You always seem to wear your name well. You destroyed the Arena and almost killed our participants for the yearly Quest of Champions. Ryker spoke as he rushed and heaped three students on one shoulder and another three on the other shoulder. He rushed out with them towards the infirmary in the administration block.
My mind began to reel. I knew those at the gate had gone to call Ryker. I excused myself from the arena and went back to my dorm room, my coat back in my storage link. The quiet seemed to calm me. I made breakfast and ate. The earlier exercise seemed to have taken all my energy. Just one sandwich, which later became two, and before I knew it, a dozen sandwiches were down my throat. I still wanted more.
I waited patiently to hear the breakfast bell jingle. Once it did, I was already on my way. As my feet touched the dining room floor, all eyes followed me to my table and stayed on me as the murmurs increased. Day after day, I stayed on their lips like an old song.
"You, the director wants to see you," a lady dressed in white overalls announced. I nodded and continued with my breakfast. I ate before standing and making my way to the administrative block. It was better to listen to whatever news on a full stomach than an empty one.
I pushed the wooden door, and the joint creaked open to reveal a large library with a small desk in front. Seated was the midget who controlled what happened within these walls. I walked in and stood at a far distance, waiting for further instructions.
Someone burned arena five in the early hours of today, he spoke, breaking the silence. His eyes peered through his glasses as he studied a piece of paper under his desk lamp. Do you happen to know anything about that?
Sweat rolled down my back. I didn't know what to answer, and the question was a trick question. If I said no, then he would present facts to prove I was there, and I couldn't deny anything further. If I said yes, then he would listen to my side of the story and pass fair judgment.
He placed my fate in my own hands, waiting for the words that would break or make me. "Yes, I was." He raised his head and glanced at me, his eyes reading every piece of information from my body.
"I told you not to use your magic against students of the school?" I only defended myself, not killed anyone. I retorted. Well, you almost killed twenty of my students, and bright ones from notable families. The kind of people you do not want to take as enemies.
But you seem to have already made your choice by attacking their ward. You will have to be tried by the school board later, by one o'clock. Be there early, and try not to kill anyone before that time. You may go.
I pursed my lips, holding back the words that boiled through my chest. I wanted to yell. I wanted him to know they attacked me. The purple mist Hans Grue sprayed on me had already worn off. The only explanation would be my near-death experience at the hands of the winged wolves.
Hans Grue didn't even ask about Lyra, or was he the one who sent her? I had a lot of questions, but the biggest pulled on the knots in my stomach. It rang in my head: Was I going to be expelled?
The bell rang, signaling the commencement of classes. Time moved slowly as my eyes darted to the wall clock above the whiteboard from time to time. The classes took forever.
When it was time to refresh, one o'clock, an hour before the continuation of classes, I walked down to the administrative block, straight to the office of the disciplinary committee. As I walked into the room, all eyes followed me until I sat.
The disciplinary team was made up of seven members: three women and four men. Ryker was part of it. Lyra was seated at the table too. Hans Grue sat at the head of it.
"Tell me your name, and then tell us what happened in the arena," Hans Grue said, his voice firm but calm.
My eyes darted from one face to another as the seven representatives of the seven houses watched me with rapt attention. I was going to the gym to train because I couldn't sleep. Hebron came to me. Hebron is his family name.
"His name is Peter," a man with golden hair said, sitting next to Hans Grue. I noticed their seating arrangement was in order of who had more power and influence in Karydorg.
This was not looking like a hearing; it looked more like a trial where i was alr3ady guilty they just needed an excuse to sentence me. Thier eyes said it all. I took a deep breath and began to explain regardless.
After explaining the whole story word for word.
The man with the golden hair stood up. "Lies!
How can you prove an unawakened defeated twenty awakened students.
You should tell us the truth now. Did you plan to commit arson on school grounds.
My eyes opened in disbelief. I glanced at Lyra who looks away and then at Hans grue whose steady gaze hides a conspiracy I could not fathom.
You see I told you the child is delusional Hans blurt out.
I only allowed him stay here because the doctors agreed it would help with the loss of his father and with time heal. And in return our healers could study him. To help our students who lose thier minds after exiting large dungeons.
There is no way we will be allowed to compete in the quest of champions this year.
What should we do?
The Hebron representative asked in dismay.
We should pair him up with a few low ranking who have committed offense against the school to represent the school. Thier punishment will be to survive the quest as we all know the difficulty level of the quest takes young lives every year. This will help reduce the number of filth in the school and also serve as a warning to low serving mages who decide to offend us.
They continued to deliberate lik3 I was not present. And finally when they were done . The Hebron representative spoke.
Harken you have caused us a lot of headaches and therefore you will compete in the quest of champions.
I glance at the old midget. Who had a satisfied grin on his face. An unsettling face.