Chapter 6
"The righteous judge." The old man frowned, "In the end of his life, he fumbled and lost his heart to the greed inside of him. Nobody supported him and nobody could reach him. However, the circumstances now is not completely desolate, though grim."
"Let me guess." She sighed, "You want me to slap some sense back into him."
"Avoid violence as much as possible." Her teacher reminded her bluntly, "I don't believe you are in the position to move around freely either." A
"Hmph…" she grumbled in dismay, "During my time at Night Raven College, I have seen a number of those who lost themselves to the blot. However, they were lucky. Someone from the light never stopped extending that hand to them and acknowledged them and their sins. Perhaps, the one who shall save him may not be me this time. If we actively attempt to stop someone who is determined to stay in the darkness, we would be nothing more than oil to the fire."
"You will bring him back." Her master states quietly with a smile, "Whether it is done so directly or indirectly does not matter."
"Again?" She grumbled in dismay.
The man gave a weak chuckle this time before he suggested, "My son will return soon. Till that happens, why not go down and join in the festivities? There is a dance event during the Topsy Turvy festival."
"Only you would think to have fun while something dangerous is happening." She sighed as she tossed the scroll into her ring.
"Peony, come here."
With a raised brow, Peony walked back to the bed side as she raised a hand to her master's gesture. A warm glow emitted from the master and it seeped into the meridians of the arm.
"This is..." She was surprised.
A wave of calm finally came over her as she watched. The flames in her quelled as a slight wavy of weariness washed over her. Finally, she opened her mouth once the glow was gone, "The ability to calm the heart. I didn't know you could use a unique magic. Yet, despite such an special ability in your position, you rarely even used it. Judging your current condition, you probably have stopped using it once the condition became worse. The amount of mana used... Is it less than ten times? And this... It would be the eleventh."
The gargoyles were stunned! They haven't said anything but without using magic or equipments, she was already able to guess it all even pinpointing the number of time he had used the unique magic without asking him.
"All right." He smiled, "It's time for you to finish your investigation. When you are done, please let me know."
He wants to take responsibility for his son's mistakes with him.
"Will you be all right?" She questioned hesitantly, "The city... is emitting a very familiar scent. A scent of a fire that has just bloomed."
"I shall stay behind."
She turned around and huff a laugh, "Took you long enough... Old man Liam."
In a black suit, the tall elderly man with wide shoulders, long silver hair and silver mustache walked in in stride. With each step, the floor creaked. This man was Auxilium Septimus. The current president of the board of education of magic and the council of magic.
"Liam! It's a relief to see you, my old friend." Master called out to him with a smile.
"You-!" He heaved a heavy sigh. The man patted her head as though she was still a child and said, "Stay vigilant."
"Got it."
Saying this, she walked out barefoot in silence.
"The gargoyles led me here as soon as I entered the tower. How is your health?" He replied with a relieved look before his brows furrowed with a frown, "Can't you at least contact someone before you go somewhere far?! A trip between Briar Valley and Fluer City is not a short trip, especially for your health! I came as soon as I heard everything from your student and notified my assistant."
"Ah, my apologies for causing so much chaos during my absence." He nodded with a small smile.
"Hah..." The leader sighed, "The gargoyles outside told me... You took out that box. Are you planning to take full responsibility for all of this?"
He nodded and sighed too while looking out the window, "This time, my son has carried out many sins in his name. Though his reason is admirable, the choices he made are flawed. It is about time I also resigned my position."
"Then, your successor? Will it be the missing Flamme child?" The man frowned.
Tropin shook his head and sighed much to the man's confusion. Tropin continued, "The two candidates are no longer capable of maintaining their position. Moreover, the city..."
"If we act rashly, the whole city will be in danger." The man responded.
"That's why... We need to place our faith in the children." Tropin nodded as he reached out a hand to touch the window pane.
"The children?" Auxilium looked to him in confusion.
Tropin nodded with his crooked smile before raising a brow, "More importantly, did something happened to the princess as of late?"
"So, you noticed." Auxilium sighed.
"She is my student. How could I not? She is among the number of children I've taught since they were small."
"Is it a good change?"
Tropin hesitated, "I cannot say for sure. She has become more empathetic, yet her cold nature is still there. In the past, she was like a wall of ice containing a ball of fire which threatened to burn everything in sight. However, now that ball of fire has only grown with a sense of kindness while the ice is starting to melt. Whether this fire will become the kind to burn everything away or to warm the heart, that would remain unseen. Yet... If it was the past, she would have recklessly dealt with the problem on her own. She had been someone who faced her problems on her own. Now, she speaks of other people. I suggest we take the chance to watch and see how this unfolds."
"However, the flowers…"
"It will be all right. If it's her, she will not allow anyone to hurt those she deems under her care. Perhaps, some mana will be depleted, but they will remain safe and unharmed." Her teacher smiled, "Let this be a test, shall we? A trial of judgement."
