The sun hung high above the training grounds of the academy. The sound of clashing wooden weapons and spells filled the air as students sparred fiercely under the watchful eyes of their instructors.
Arthur stood in one of the far corners of the grounds, his shirt clinging to his back with sweat. His breathing was even, though his sparring partner, a second-year student, was already panting.
"Again?" the older student asked with a groan.
Arthur didn't answer. He just raised his practice spear once more, nodding lightly.
And across the field, Finn was flat on his back, groaning as Leon helped pull him to his feet.
Finn muttered looking at Professor Elias "That man's fists have no chill."
Leon looked at him weirdly and said, "Maybe if you keep your mouth shut while sparring."
"Where's the fun in that?"
…
At the academy gates.
A group of knights, clad in dark blue armor trimmed with silver, the crest of the church engraved on their chest plates, marched across the cobblestone path in formation.
Even without weapons drawn, their presence was unmistakable. Although the guards of the academy were confused, they let them pass as they did not have the authority to stop them.
"We'll inform the elders immediately," said one of the guards, and he went to inform the elders about their arrival, who were in the administrative wing.
A few moments later, Elder Rhystan, a stern looking, hawk-eyed man known for rarely leaving his tower arrived with a grave expression.
"What is the meaning of this intrusion?" Rhystan asked in a steely voice.
The captain of the knight squad stepped forward, helmet tucked under one arm and gave a short bow. "Elder Rhystan, apologies for the unannounced arrival. We're here under direct order from the Church. A suspect in the murder of Lord Elaric Bahram has been identified. We've been sent to detain him for questioning."
Elder Rhystan's brow furrowed. "And who, may I ask, is the accused?"
"It's a first-year student named Arthur Sully."
There was a moment of stunned silence.
Rhystan's gaze narrowed as he scoffed. "Are you certain? You want me to believe that one of our first year students was able to murder a noble under the watch of guards protecting him."
"We have what we believe to be irrefutable evidence," the captain replied carefully. "His arrest has been sanctioned. We will take him peacefully, but we cannot leave without him."
Rhystan's eyes remained locked on the knight captain for a long moment. Then he said in a cold tone, "It is a serious accusation, if it is found that you are mistaken, and your evidence amounts to nothing more than assumptions… you will have to answer to the academy. And to me."
The captain gulped audibly and nodded. "Understood elder"
"Follow me," Rhystan said curtly.
…
Training Grounds
The professors and the students stopped their training seeing an elder approaching them with some knights.
Arthur's eyes flicked toward the edge of the field seeing the knights approach them. He already knew why they were here the moment the knights entered the training ground.
Professor Elias stepped forward immediately, brows furrowed. "Elder?"
Rhystan didn't speak. The knight captain took one step forward instead, scanning the assembled students.
"I am Captain Gerrick of the Church. We are here on official business."
His eyes swept the group until they locked onto Arthur.
"Arthur Sully," he said firmly. "Step forward."
Arthur's friends turned toward him in confusion, as he stepped out from the group, walking calmly into the clearing between the knights and his classmates.
"I'm Arthur," he said quietly.
The captain nodded. "By order of the Church, you are under arrest for suspicion of murdering Lord Elaric Bahram. You are to be taken to the Interrogation Hall for questioning."
For a moment, the training ground was completely silent.
Then Finn exploded. "What the hell are you talking about!?"
"What kind of sick joke is this?" Leon snapped, stepping forward. "Arthur didn't kill anyone!"
"There has to be a mistake," Natalya said somewhat hesitatingly. "Arthur wouldn't do something like that."
"Enough," Arthur said quietly. His voice wasn't loud, but it stopped his friends from speaking further.
He stepped forward, his voice quiet but firm. "I'll go."
Finn snapped his head toward him. "What? Arthur…!"
"It's alright," Arthur said, meeting his gaze. "Don't make a scene, you'll only make it worse. Let them do what they need to."
Eva's expression was unreadable. But her fists were clenched tight at her sides. And Sophia's expression was tight, her lips pressed into a line.
"You better come back," Leon said.
"I'll be back soon," Arthur said, locking eyes with him. "I promise."
He then thought, 'Though in a manner you would not expect.'
The knights stepped forward and bound his wrists with suppression cuffs.
The professors watched in stunned silence as one of their promising students was arrested and taken away in front of them.
Rhystan said nothing as the knights turned and began escorting Arthur away.
The students parted like waves around them, whispering furiously, casting glances that were equal parts confusion and fear.
A few looked at Arthur like he was a murderer already. Most didn't know what to believe, but Arthur didn't care.
Arthur didn't look back as he was led away, he just needed to wait as his plan unfolds.
