Chapter 85: Ch85 – A Red Star

Another knock came at the door.

It was the guard again. “Principal Helena, one of the accused-student’s parents—”

“Where is he!” A tall fiery red haired man burst past the guard.

“F-Father!” Navius stuttered, the colour seeped from his face. “It’s all lies, I promise!”

Navius’ father scanned the room. His eyes gravitated to his son, then to the other three students.

“What is the meaning of this?” Navius’ father demanded.

“Your son has been accused of being an associate of one of the terrorists who attacked the city earlier today.” The instructor said.

“I don’t pay six fucking gold crowns for my son to come here and be accused of such… defamatory lies! Is there a sliver of proof to these horrendus accusations!?”

“Three witnesses claim to have seen your son engaging with—”

“Three students.” The firey noble gestured dismissively at Ryan, Eleanor and James. “Children playing at investigation. You’re treating their words as evidence?”

“Their testimony is credible.” Helena said calmly.

“Credible.” The father repeated, the word tinged with sarcasm. “Well, Navius. Did you have a hand in the attack?”

“No, father.”

“Did you conspire with any terrorists?” He said lazily.

“No.”

Navius’ father turned back to the principal. “There. Investigation complete. My son is innocent.”

“You can’t be serious. It isn’t that simple—”

“It IS that simple.” His voice hardened like stone. “Unless you are suggesting a Rellick—a member of my family. A family that has bled for this kingdom for generations—would betray it.”

Helena’s grip tightened around the edges of her desk. “What I’m suggesting is that three witnesses saw your son talking to an elf that attacked the arena. On two seperate occasions. James here, said he even overheard the words, ’Fire, Dead’ and ’All of them’.”

“Let me guess, you are James?” Navius’ father pointed at James.

“That’s right.”

“Hahaha,” The red haired man bellowed. “This child just experienced a traumatic event. He is in shock, you can’t trust his lie.”

James opened his mouth to argue, but the noble didn’t give him a moment to speak.

“Now, if that is all me and my son will be leaving.” Navius stood up and walked to the door.

Helena stood up. “Mr Rellick. Your son cannot leave the academy grounds until our investigation is complete. We will also bring in the proper authorities to assist us.”

“That is not necessary. I know my son, he has no reason to commit such crimes. What motive?”

“We will find out through the investigation. Won’t we?” Helena smiled emphatically.

“Fine. Have it your way.” Navius and his father stepped out the door. Their footsteps echoed as they made their way down the tower.

Helena sat back down heavily. She was exhausted.

Do I ask Helena about my bracelet now?

“Helena,” Ryan started.

“Not now.” She waved them off. “All of you. Out.”

Eleanor and James both headed for the door, and Ryan followed behind them, disappointed that he couldn’t solve his Marcus problem.

Navius POV

Navius followed his father into the dormitory.

The door closed behind them with a soft click.

His father’s gaze swept the room. A few narrow beds, crooked wooden desks. A bookshelf.

“This is what they give a Rellick?” Arcturus said. His voice carried quiet disdain. “Drab. Utilitarian. You should have private quarters.”

“All first tier students share this level of accommodation,” Navius said stiffly.

“All students aren’t Rellicks.”

His father crossed to the window.

“This room needs fresh air,” he said. “It smells like failure.”

He unlatched the window and pushed it open.

Cool evening air drifted in.

Navius looked to the ground. He said nothing.

His father turned and studied him.

“You’re angry with me.”

“I’m confined to academy grounds,” Navius said. “Accused of terrorism. By three commoners. Yes, father. I’m angry, but not with you.”

“Good.” Arcturus poured himself water from the pitcher on Navius’s desk. But didn’t offer any to his son. “Anger is useful. Channel it.”

“Into what?”

“Into the Trial by Twelve.”

Navius blinked. “What?”

“Demand it. Tomorrow. In front of Helena and whoever else is investigating this farce.”

“The Trial is—people can die in the Trial.”

“Commoners die.” Arcturus set down the cup. “You’re a Rellick. You can’t allow these people to investigate us, our great name will be dragged through the mud.”

“But I could die, what if they are great fighters?

“You’ve trained since you were six years old. These children have been here what—two weeks? It’s not even a contest. More so, they won’t be able to afford good armour, like you and your fighters will.”

Navius hesitated. A Trial of Twelve.

If he won, the accusations ended.

If I lost…

“You won’t lose,” Arcturus said, reading his mind. “You’re a Rellick. We don’t lose.”

“What if something goes wrong?”

“Nothing will go wrong. I’ll ensure the right people volunteer for your side.” Arcturus’s voice dropped slightly. “I’ll pay who I need to pay. Influence who I need to influence. You will be fighting with the best tier 1 fighters I can gather.”

Navius frowned. “Isn’t that… frowned upon?”

“It’s strategy.” Arcturus wore a thin smile. “The gods judge the outcome, Navius. If they cared about fairness, they’d intervene. But they won’t. Because divine judgment is a myth we tell children.”

“Father—”

“The Academy allows volunteers. Students can choose which side to fight for. We simply make sure the right students choose YOUR side.” Arcturus stepped closer. “Your reputation. Our house. Everything depends on you winning this Trial. Do you understand?”

Navius’s fists clenched at his sides. “Yes.”

“Good.” Arcturus moved toward the door. “Demand the Trial tomorrow. She can’t refuse.”

He reached for the handle.

Then stopped.

“And Navius?”

“Yes?”

“Don’t disappoint me.”

The words hung in the air. Heavy. Final.

His father opened the door—

Crack.

The sound came from outside. By the window.

Both of them turned.

Navius crossed to the window and looked out.

The courtyard below was empty. Shadows stretched long in the evening light. No one visible.

“What was it?” his father asked.

“I don’t know.” Navius leaned out further, scanning the area.

Nothing.

“Probably a mutt,” Arcturus said dismissively.

Arcturus left.

The door closed.

Navius stood at the window for a long moment.

Staring down at the empty courtyard.

Navius stood back.

Did someone hear us?

He shook his head, closed the window and latched it.

Outside, pressed against the wall beneath the window, a man held his breath.

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