Verse Three

It was silent in the infirmary. CK was leaning against the wall next to a door, arms crossed, and eyes shut. The silence was maddening.

The heel she rapped against the floor picked a quicker beat as she kept her thoughts together. The sudden collapse… Could he be ill or poisoned? No, that's not the real concern. What matters is that the professor wasn't shocked with his own condition and knew he won't die. 

From the looks of it, whatever business the professor handles behind CK's back has gone out of his control. CK has full confidence in her master's abilities and judgment. But if Erzem thinks it is grave enough to entrust the chalk prison to her…is that a good thing or bad thing?

<Oho? This consciousness isn't the old man's. sophisticated spider web of thoughts and feelings could only belong to one person… Heh. Is that you, CK?>

CK's brows twitched but her body remains unmoving. She made no other reaction as she felt a familiar force invade her mind, initially heavy and overwhelming but dampening into an uncomfortable presence…like a pair of eyes on the back of one's head or a watchful gaze on one who is asleep.

<I didn't expect you would come back and take responsibility. I thought felt the old man's consciousness snap. Did he bite dust already?>

'Master is alive and well. Don't worry if you miss his company so soon. I'm only serving as your babysitter until he recovers', CK spoke in thought. She felt a chuckle reverberate in her mind like sound waves against the water surface.

<I don't mind this little set-up. I like your consciousness better than his. Yours are far more scandalous compared to his boring, upright mentality. His strict control over made it difficult move around.>

'I could tell. You're making yourself way too comfortable for a guest in someone's mind,' CK rolled her eyes. 

<And with good reason, I assure you. Come now, CK… You've been ignoring me for the past few hours. Won't you come entertain like used to?>

'Heh. Clearly, you haven't learned your lesson from the first time we met. I'm aware of what you want, Malphas, and my answer is no,' CK thought. 'Now, enjoy the bits of freedom you have. It will disappear as soon as I hand you back to master.'

<…Heh. They know what you did, know? But suit yourself. You'll be back soon, my dear. Very, very soon.>

CK frowned. Who is 'they'? 

CK blinked out of her thoughts when the door beside her clicked and swung open. The doctor looked at her, "Ah, Ms. CK. Professor Erzem is in a stable condition. He's not facing anything life-threatening."

"I can hear a 'but' coming up quickly," CK said. "Ahaha… I'm afraid so," the doctor smiled wryly, "We still have to monitor him. From the looks of it, the professor suffered from an internal collapse. We're…not sure how long it will take for him to wake up."

"I see," CK muttered. She smiled at the doctor, "Thank you. I must have been too much of a headache for him and he finally couldn't take it, haha! Please, take good care of him until he wakes up."

"This is hardly your fault, dear," the doctor assured her with a ruffle to the head, "You can check on him if you want. I just need to speak to a few nurses about what to do."

"I'll check on him, thanks," CK said. The doctor left, and CK walked into the room. The smell of herbs and sanitized equipment felt just as unpleasant as the trails of smog to CK. 

Professor Erzem was lying on the bed, dressed in patient robes and a few tubes injected into the back of his hands. His face was calm and peaceful despite his condition. CK stood next to his bed and stared down at the professor. There wasn't an ounce of readable emotion on her face.

"A 'disadvantage'…" she muttered. Telling her to 'do what she must' is a bad sign. CK wasn't just being a pain in the ass for the institute. Beneath that, she was investigating other matters that a normal student shouldn't be involved in. 

CK held her chin thoughtfully. She'll watch how things will turn out first. Judging from his reaction, Erzem's collapse is not truly from a health-related issue. 

She opened her pocket watch. The opening of the graduation rites will take place in ten minutes. Although not the actual graduation proper, the graduating batch ought to listen to a few speeches from the professors and other formalities to discuss the event.

As useless as they make her to be, CK has her role to play as salutatorian of her batch. CK glanced at her unconscious master one last time before leaving the infirmary. His words echoed in her mind.

"They've handicapped me, those bastards…"

Erzem's collapse is surely news to everyone else. CK pursed her lips as she phased away, reappearing before the amphitheater. 

'Master, is it wise to assume that you've made a few hostile enemies that I don't know of?' She wondered. She heard a faint chuckle at the back of her head. That entity is privy to her thoughts, but CK didn't mind. She isn't hiding anything.

CK noticed the entrance to the amphitheater. There were peace officers stationed outside the venue, each of them emotionless and stone-cold. One of the patrolling officers saw CK and whispered to his companion.

The girl noticed this. She silently watched as one of the officers left. She attracted more stares as she approached the entrance of the amphitheater, hearing the voice of a speaker echoing faintly from inside.

The two officers guarding the entrance stared emotionlessly at CK, who attempted a friendly smile. "Hi," she said. They did not respond, which she shrugged to.

"Bye," she said and walked in. The stationed officers only stared at her, watching the doors close once she was inside. All her classmates were seated among rows, several in hushed chatter while one of their previous professors spoke on the stage.

"Looks like CK arrived in time."

"Huh? Oh, good. At least, the professors won't find fault in her absence."

