Verse Ten

"Forbidden technology can also hurt wordsmiths when used wrongly. This was also the reason speculated for the Juris to attack the school."

Technology that was not approved by the [Whisper of Merlin] was forbidden among wordsmiths due to very few reasons: when it goes against the principles of Syntaxis, when it causes harm to its user and surroundings, and when it has unforgivable origins. As the Archetype of progress, ambition, and power, the [Whisper of Merlin] is not finicky with what kind of method someone uses to achieve their ambitions as long as it does not fall under any of these three reasons.

CK was getting upset. Aside from the surprise visit of the school press, being accused of using forbidden technology next was sheer absurdity. As if she would fall under that kind of desperation. 

Not only were the charges against her adding by the day, but she's also one and a half hour late for her afternoon snacks! Taking a deep breath in, CK tempered herself and turned to the journalists.

"Listen, ladies, gentlemen, and all in-between. I apologize, but I'm not going to answer any of these questions without permission from the faculty. If you want information, approach them instead of me. I have plenty of things to do, and I don't need this to add to my plate," CK stated.

"But miss CK—!"

The buzz of the students froze when the doors of the dormitory living room suddenly swung open, revealing the valedictorian himself walking in a hurry. Winslow had a small frown, but it got deeper when he saw the crowd around CK.

"I told you not to tell anyone about the Juris attack," Winslow said. "Funny. I was wondering where they heard it after they came here asking me about it," CK retorted with crossed arms.

Being in the presence of the valedictorian and former salutatorian made the students tense for a moment. Judging by his words, they suspected Winslow knew something about the incident, but no one dared to make a sound. In front of the two students who used to be rivals, the juniors would rather stay silent.

Malphas was perched atop a shelf, silently watching the commotion with intrigue. He's sure those other students misunderstood the words of the two, but a little drama might actually save them this time.

Winslow's frown deepened, "CK…"

CK's blank look turned into mild surprise when another figure appeared behind Winslow. "Madam Yanyan," she said in surprise when she saw the woman garbed in an elegant lavender colored suit. It complimented her figure nicely. 

The woman's stare became stern at the sight inside the dormitory. "Alright, that's enough. We already told you, information about the trial, the incident, and everything else will not be disclosed until everything is under control. This is not something that concerns the student body. Now, if you would be so kind, leave and give CK her privacy. Go on. Be off now," Madam Yanyan scolded.

"Y-Yes, madam Yanyan," the students responded meekly. In the presence of the advisor of the sophomore year, the students' attempts to get answers got completely flushed out and they all dispersed through the doors.

A few of them dared to look back into the room until madam Yanyan's brow twitched. She closed the door and locked it, her stern composure evaporating with a tired sigh. 

"Oh, what a mess," Madam Yanyan held her forehead and shook her head slightly. CK also sighed and sank unto the couch. Winslow remained standing, looking rather grim. 

"Do any of you want anything to eat?" CK asked groggily. "No, thank you, CK. From the looks of it, you've been exhausted with everything that's happened," Madam Yanyan replied with a wry smile, "We're sorry. You must not be expecting visitors."

"It's nothing too surprising," CK said, then sat up suddenly, "Is it true that the Juris attacked because of some claim about forbidden technology?"

"Nothing but exaggerated rumors, I assure you," Madam Yanyan's forehead creased, "I told the others not to give away anything about the incident with the armada, but apparently the administration had something else in mind. Now look at this mess! Honestly."

"The administration told the student body about it?" Winslow asked, just as surprised as CK. "Unfortunately, yes… Many professors and instructors were deployed by the administration to defend the armada from the Juris' attempted invasion, leaving the Nonaphrontistery a little vulnerable to any attack," Madam Yanyan said and looked at them.

"I'm telling this to the both of you because I can trust you. You are some of the strongest students the school has at the moment. Should the worst-case scenario occur, I'm hoping you can protect your classmates and juniors," she said. CK smiled apologetically.