…
Arthur was led towards a dungeon for now where the most terrifying criminals were kept. The place was dirty and crawling with insects, like it hadn't been cleaned for years.
The dungeon was far beneath the city, it was a dark, winding descent that smelled of rusted iron and stale rot. Arthur walked behind following one of the knights, his cuffs clinking with every step he took, the sound echoing eerily against damp stone walls.
Torchlight flickered across moss-slicked stone and the cells. Screams echoed from the deeper levels. Some sounded mad, while others… weren't human.
At the end of a narrow corridor, the knights stopped before a cell with thick metallic bars and a single grimy straw bed.
One of the knights unlocked the door without ceremony. "In," he ordered gruffly.
Arthur stepped inside, as the door clanged shut behind him, followed by the heavy thunk of the bolt being drawn. None of the knights said another word before they turned and left, their footsteps retreating into silence.
The cell was cold, and damp. The kind of place people would like to stay far away from.
Arthur sat on the edge of the straw bed, which smelled like mold and dried blood. He didn't flinch, he had faced worse.
From across the dim corridor opposite to his cell, a rough voice called out.
"Well, well. It looks like a fresh meat arrived today."
Arthur looked up slowly.
A man in the cell opposite him grinned through crooked, yellow teeth. His frame was wiry, and his eyes gleamed like a rat's in the dark.
"What'd you do, lad?" the man asked, voice full of amusement. "Kill a priest? Or did you bed a nobleman's daughter?"
Arthur said nothing.
The prisoner leaned closer against the bars. "Oh… you one of those silent types? Think you're better than the rest of us, do ya?"
Still no response.
The grin faded from the man's face. "You lookin' down on me lad?"
Arthur's eyes finally lifted as he looked at the man with a look that could freeze soul.
The man stopped mid-rant, the hairs on his neck rising. There was no fear in Arthur's expression, one he had seen on the prisoners kept at the dungeon. There was just...cold detachment in his eyes.
The prisoner backed away slowly, muttering curses under his breath.
Arthur leaned back against the wall and closed his eyes. For now he simply needed to wait.
…
Count Bahram's Estate
Night blanketed the Bahram estate in silence.
Count Bahram stood at the arched window of his study, gazing at the starlit sky above the city. His hands were clasped behind his back, one thumb tapping rhythmically against the other.
The door behind him creaked open. And a shadow silently coalesced behind him and knelt down.
"My lord," the shadow said, its voice barely above a whisper.
The count asked without turning. "Did you find out who killed my son?" He was extremely angry when he got the information that his son's life stone had shattered, indicating he died.
The shadow, now revealed to be a woman who wore all black from head to toe, replied. "It was a boy named Arthur Sully," she said. "He is a student at Velcrest Academy."
The count clenched his hands behind his back and asked, "Did you find out the reason why he killed my son?"
The woman nodded and recounted Arthur's encounters with Elaric. "Young lord Elaric had previously sent assassins after the boy over a Dragon Core he obtained in an auction. But the boy somehow survived. Young lord Elaric also attempted to sabotage an orphanage the boy runs in the city."
The woman hesitated for a second and said, "Young lord Elaric was killed inside one of his private slave facilities along with all his guards, but…all the bodies are missing."
Silence followed.
Although the count didn't like that son of his, he can't just leave someone to roam free after killing him, Elaric even with all his shortcomings was his son after all.
The count finally said, "See to it that he doesn't get to see tomorrow's light."
"As you command, my lord." And then, she vanished like being swallowed by the shadows.
…
Hollow Crown Hideout
In one of the Hollow Crown's hideouts in the city's lower district Alistair sat at his table, fingers steepled in thought. Layouts of a dungeon and documents lay scattered before him, some marked with the symbol of the Bahram family, others with Arthur's name on it that have the seal of the Church.
A soft knock came at the door.
"Enter," Alistair said.
Tristan pushed open the door and stepped inside, bowing. "Master. Arthur has been taken to the Blackstone Dungeon."
Alistair didn't react as he already knew they would take him there. He stood up as he adjusted his long coat. "Is the team ready?"
"Yes master," Tristan replied. "They're already waiting near the south service tunnel. It connects to the old drainage line under Blackstone's second sublevel."
"Good," Alistair said. "We will strike tonight."
Tristan's eyes flicked up. "Is this wise, master? If we interfere, we'll be drawing attention to ourselves."
"I don't care about the risks, we need Arthur on our side." Alistair interrupted, his eyes hard.
He continued, "If we can get Arthur on our side, the Hollow Crown may finally gain the weapon it needs desperately."
Although Tristan can't figure out what his master saw in Arthur for him to be ready to risk their hideout in Brightwater City, he didn't question his master's judgement.
Alistair walked past Tristan toward the door. "Let's go."
***
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