Chapter 36: Before The Higher Ups
Footsteps could be heard from the knights wearing armour as they made their way to another hall located in the Administration Block.
Noah followed the knights down the long, dimly lit hallway.
The clanking of their armor echoed around him as they led him into a large hall.
Inside, he saw a table set up in the center, surrounded by professors and important-looking figures.
There were about ten of them, each dressed in formal robes.
They seemed stern and serious.
Noah's stomach churned as he entered.
One of the professors gestured for him to sit.
Noah walked forward and took his place in the chair they had prepared for him.
The room felt cold and unwelcoming.
It looked more like a courtroom than anything else.
High ceilings loomed above, and the walls were lined with old, polished wood.
The faces of the school's higher-ups were watching him carefully.
Noah looked around and spotted some familiar faces.
Xander was there, sitting a few seats away, looking uneasy.
Rylan, seated next to him, had a bitter expression on his face.
Ariana sat beside them, her face hard to read.
Then Noah's gaze fell on Maya.
She was sitting stiffly, eyes fixed ahead. Like him, they were all here for the same reason.
Suddenly, the door opened again.
Amy Blue Rose walked in, followed closely by her bodyguard, Draven Lockwood.
Noah's eyes widened as he saw him.
The others in the room didn't seem to recognize Draven, but Noah knew who he was.
In the game, Draven was portrayed as the villain.
Noah's heart raced, but he kept his face neutral as Amy and Draven took their seats.
The session began.
One of the professors stood up and asked Amy to share her side of the story concerning the Starlight Manor Incident, which had now been renamed Silver Crest Hall Dormitory.
Amy stood and faced the panel.
"When I left my room to join Xander and the others, we were suddenly attacked," Amy said.
"Some students had gone rogue. They ambushed us.
Xander was injured, and before we knew it, I was taken by those involved in the demonic summoning. They took me to the top floor where the ritual was happening."
She finished and sat back down.
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The room was silent, and the others were given the opportunity to speak.
Rylan was next.
He stood with a look of bitterness on his face.
"After the barrier went down, we rushed to the top floor," he began.
"When we got there, we found Noah. He had transformed. He looked like a demon, and it seemed like he was the one behind the summoning."
He spoke the words harshly, but Noah could hear the anger in his voice.
Rylan sat back down without another word.
Ariana was called next.
She gave a similar statement, agreeing with Rylan's version of events.
She spoke calmly, but her words only added to the suspicion hanging over Noah.
'I tried...to me even though I fought Noah, I could see it in his eyes...'
Ariana began her thoughts.
'...that look he had while we were fighting, ut was almost like he knew each and every one of us, like he wanted all of that to happen...'
'No it was almost as if, he wanted us to go through the ordeal...like it was supposed to strengthen us...'
'And even so...his eyes spoke of someone who had a great burden weighing on his small shoulders...
A burden that he couldn't get anyone's help with, even if he were to tell them.
Like he wanted to be helped and freed from it...but still wanted it to happen.'
Ariana thought as she gazed at Noah.
Her expression was that if concern and sympathy.
Then it was Xander's turn.
He stood up, rubbing the back of his neck awkwardly.
"Honestly, I don't know.
I was knocked out," he said bluntly.
"I didn't see anything."
There was no laughter in the room, only uncomfortable silence.
Xander sat back down, his comment falling flat.
Finally, it was Noah's turn.
He hesitated, his eyes narrowing as he glared at Amy.
Why had she stopped there?
Hadn't he been the one who protected her?
Why didn't she mention that?
He pushed those thoughts aside. He needed to be careful with his words.
Taking a deep breath, Noah stood up and faced the panel.
"The barrier was corrupted," he began.
"It flickered and collapsed.
I jumped through it because I had to hurry and rescue Amy.
At the time, I was still the Blessed Sage—at least, I was.
It was my duty to ensure the safety of the students and to deal with the situation before the professors or other faculty arrived."
He paused, glancing around the room.
"The barrier was strong enough that even the knights couldn't get in.
It was up to the first-year student council to handle it."
