Aethernea : Soulbound [Book 1]

Episode 69 - To ban or not to ban

Previously:

When Elaru was taking her Multicasting exam, the Light spell, that she was using to control flying cubes, went out of control and damaged one of the enchantment spells on one of the cubes. The cube went out of control and shattered a hole in the middle of a glass tank filled with healing potion before flying out of the window.

Because Elaru and the floor of the classroom ended up covered by red liquid (healing potion), the examinees in front of the room thought that there was a homicide and ran out of the building in panic. After reporting to the Peacekeepers standing guard in front of Muni, Peacekeepers requested entry into Muni from headmaster Eruan Arite. Eruan Arite received them but denied them access to Muni, deciding to investigate the events internally.

* * *

"10 Shadow Lunar eyes, 1 liter of Firescale dust..." Eruan Arite recited a list of strange items in a deep monotone voice.

After reading out the list, his emotionless purple eyes looked towards the two standing in front of his desk. "What is this? An alchemic recipe?"

Zerel Reysic stifled a giggle. Who says Eri has no sense of humor? He obviously knows it is a damage report, but he still pretends to be ignorant.

Unlike Zerel, who seemed to be highly amused, Deora Thayn didn't pick up on the humor. He was biting his lips, and his eyes were red, as if on the brink of shedding tears.

"It...it's..." Deora stammered. "...a dam...damage report."

Eruan's calm eyes landed on Deora's trembling form.

"But it isn't my fault!! I was well-behaved this time! I didn't do anything wrong!" Deora proceeded to explain.

Eruan Arite listened patiently until the end of the explanation. And then, in a calm voice, as if all of this wasn't even related to him, he spoke out: "You have caused me quite a bit of trouble this time. Peacekeepers had barged in claiming they've received a murder report. I had to pull a few strings so that the tomorrow's issue of the Sibyl wouldn't post an article about the so-called murder."

His emotionless purple eyes bore down onto Deora.

"Worst of all, a considerable number of examinees have missed their exam timeslots because they were too busy running away from the scene."

Eruan Arite closed his eyes and rubbed his temples. "I even received a report from the infirmary that an examinee had been found unconscious in the courtyard with a large bump on his head."

He opened his eyes again and stared meaningfully at the two. "Good thing that the renegade cube didn't cause any head trauma. Not to say that the experience wasn't traumatic for the boy. While he laid unconscious, he ended up missing the written exams."

Deora opened his mouth a few times but didn't know what to say. He did hear a strange thump after the cube shot out of the building. Perhaps he should have told someone about it? Maybe if he had done so, they could have healed the poor sod in time for the exams?

Suddenly, Deora felt extremely guilty about the matter. Which was preposterous, since he was completely innocent! It was all the fault of that jinx!

After staring at Deora and Zerel meaningfully for several seconds, Eruan Arite sighed and opened the first drawer of his desk, then he picked up the paper on top of the drawer.

When Deora saw the paper, he started panicking. "Noooooo... don't deduct my pay! It's not my fault!!"

Eruan Arite looked up at Deora and said a single sentence that made Deora freeze without speaking another word. "Who was it that slammed the door so hard that the shelves toppled over?"