Verse Twenty-One

"What you just did was reckless, Miss CK… Very, very reckless."

'They say bad deeds are often punished. But from the looks of it, I'm only getting rewarded,' CK wanted to smirk as a tall figure loomed in front of her, 'If I knew this was one way to meet the Core Instructors face-to-face, I would've done it way sooner.'

Although confined to her own hospital room, CK was still guilty of trespassing the 'danger zone' of the school. She was given proper treatment after her encounter with a high-ranking member of the Juris, but the handcuffs on her wrist and strapped to the bedside rails meant that the school had business with her.

That 'businessman' they sent was a tall man with long, spiky black hair. His robes stretched to hug his body frame, but it was hardly able to mask his muscles and the intricate tattoos across his upper arms, reaching towards the side of his neck. 

This was Core Instructor K'Thal, former department head responsible for Martial Defense and other battle-related subjects. He had been on a mission away from the school and had returned recently. Whether it was CK's luck or bad luck, K'Thal was immediately sent to speak to her.

CK's face was calm but deep inside, she was ready to burst into giggles. Ah, to see Professor K'Thal first as soon as he got back~! All his student admirers would be jealous!

<Must you really let your hormones run at this moment, my vainglorious mistress?> Malphas deadpanned. 'If not now, then when?' CK snorted, 'Do you see the man standing before me? Forget the interrogation—He's freaking hot!'

"Miss CK."

CK snapped out of thought as K'Thal spoke her name seriously. There was a firm look on his face as he crossed his arms, "I do not appreciate it when the person I speak to does not pay attention. Do you have no respect?"

"My apologies, professor," CK muttered solemnly, but her lips wanted to twitch. Look at those piercing, silver eyes of his… 

K'Thal stared for a few seconds before sighing faintly, his frown loosening slightly. "I understand you are still weak from what happened, but you must've anticipated that there will be consequences to violating the Nonaphrontistery's rules. I would rather wait until you recuperate, but the administration requires information about the breach immediately. They do not intend to give you special treatment," he said strictly.

"If I had known that a Juris Vindicator would be present, I wouldn't have proceeded," CK sighed. "But you still would have done the same thing even if they weren't present?" K'Thal asked doubtfully.

CK smiled. "I will cooperate and answer your questions, professor. Please ask away," she said. K'Thal's eye twitched. Did she just avoid his question deliberately?

"Human children," he muttered exasperatingly before regaining composure. He turned to CK and gestured with a hand, "The dispatched team stated that the Juris Vindicator had managed to kill the guards on the floor. Tell me about your encounter and do not even think of lying. I'll be able to tell from the sound of your voice."

CK watched as his silver eyes illuminated threateningly. She tilted her head and hummed in realization. Professor K'Thal must be a practitioner of the Aria Scoresheet. They're incredibly sensitive to soundwaves and music. This includes voices and even heartbeats.

'That's why they sent him for interrogation, huh?' CK thought. But she doesn't intend to lie. Although 'lying' means formulating false statements verbally, 'misconception' works differently.

She smoothened the crinkles on her blanket as she spoke, "I was new to the place, so I didn't know my way around. I used a compass to navigate a way through. I was about to head back. That's when I encountered the Juris Vindicator."

K'Thal's eyes squinted at her statement. However, nothing else happened. "Continue," he said. CK's lips quirked faintly before she recounted the events leading to the encounter. 

Deliberately hiding any indication of CK's true purpose at the danger zone, she credited her reason to go there by linking her investigation for her trial to the rumors that a similar case of corruption was traced to the lowest floor. 

"Did you find what you were looking for?" K'Thal asked. CK blinked, "Hm… I probably did. It was pretty contaminated."

"Answer with yes or no, Miss CK. Did you find the reason behind the contamination?" K'Thal asked. "No," CK shrugged, causing the professor's eyes to glean observantly.

Her heartbeat and aura were steady. Truth.