"I think you're overthinking, madam. The school cannot be touched even by the forces of the Emperor himself. But I get where you're coming from," she said. "The administration probably thought that making the students aware of the situation will keep them alert while inside the school," Winslow held his chin with a frown, "Somehow reasonable, but is it really necessary? It would just make everyone anxious."

"That doesn't change the fact that everyone knows the armada was under attack," Madam Yanyan sighed loudly, "We really need to come up with a better strategy."

CK silently switched her gaze from Winslow to Madam Yanyan. "So…did the two of you just come here to tell me about the school press and all that?" she asked. Madam Yanyan and Winslow shared a look before turning to her.

"Let's go for a walk, dear. There's something else I need to talk to you about," Madam Yanyan gestured CK to follow as she left the room. CK shrugged and obliged, letting Winslow follow last to shut the door.

"This doesn't look like a talk about boys," CK joked lightly as she walked side by side with the professor. Madam Yanyan laughed lightly, "Haha! Oh, I wish it was. It would certainly be a better topic, and one that we could enjoy discussing."

Madam Yanyan's small smile faded and was replaced with a somber look. "Kitmar was unsettled by the information that Yvonna and Dulia presented during the hearing; the one about Professor Erzem's unrecorded transactions. He was a Core Instructor, as you know. It might seem like the Core Instructors have it easier since they're the 'bosses', but they're more obliged to obey strict protocols in the Nonaphrontistery due to their responsibilities. Kitmar couldn't turn a blind eye to those transactions even if he said to leave it until Professor Erzem himself could testify," she stated.

"Did you hold a separate investigation on master, then?" CK asked. Madam Yanyan nodded, "We began by retracing Professor Erzem's activity six months prior. As much as I disliked asking, I needed Yvonna's cooperation... I almost wished I didn't."

CK smiled apologetically at her tone. "You found something, didn't you?" she asked. Madam Yanyan sighed and ran a hand through the strands of her long, blonde hair, "It was inside one of the storage rooms in the lower levels of the administration building. The professor made it tricky to open the storage room, but Kitmar easily bypassed the security using the administration data bank."

"Woah. The school's data bank can do that?" CK asked, impressed. "The data bank under the administration can. The ones that students use weren't given that kind of privilege. We don't need the students reading the exams and answer keys before the day of the exams, nor tamper with the grades computed by the professors," Madam Yanyan replied, "The data bank of the administration did not serve as a teaching tool. It was more of a security measure."

Madam Yanyan's gaze turned passive. "There were several crates in the storage room, several of them containing pieces of equipment that the Nonaphrontistery confirmed to have been discarded since the birth of the Empire," she said grimly, "They were…purchased with credits from the Nonaphrontistery illegally."

Upon hearing this, Winslow silently looked at CK. Her emotions were unreadable. "Were you aware?" Madam Yanyan asked. CK merely shrugged and kept her gaze at the front, "Who knows? Even if I did, there was nothing I can do. As his apprentice, all I can do is follow him from behind."

The mood slowly simmered down as they walked further, both women feeling a little more serious when they both arrived at the hospital and in front of the room where Professor Erzem was confined. 

Winslow was following behind, stopping when both women arrived at the door. His gaze was a little thoughtful upon seeing the door, but he said nothing as they all walked in with the permission of the attendants. 

The professor's hospital room was neat, hardly decorated except for the small pot of flowers on the bedside table. A decorative box of incense was lit, its aromatic smoke wafting through the room. Madam Yanyan's gaze softened upon seeing the unconscious youthful man on the bed, while Winslow thinned his lips. This was the first time they've seen the professor since his comatose.

"Look at him. I can't believe he gets to retain his youth while I look like a hag. And I happen to be his junior," she said irritatingly. She walked towards the side of the bed, her stern look faltering the longer she saw the weakness on Erzem's face.

"You hardly look like an old man, so stop acting like it," Madam Yanyan muttered, "You have to recover soon, professor… You just have to."

