(C)rook

It was a very difficult power to defeat, which was part of the reason why Pavone chose him to be the Lyr in the first place if he could not have Cermin.

He continued to use the eel to slowly undress Edelweiss and humiliate her in front of everyone.

Cermin had no choice but to bring out his sword. The Solaire sword shone bright, blinding everyone that gets too near it.

"I said stop it, Sordi. You can steal powers, but you cannot steal from Hero Mages. I know that."

"Let her go."

Sordido made a 'tsk' sound. "Fine."

He let the eel let go of Edelweiss, who collapsed on the ground from suffocation--

And then send it flying towards Cermin!

Two more appeared, and constricted him from head to toe. One also choked him, and Cermin was stuck there like a statue, shakily trying to keep hold of his sword.

"Drychspiel. Don't think I do not know about Pavone's offer to make you the Avian's Lyr."

He went over to Cermin, squeezing his cheek. "I have heard many despicable things about you. But I only thought it was amazing, how you managed to stay on campus despite them."

"I thought you must be some kind of genius. Definitely worth being an Avian."

"But I was wrong. " He chuckled. "You are simply a weakling parading to be some hero."

Cermin choked in response. "You'll... pay.... get caught by..... Councilor...."

"Oh, and I could simply claim I was protecting this poor damsel from a known serial offender. A threat to the Academy's safety and himself."

"A man possessed by daemons, hahaha!"

He took the unconscious Edelweiss, and eyed everyone nearby. "Everyone will vouch for my good deeds, right? I am the savior, and Cermin Drychspiel is the perverted lecher."

The people were fearful of such powers like this, so they could only nod their heads in agreement, and go away in a hurry.

Ronin and Kai did not nod. He just watched the scene under his thick cloak.

Pavone really does pick people very well.

Speaking off---

"What is going on here, Sordido?"

The man dressed fanciest among all Academians had arrived. He was wearing a fancy feather hat fashioned on a diamond-encrusted top hat.

But upon closer look, it was actually platinum, not diamonds. His whole suit was also platinum lined, no longer gold.

In his breast pocket was a jeweled rose, and he has a can with a rose quartz tip.

Ronin guessed he and Rabuka must have gotten together despite the accident and being in a different Schoola.

Out of all his business connections, his affection for the songstress was the only genuine one.

"Ah, Pavone!" Sordido just greeted him. "I'm just teaching Cermin a lesson or two about what it takes to be an Avian."

"I see. And shouldn't the Head be the one teaching him that?" Pavone said. "Your methods lack the proper class, this is not how Avians should act."

Ronin raised an eyebrow. Is he going to suck up to him?

"Release him." Pavone said. "If you keep finding trouble like this, I'm afraid I would have to remove you from my party list."

Sordido's eyes widened. "But you need me---"

"No, I don't. Your power is truly useful against all kinds of Mages besides Hero Mages....."

He touched the eels, and they suddenly disappeared.

"And me."

Cermin's rushed towards Sordido in anger and slashed forward---

But he did not go for his neck.

He went for his palm!

Sordido groaned in pain at the deep scar on his hand.

"Hah..... Now it's barely useful for you...." Cermin said, his anger seething. "I warned you to let her go, but you wouldn't listen."

Sordido roared and went to punch him. "How dare you!? This is my Mage Focus---"

Pavone just grabbed his wrist. "And now it's gone. It can easily be taken away from you, so I would not rely on it too much to be my only source of ego, if I were you."

Sordido, pushed him off, running with his injured hand. "You'll regret this, Pavone! You'll know you chose the wrong side soon enough!"

Cermin picked up the unconscious Edelweiss that he just left behind. "Miss, are you alright? Can you hear me?"

"Best take her to the infirmary before anyone have other ideas." Pavone said. "And to have yourself checked as well."

He handed a handkerchief for Cermin to wipe all that eel slime, and gently massaged the ligature marks around his neck.

"I'm alright.... Thank you for the help." Cermin said, carrying Edelweiss bridal style. "But you lost your Lyr candidate."

"I'd rather have anyone else than Sordido be my Lyr after what has ensued." Pavone chuckled bitterly.

"Do not fret about it. It will be difficult to find a new one... Unless you change your mind, of course."

Cermin's eyes shifted from uncertainty. "I don't---"

"What you did earlier, Cermin..... That is something an Avian would do to diffuse a situation." Pavone patted his head.

"You could have let your anger get the best of you and attack him, but you instead attacked his Mage Focus. Ensuring that he will not victimize others for the time being."

Cermin smiled at how proud Pavone's tone was.

"I..... I'll think about it. I don't want your campaign to get in trouble just because of me. You deserve to win. "

Pavone smiled. "Thank you, Goldie. With more people like you, like us Avians... The Academy will soar into greater heights."

Ronin knows for sure that Pavone does not deserve to win. There was something about him that triggers Ronin's crook senses.

He has met all kinds of villains from his time as a system. He knows how to spot a possible one.

Pavone may be the morally ambiguous type too, but there were many ways to tip him towards the extreme side of the scale. Make Cermin see past this 'righteous' facade.

Not to mention his discriminatory nature may bring trouble to that facade.

"Sordido was part of the Avian's too last year, right? His position was similar to an auditor?" Ronin asked Kai.

"Actuary, yes. He oversees the total allotted funding for the Student Council and if they would be enough to fund projects."

Kai added: "He was very good at this that's why he was the back-up for Lyr in case Cermin never agreed. Why do you ask?"

Ronin grinned. "I now found my next move against the Rook."