'I'd be lying if I said 'yes' since I didn't have the full picture of the situation. It was just an idea, not a confirmation,' CK thought as she maneuvered K'Thal's questioning. She continued speaking.

"Anyway, I was ready to go back after finding what I needed. Then the Juris Vindicator jumped me. I think it's because I saw the bodies of the fallen guards… If I were the Vindicator, I'd eliminate any possible witnesses, too," CK stated, which K'Thal continued to validate as truth.

"Is that the only reason for it to attack you?" K'Thal asked. "Hm… Probably not. It's just one thing I'd thought it would do," CK blinked, then smiled, "Is there supposed to be another reason?"

"I'd like to know that as well. I was informed that a restricted item was taken from the restricted section, and no one has ever visited in the last few months except for you and our 'friend' from the Juris," K'Thal said coldly, "What do you know about this?"

"Ah, how am I supposed to know all of its reasons to attack? I was more concerned with staying alive than gathering information from the enemy. It was not someone I could fight against," CK shook her head, "Shouldn't you be more concerned with how the Vindicator got into the school?"

K'Thal did not say anything. CK tapped her lip as she hummed thoughtfully, "Hm… I'm not sure if my favorite professor was also told about this, but a Juris Enforcer had also infiltrated the school not too long ago. My luck must be terrible to have encountered both cases personally…"

"Stop spinning the conversation, Miss CK. We are the ones in-charge of interrogation, not you."

CK's eyes dimmed with annoyance when Ms. Dulia walked into the hospital room, who was just as displeased as CK. Ms. Dulia was usually more passive-aggressive, but her glare was sharper that time. 

"I was merely helping with brainstorming," CK shrugged. "And answering questions with questions does not help," Ms. Dulia frowned, "Where is the key, CK?"

"Key? Key for what?" CK frowned in confusion. Ms. Dulia snarled in annoyance, "What else, you cunning brat? The key to the—!"

"Ms. Dulia," K'Thal's voice overlapped Ms. Dulia's own, and he cleared his throat, "I will be the one questioning Miss CK. Avoid causing any ruckus that could hinder her recovery."

"With all due respect, Professor K'Thal, but I don't think you understand Miss CK very well. All throughout her years here, she has exhibited tendencies to skillfully lie even towards a lie detecting machine. This time could not be any different," Ms. Dulia said.

CK ignored her and merely hummed in thought. "I'm not sure what key you're asking about, but it's probably that one restricted item Professor K'Thal is speaking," she said and nodded to herself, "It would make sense if the Juris Vindicator was after that."

"…You sound quite certain, Miss CK," K'Thal stared at her observantly. "That's the only reason why such a high-ranking entity would breach the school. You can't possibly think it was me?" CK giggled lightly, "Haven't you searched my belongings already? Have you found any key, perchance?"

K'Thal sighed. That made sense. They deliberately cleaned CK's recent clothes and items from contamination while also looking for any suspicious traces. Safe to say, there was nothing incriminating except for a detonator that was identified to trigger the smoke bombs at the administration building.

"I've validated Miss CK's every word. She speaks the truth…or rather, she has not told any lie," K'Thal told Ms. Dulia, but her frown was not appeased.

"That can't be right. She's the only one who can tell us where 'that thing' is!" Ms. Dulia said knowingly to K'Thal. 

"Haven't you thought that maybe the Vindicator has it?" CK mused, "Why do you think it was me?"

"Because—!" Ms. Dulia's voice raised for a quick second before she paused. K'Thal and CK gave her confused looks as she exhaled and massaged her forehead, "You are the only witness we have that went down there to the danger zone. Even if the Vindicator has the key, we can't say for sure because it fled before it got captured."

"This interrogation is leading nowhere," K'Thal grunted and walked towards the exit, "I'll need to run over the recent reports to see if I'm missing anything."