One of the professors, Sharon Albright, stood up.
Her voice was cold.
"I saw you letting go of Seraphina Vale," she said.
"It almost looked like you led her to her death."
Noah clenched his fists. He looked at Sharon, his eyes hard.
"I didn't let go of her," he said.
Noah hesitated even he wasn't sure of what happened.
But even after that, Seraphs death didn't cause a stir in him.
Or rather he didn't care at all.
It did reduce his burden after all.
But there was no way he was going to say that.
"Seraphina let go of me. I tried to hold on, but she… she made her own choice."
His voice softened as he remembered the moment.
He could still feel the weight of Seraphina's hand slipping from his grasp.
The memory felt heavy in his chest.
He continued, trying to stay composed.
"After that, I was caught in the magic circle.
My body was corrupted by the demonic power. I became a vessel, but it wasn't by choice."
The session continued, and Maya was called next.
She stood up, her face pale but determined.
"It couldn't have been Noah behind the summoning," she said firmly.
"I was with him the entire time."
One of the nobles interrupted her, his voice sharp.
"You could be lying. Maybe you were in cahoots with him."
Maya's face tightened, but she didn't respond to the accusation.
Noah stepped forward again.
"The person responsible for the summoning wasn't me," he said, his voice clear.
"It was Seraphina. When I got to the top, she was there, hooded, standing in the center of the magic circle."
A man and a woman suddenly rose from their seats, their faces twisted with anger.
"You're lying!" the woman shouted.
"Seraphina would never do such a thing!"
The man glared at Noah.
"You dare to slander our daughter? He should be beheaded for such blasphemous statements!"
Chaos erupted in the room.
The voices of the angry parents echoed, but they were quickly silenced by the Vice Master of the school.
He was an old man with sharp, young features, his eyes glinting with authority.
"Enough!" he said sternly.
"Take your seats."
The parents sat back down, but the tension in the room remained thick.
The Vice Master turned his gaze back to Noah.
"Are there any other witnesses who can support this claim?" he asked, his voice cold and calculated.
No one spoke. The room was silent.
Noah stood alone, feeling the weight of every eye on him.
Then, the charges were listed. Noah's heart pounded as the list grew longer.
The Vice Master stood from his seat, his gaze cold and unwavering as he faced Noah.
His voice echoed through the hall as he began listing the charges, each one like a blade cutting deeper into Noah's soul.
"First," the Vice Master said, "you are charged with the murder of Seraphina Vale, a noble from a respected family."
"Not only her but other students as well..."
"Second, you are accused of initiating a demonic summoning within the grounds of Ravenwood Academy, a practice that violates our core principles and endangers the lives of all students and staff."
"Third, you broke the academy's rule on using forbidden dark magic, a crime punishable by immediate expulsion and imprisonment, let alone on school property."
"Fourth, you have been charged with corrupting a sacred barrier, designed to protect the academy from outside threats, and twisting it for personal gain."
"Fifth, you participated in unauthorized rituals, involving dark entities, in direct violation of Ravenwood's Code of Ethics for magic use."
"Sixth, you are accused of the endangerment of fellow students, including members of the student council, by your reckless actions during the Silver Crest Hall incident."
"Seventh, you have been identified as a vessel for demonic power, willingly or not, bringing harm to all those present at the Starlight Manor."
"Eighth, you are charged with manipulating the mind and will of others, a heinous act under the academy's laws, by coercing or influencing other students during the chaos."
"Ninth, you are held responsible for the destruction of school property, including the dormitory and surrounding grounds, during the incident."
"Lastly," the Vice Master's voice grew harsher, "you are charged with sacrilege against the kingdom's sacred laws, aligning yourself with demonic forces to overthrow the established order of our society."
Noah's body trembled as he listened, each accusation heavier than the last.
His fists clenched, and the weight of his impending fate pressed down on him.
There was no room for defense, no escape from the accusations.
"As these charges stand, Noah Ashbourne, you are hereby expelled from Ravenwood Academy and will be handed over to the authorities to face the full weight of the kingdom's laws."
The room was silent. The verdict was final.