"I heard Professor Erzem was hospitalized and she was the one who brought him there. They'd be on a different level of heartless if they scold her for that."

A young man on the front rows of the amphitheater heard the chatter around him. He usually ignores gossip, but hearing CK's name made him look curiously. His gaze fell on CK as she descended the stairs leading to the seats.

CK caught his stare, but he didn't waver. CK only smiled in amusement and made a small wave at him. He frowned. She shouldn't be smiling after what happened to her mentor.

He turned back to the front to ignore her until a few officers rushed past the students, making him frown deeper. The officers swiftly stood in front of CK, catching the attention of the students and hushing down the chatter.

"Um… What is this?" CK asked the officers. "I apologize, miss CK. Only senior students with the right to graduate are allowed to participate in the opening ceremonies," an officer said, "We will escort you out of the amphitheater."

"I am a graduating student," CK stated, her demeanor turning chilly, "If you have a problem with that, you can check the list of graduating students. You will find my name second on the list, in fact."

"Your credits are not enough to prove you are ready to graduate, Ms. CK. Your right to graduate has been denied and our orders are to escort you out here with the least amount of resistance," the officer stated firmly and gestured to the exit, "Now, if you would please, miss."

CK glanced at the other officers, who surrounded her. These officers were elite members of the Nonaphrontistery's armed forces. Even if CK thinks she is much more proficient in using Syntaxis, brute force favors these officers.

"What's going on over there?" the speaking professor asked confusingly to see the commotion with CK. The girl looked around.

The amphitheater has fallen silent, and all the students were looking at them. Tempering her rising anger, CK sighed loudly and looked at the officer.

"I will visit the faculty office," she said. "So be it. We were tasked to take you there, anyway," the officer replied. CK adjusted her wrist sleeves with a snort before retracing her way back to the exit.

All the students remained silent until CK's company disappeared behind the doors. The moment the doors shut was a burst of chatter, confusion being the most apparent emotion filtering.

"Did you see that? The officer said CK's not going to graduate!"

"But why?"

"Is the Nonaphrontistery really capable of withholding a student's graduation?"

"What did CK do?"

The young man at the front row gripped his armrest as he stared at the doors. Indeed. CK, what the hell did you do that peace officers were tasked to escort you out?

CK was not allowed to phase on the way to the administration building to prevent her from possibly escaping. As result, CK was forced to walk the long way in tense silence. Small talk was not an option with the officers.

CK's brows rose slightly to find a majority of her professors at the reception hall of the building. "Looks like we don't have to climb to the third floor," CK mused. She was replied with silence.

"CK…" a woman in her mid-thirties said pitifully as she approached CK. "Madam Yanyan," CK smiled wryly, making the woman sigh sadly.

"I'm sorry this happened. I also heard about Professor Erzem. How is he?" she asked. "He's doing well, madam. But…the doctor said it's not clear when he will wake or not," CK replied.

"CK," a man in his late twenties approached them, patting Madam Yanyan's shoulder. "Professor Zeke," CK greeted and smiled, "You're still so handsome after all this time."

"Ahaha. I'm glad you haven't changed either, my dear," the man smiled and spoke sheepishly, "Listen: We are very skeptical of what's happening, so don't be swayed by whatever they're using against you."

"Ah, so you know. I'm embarrassed you have to see me like this after all the times I showed off in front of you," CK smiled apologetically. Zeke patted her head, "You can deal with this. We know you can."

CK's smile faded when she was met with Ms. Dulia's arrogant gaze as she came into view. "I'm guessing you know perfectly well why I'm here and not at the opening ceremony," CK said coldly.

"Sure, I do. You should, too," Ms. Dulia replied shortly before passing by her. "Must she be so spiteful against her own students? So unbecoming of her, tsk," Madam Yanyan clicked her tongue.

"She's the least of my problems… I know the Nonaphrontistery is capable of stopping their own students from graduating, but what could possibly be their reason to stop mine?" CK frowned. 

"The administration almost never stops their students from leaving, but an exception is made for those with extreme cases… Such as yours, unfortunately."

CK felt alerted when she saw a professor the same age as Zeke approaching. The unruly hair and casual clothing cannot sway CK into dismissing him as a hippie. This was, after all, a man of equal stature as her own master: a Core Instructor.

"Professor Kitmar," CK said in greeting. He was currently the head of all faculty members, which was impressive given his age. His proficiency in Syntaxis far surpasses hers, earning her respect even more. 

"I was informed of what happened to Erzem," Kitmar said, "Forgive my lack of compassion, but I cannot extend my wishes for his health until your case is settled."

"…Why am I here?" CK asked seriously. "The Nonaphrontistery has made a notion that we cannot allow a student with questionable methods to graduate," Kitmar stated, making CK's eyes widen in surprise.

"CK, you are accused of using immoral methods to coerce an entity classified to be Code Red into compliance for your graduation thesis, thus violating the Individualist Law for All Entities. Until you are proven innocent or guilty of the charges pressed against you, your right to graduate has been withdrawn."