CK pouted as he let the door slide close. Why can't Ms. Dulia be the one who left? She wanted to have some alone time while staring at Professor K'Thal. She could've sworn there was an outline of his abdomen beneath the robes!

CK frowned when she felt Dulia's unpleasant gaze on her. She met her gaze, seeing a familiar gaze of hidden contempt hidden behind ice.

"Is there anything you need to ask from me?" CK deadpanned. Ms. Dulia crossed her arms, "What did you hope to prove, CK?"

The young woman frowned. "What do you mean by that?" CK asked.

"First, it was the Juris Enforcer. Now, you recklessly confronted a Vindicator. In both episodes, you live to tell the tale. Everyone has been speaking about nothing else but you since the recent days, yet I fail to see why you do this," Dulia's smile was soft but venomous, "Are you enjoying the attention, Miss CK?"

"…With all the needed respect I have for your position, nothing I did was for the attention. I nearly died a few hours ago when I deliberately chose to flee," CK wanted to scoff. "Ah, yes. That's what everyone will believe. But I know you better than the rest," Ms. Dulia quietly snarled as she stared down at CK.

"You are devious and good at making an innocent façade. That is why I never let myself be persuaded. Every faculty member thought you would be a good candidate as valedictorian, but I beg to differ. Deceivers should never be allowed to be at the top," Ms. Dulia's eyes flickered with malice.

"Haha! You're right… You're right," CK tilted her head as her smile turned into a smirk, "That is why you've never been promoted. Only honest work should be honored. Isn't that correct, Deaconess Dulia?"

Ms. Dulia's eyes narrowed into slits, "You little…"

"You hold quite the respectable position at the Radiance Church. I've met a bishop yesterday afternoon—Bishop Fedorov, I think was his name," CK mused, "Anyway, it's from him I learned about your place."

"Hah! Is that right?" Ms. Dulia crossed her arms. "Yes. I must admit, you really do belong to that kind of social circle," CK smiled, "I've also met delegates from the Knights of LaCroix. Maybe it's just my imagination…but they don't seem to get along well."

"The…Knights of LaCroix?" Ms. Dulia frowned. Seeing her reaction, CK's smile was chilly as her emerald eyes twinkled, "It seems the Knights, for some reason, aren't very fond of your churchmates… Terrible for social interactions, right?"

Ms. Dulia tried her best, but a trace of a frown surfaced on her face for CK to find. The young woman's lips curled wider at this before she fluffed her pillows.

"I don't know the full details, but I know that the Knights of LaCroix hold the highest military authority in the Empire. I'm not sure if it's wise to provoke them," CK said, "Surely, the Radiance Church knows this, too."

"I don't like the sound of what you're implying, Miss CK. If you're trying to insult my church, why don't you lay it bare?" Ms. Dulia snorted. "What good will it do for me to fight with your church when clearly, they have other enemies?" CK giggled, "You're a funny person, Ms. Dulia."

"I'm just saying one thing," CK looked straight into Ms. Dulia's eyes, causing the woman to flinch subconsciously, "You should worry not to provoke the wrong people, Ms. Dulia. Who knows what might happen when it goes too far."

There it was: those predatory green eyes that screamed rebellion. No matter how many times she tried to establish her authority, Ms. Dulia would always find those same pair of eyes staring straight at her from the back of the room when everybody else would keep their heads down.

Ms. Dulia would feel enraged. Why does this student continue to challenge her authority?

CK's stare remained calm and steady, but Ms. Dulia said nothing. She found herself marching out of the room, feeling an unpleasant knot in her stomach. 

Ms. Dulia gritted her teeth. That brat…Who does she think she is to make such a masked threat?! Was she supposed to be afraid of her? What a joke! In case she forgot, she was the facing against the school in a trial.

Ms. Dulia paused, her frown turning into a conspicuous smirk. Right…The trial. Maybe CK would be put in her place if the trial was a little more severe. There was plenty of evidence, no? That should teach that rebellious student one final lesson.