CK saw her clench the hem of the blanket tightly. Madam Yanyan, Sir Zeke, and the other professors used to be her master's student. This kind of reaction was anticipated, given their career-oriented relationship through the years.

Madam Yanyan took a deep breath before regaining her calm. She looked at CK seriously, her lips pursed thinly.

"I don't know what Professor Erzem's reasons are for resorting to shady activities, but you may have a better idea than us. There's something off about this entire case, especially the part where the professor was being prosecuted right after he collapsed," she said, "And getting involved as a student has placed you in a difficult position."

"Do you think Ms. Yvonna and Ms. Dulia are after something?" CK asked, side-glancing at Winslow. The young man frowned but did nothing else. 

Madam Yanyan snorted, "What could they possibly benefit from going against someone who's out of their league? They can't take over his place. But I will admit: I find their behavior to be quite displeasing."

"No offense, Winslow," Madam Yanyan added. "None taken," Winslow replied, "There must be some other reason for them to take the initiative to investigate."

"I'll be looking into that. This is something that the faculty members are responsible for, after all. In the meantime, Winslow, look after your classmates. And CK," Madam Yanyan looked at the young woman pensively.

"You should take extra caution. If the Nonaphrontistery finds professor Erzem guilty, you will be the first to suffer the consequences. That is if he does not wake up soon. Be on your guard until everything has settled down," Madam Yanyan warned, "As his apprentice, you know more than we do at the moment. Your association with the professor might make things more difficult in the coming trial if you're not careful."

CK's brows furrowed lightly. "This trial isn't really about my actions, is it?" she said, but the answer was clear. CK sighed at this, "Whatever. Things won't really matter whether the school wants to prosecute me or the master. I'll be involved either way."

CK smiled and tilted her head at the woman. "Don't be so glum, madam Yanyan. You've known me for my entire student life, right? There's no way I'm going to trial for something like this. I've done far worse before and I got off. This won't be any different," she giggled, "I'll head off first, if you don't mind. I'm terribly late for my snacks."

Madam Yanyan watched as CK left the room, an anxious bite of her lip giving her thoughts away. CK was never punished severely because of two reasons: she was a responsibility of the school, and because of Professor Erzem. Now that she was basically considered an alumni and that the professor was in the hospital, she is basically left vulnerable. Sending her to jail won't affect the school in any way.

"You should have faith in CK's words, madam. She is occupied with investigations despite behaving so casually in front of you," Winslow said. "Mm. You're right," Madam Yanyan muttered, "Whatever she was doing before returning to the dormitory…should not be questioned for now."

The speck of red on CK's sweater could've been mistaken for some kind of jam or syrup. But CK has not touched any snacks for a while, begging the question where she could've gotten a stain like that from…

<Welcome, my worn-out mistress.>

"You don't look any better, snotty bird," CK glared at the crow perched atop her canopy bed. She grumbled and dropped herself unto her bed sheets, almost sinking into the fabrics and in the pillows.

<Haha, I must've offended you. only mean that perhaps you should take a little rest. Expending your energy to open sifts back and forth taken toll on> 

"As much as I'd like to, a talk with my professor and the paladin arriving at the sift made me realize that time is not my actual concern," CK said, "It's the Nonaphrontistery itself."

<Huh. > Malphas said. CK pouted sadly before forcing her to leave her bed. Farewell for now, sweet abode of cotton and dreams. She was a woman on a mission.

"The day's not over yet. We'll go back to the Maiden's Tower," CK said. <As you wish, unrestful miss.> Malphas responded.

"It's getting warmer," CK muttered about the weather. She discarded her sweater, revealing a fitted shirt underneath. She tossed it into the laundry basket next to the bathroom and prepared to leave the room again. 

Malphas stared at the sweater silently before flying after CK. The little miss won't probably have time to do her laundry yet. Hopefully, Araglio's blood won't be difficult to wash off.