.....
Walking through the streets, Peony yawned as she looked around the stalls. A voice entered her mind, "Were you not going to deliver him the pastries?"
"Can't." She replied, "He has only just woken up about a couple weeks ago. I can imagine the gargoyles went around scrapping for him some food all this time. If he suddenly eats solid food, his stomach would not take the sudden change too kindly. Any problem?"
"Master's master is really humble." Xiao Li mumbled, "Though I don't doubt master, is this man really so capable that he was able to stand up for master so long ago?"
Peony sighed, "That's what age does. However, master's fortitude did not change. Now master is retiring. It's unfortunate but he cannot continue this line of work as the headmaster or judge."
Her voice of thought was interrupted as a call sounded from nearby, "Good day, beautiful miss! How about a mask?"
She looked down and saw a little boy in a cute noble attire as he looked to her with expected awe. She then noticed a little girl clinging to his pant leg. The shy little girl was also in a cute blue dress as she looked to her in a similar awe. The boy handed her a purple adorned with red stones. Beautiful? Her? She looked down upon the two and knelt down with a smile, "How much is the mask? It's a really pretty mask."
Hearing this, the boy smiled wide as the little girl next to him gasped excitedly.
"Three thaumarks!" The little girl called out.
Seeing the blisters and scratches on their hands, she could guess the creator of this mask was them. From afar, she noticed a middle age man smiling proudly next to his cart of masks. She nodded and handed them four thaumarks, "I really like the mask. Here's a little extra."
The kids looked to her in surprise as the boy stammered, "A-Are you sure?"
Peony nodded and carefully took the mask from him. As she tied it on, she chuckled, "Yes. You should go have some fun with your family too. Thank you again!"
As she left the place, she made her way to the sound of music and fireworks. Peony smiled as she watched the group enjoy themselves followed by the other students. As she made her way towards the performance with many people dancing around the square, she brushed through her hair with a hand turning them from red to black. She watched quietly humming to the beat of the fun music. Everyone was having fun dancing to the music as even the students went in and started dancing. Soon, everyone began noticing the uniforms of Royal Sword Academy and joined in. She recalled her teacher looking out the window. She wore an irritated smile.
"He did say we should enjoy the festivities." Xiao Li's voice reminded her.
She nodded, "He is always the one who enjoys pressuring others into having fun."
Before she could step in, a hand reached out to her as she looked up and noticed a familiar figure. My, isn't this Neige from the VDC competition? Looking around, she noticed that Riddle's childhood friend, Chen'ya was present too.
"Come dance with us!" He smiled warmly.
However, seeing the smile, Peony could hardly feel much of the warmth behind it. As Peony took Neige's offered hand, the small bell on her anklet chimed. The crowd's attention shifted, drawn in by the ethereal presence of a barefoot girl in a red and purple flowy dress, her black hair glinting under the sunlight. With each graceful step, she beat her tambourine to the music, and her vivid violet eyes seemed to shimmer.
Gasps and murmurs rippled through the crowd!
"Where did she come from?!"
"That costume—it's mesmerizing!"
"She looks like she stepped out of a storybook!"
Among them, Epel leaned forward, eyes wide.
"Woah... she's like one of those old folk dancers from home, but fancier. Even Neige's just standin' there!"
Rollo, who stood nearby with a handkerchief over his mouth, gave a tight frown.
"This is unexpected. There are no scheduled performers today. And no one was granted clearance for such a display."
He paused.
"But… the crowd is enthralled. It appears... harmless. For now."
Deuce blinked in astonishment.
"She's... amazing. I've never seen dancing like that before."
Rook, utterly spellbound, clasped his hands together with delight.
"Magnifique! Such vibrant spirit and untamed elegance! A flower blooming wildly under the sun's gaze!"
Malleus, watching from a distance, let out a quiet sigh.
"This is just like her…"
There was no anger in his voice—just exasperated fondness, tinted with something unreadable.
Jamil, who stood close enough to hear, raised a brow.
"Huh. That's a rare tone coming from you, Draconia."
He crossed his arms, clearly intrigued.
"Do you know her?"
Malleus didn't answer, eyes trained on the girl spinning with the tambourine, the sound of bells threading through the festival square.
The music suddenly sped up—and with it, a familiar figure bounded into the circle.
A goat.
Yes, a goat.
The crowd erupted in laughter and cheers as the creature pranced and spun around Peony, mirroring her steps with surprising rhythm.
Azul, adjusting his glasses in disbelief, muttered:
"That... is unmistakably the same goat as the statue of La Dame et la Chèvre."
He turned to Ruggie, who gave a light shrug.
"She certainly knows how to command a stage," Jade replied smoothly.
"Or at least... draw every eye in the plaza."