Ms. Dulia looked up in surprise to find a well-dressed, young man approaching from the opposite side of the hallway. Taking notice of Ms. Dulia, Winslow made a small bow of his head.

"Greetings, Ms. Dulia," he greeted politely. "Ah. Winslow," Ms. Dulia smiled pleasantly, "I've been told that you've been doing your tasks diligently. As expected of you."

"You flatter me," Winslow said. "Hm, well never mind that. I'm sure there has been no trouble for you…except for that brat CK, I presume. She is like a stain trying to tarnish your achievements," Ms. Dulia clicked her tongue, "What brings you here?"

Winslow blinked and looked to the side uncomfortably. "I've come to visit CK in her hospital room. Her injuries were not light, and I've come to check on her well-being," he said and looked back at the professor, "You came from her room. Might I ask how she is?"

"…She's well. Nothing worth the fuss," Ms. Dulia frowned in disapproval. "Still, I must see her conditions for myself," Winslow said, making Ms. Dulia shake her head with an exasperated sigh.

"You shouldn't be-! Ugh..." Ms. Dulia feigned a smile, "Winslow, my child. I am sure you are aware that the graduation rites is already tomorrow. Surely, that should be a better priority than checking upon a criminal that needs punishing?"

Winslow's brows furrowed. "Ms. Dulia, CK is not a convicted criminal until the verdict has been pronounced. The trial has not even begun yet. Please avoid referring to the batch salutatorian with such a term. You are indirectly insulting us as a whole," he said.

"Isn't there a new salutatorian to take CK's place?" Ms. Dulia raised an eyebrow. "Only temporarily, but my point still stands," Winslow said, which Ms. Dulia snorted at.

"Hmph. I understand you are taking your duties seriously…perhaps a little too much. But CK won't be participating in the graduation rites, so if you wish to see if she is physically fit to do so, I must tell you no," Ms. Dulia said. Winslow's eyes widened, "The trial…Will it take place at the same time as the rites?"

"It will happen after the rites. Once the highlight of the day is over, the faculty will preside over the trial next," Ms. Dulia stated. Winslow grimaced, "CK…will not be graduating with us in time."

"I believe the graduation is not her priority, given her circumstances," Ms. Dulia said disinterestedly. Winslow thinned his lips. Not being able to attend the graduation rites as a graduating student…

"I must speak with her," Winslow said as he walked past Ms. Dulia, who blinked in shock. "W-Winslow! I told you, she's fine! You should be resting for your big day tomorrow!" she said as she swiftly followed after Winslow.

The young man's eyes widened when Ms. Dulia blocked the door and gave him a look of disapproval. "Winslow, you're tired after your work today. Go back to your dormitories and rest," Ms. Dulia said firmly, "Do not bother yourself with trivial things."

"A graduating student will not be able to enjoy her graduation because of a trial. You believe this is 'trivial'?" Winslow frowned. Ms. Dulia stared at him in shock, "What is it with your behavior today?!"

"What is with the sudden commotion? You're in a hospital. Mind you."

K'Thal approached the pair with an upset frown. Winslow stared at him in surprise. Professor K'Thal? He didn't expect to see him at the hospital of all places. 

"Professor K'Thal," he said, "Welcome back. I didn't know you've returned."

"Ah. Winslow," K'Thal nodded a greeting at him, "A trip back to the Nonaphrontistery was necessary. From what I see, things are getting out of hand and needs intervention...Just take this moment, for example." 

K'Thal glanced at Ms. Dulia, who scrunched her nose in annoyance. K'Thal placed a hand on his hip and looked back at Winslow, "What brings you to the hospital?"

"I'm here to visit CK," Winslow answered. "When he shouldn't," Ms. Dulia piped in, "He could use his time on other things."

"I won't be long," Winslow said. "Let him in, Ms. Dulia. I see nothing wrong with a simple visit," K'Thal told the woman guarding the door.

