal.

Only the two deans and the principal, the ‘half-dead’ Adrian and the cold corpse was left in the room.

The deans looked at the principal, the decision was hers.

They could feel the conflict in her.

“Don’t worry, it’s not your fault.” The beautiful dean consoled.

“Yes, we just have to make sure that this never happens again.” The other dean assured.

Little did they know that the conflicted feeling in her was for another reason altogether. She did not know what to feel- happy for another victory against her opponent? Or scared of the young man who proved his monstrous capabilities yet again?

“Thank you, you can leave- I will take care of him.” She sighed.

“Are you sure you don’t need me?” Dean Jenkins asked.

“Your magic has already ensured his life. I have a high level healing potion. I will send him to you later if required; we don’t want everyone to know what happened here.”

“I understand. I will visit him myself when you call, don’t worry.” The female began to leave.

The male took one last glance at Adrian and followed. The principal and Adrian were now the only ones breathing in the room.

“What a good actor you are!” She could hear his praise, his strong voice belied his near death appearance.

“Not good as you.” She replied, not surprised at all. But his next action surprised her.

He jumped up as if nothing happened to him. But his next question had her dumbfounded.

“Does **ing a masochist make you one?” He asked while punching his already smashed chest.