Ms. Dulia flinched when she saw the intensity in his stare, a silent command in his silence. Ms. Dulia pursed her lips and hesitantly stepped aside. 

"Thank you," Winslow said and walked into the room. Ms. Dulia's gaze sharpened when the door was shut. 

She turned to K'Thal with a grim look, "CK has the key and the [Manuscript]. I'm certain she does!"

"Is there proof?" K'Thal asked. "N-No... Not yet. But surely, the cameras have caught her actions. Why don't we check that?" Ms. Dulia pointed out.

"I already did. The footage of the incident has been deleted when I checked the logs. Someone must've tampered with it before the peace officers arrived," K'Thal muttered displeasingly, "Without the footage, we cannot confirm what happened before and during CK's confrontation with the Juris Vindicator."

"An accomplice? Tsk! That brat," Ms. Dulia scoffed. K'Thal shook his head, "Miss CK has also been very careful with her answers. Though she was not lying, she has been careful in divulging what she knows."

"We can't let her get away with this. No one else would be interested in the key as soon as the [Maiden's Manuscript] disappeared from the Tower. There's no other possibility," Ms. Dulia insisted.

"We cannot use force against a student, Ms. Dulia. As long as there is no evidence, we cannot convict Miss CK," K'Thal stated, "If you truly wish to hold her accountable, you still have time to gather evidence. Until then, CK remains a casualty of the incident."

CK's eyes twinkled with amusement as she stared at the door. Voices were muffled, but she could tell there was some colorful emotions behind one of the voices.

"Ms. Dulia seems very energetic," CK commented. She looked at Winslow and grinned, "She must've tried to stop you from coming in. Speaking of which, what brings you here?"

"I came to make sure you haven't turned into a corpse," Winslow was noticeably upset, "What were you thinking? You should've ditched your plans to get 'that' and fled. We were warned against the higher ranks of the Juris, and you still chose to butt heads with one."

"Trust me, I tried. But that Vindicator had the ability to morph space and sifts. I couldn't have phased away even if I tried," CK said. Winslow sighed in annoyance, "Do they know?"

CK blinked in confusion and Winslow glanced at the door knowingly. "Not yet. They're going to find out soon, but that's not the issue," CK said seriously, "It's a good thing you came to visit. There's something I need to tell you."

"CK, I told you that once is enough. Just because I'm turning a blind eye does not mean that I want to be your accomplice," Winslow said. "That still makes you an accomplice. Just hear me out, will you?" CK said irritatingly.

She produced an unopened envelope with the Nonaphrontistery crest. Slightly specked with her own blood, it was still clear that it was an invitation card. Winslow stared at this in confusion.

"I snatched this from the Juris Vindicator in the last minute," CK said, "You're a smart man, Winslow. You know what it implies, right?"

"Someone from the Juris might be present for tomorrow's graduation rites," Winslow muttered gravely, "We have to inform the faculty this instant."

"Do that and they'll slip away. There's a fat chance they have an insider. Do something, and they'll probably come and get you. Just don't," CK replied. "What am I supposed to do, then?" Winslow asked.

"Be on a tight lookout tomorrow. They might have an ulterior motive if they wish to watch the graduation rites. I wish I could investigate it, but as you can see, my movements are limited…Literally," CK shook the wrist handcuffed to the railings.

Winslow's gaze softened at this and CK dispelled the invitation card. She still had another use for it.

"When will they let you go?" he asked. "Not until the scheduled trial. So please, Winslow," CK looked at him softly, "You're the strongest in our class and you're the only one I can rely on. In case I'm right, do what you can to protect our classmates."

Winslow was silent. CK often does questionable things, but she wasn't lying this time. The truth in her eyes was something she could fake. Winslow sighed.

"Alright. Leave it to me," Winslow nodded firmly. CK sighed in relief, "That's good to hear."

It's the big day tomorrow. There's no need for any bloodshed on such a special occasion.