Chapter 16

Anomaly and Trial

“Settle down, all of you. Settle down.” Headmaster Falk said once again from behind his absurdly tall desk, motioning his hands up and down to hush the crowded pews on each side of the room.

Standing in the center floor, Lucy glanced between each group. The Headmaster’s order seemed to fall on deaf ears as everyone continued to pass whispers to each other. Then the whispers became murmurs, and then full-fledged conversations. The mess of voices quickly became suffocating, but it was nothing compared to the feeling Lucy got every time she caught someone passing a suspicious glance her way.

Why did things like this keep happening to her?

“SILENCE!”

Everyone in the room winced from the sudden shout, and the conversations died out as all eyes fell onto Headmaster Falk.

Surveying the room for any further challengers of his authority, the headmaster brought his wand away from his lips and looked down to Lucy. He then directed his eyes at the Magistrate who stood by her side.

“Has Miss Hardtvelt been informed of the situation?”

“Only of the general dilemma. Not of its nature,” the masked woman replied.

“I see.” Headmaster Falk stroked his beard and looked back at Lucy. The poor girl had another nervous look on her face.

“Am I…in trouble?” Lucy asked.

Headmaster Falk passed an apprehensive look to each side of the room and spoke with dissatisfaction. “That remains to be seen.”

The old Headmaster leaned back in his chair and grabbed carefully at the empty air beside him. Drawing his hand back, a thick, leather-bound book faded into his grasp. When he released it onto his desk, its cover and pages fluttered open, settling on a page that the Headmaster looked quite interested in.

“By your hand, a combatant was teleported with an unrecognized method, and there are some within the school board who feel that disqualifies your victory-”

“What!?” Lucy’s desperate voice cracked.

“However,” The Headmaster spoke over her. “Their presumptions would be baseless, seeing as the magistrates who monitored the match, themselves reported that there was no observable interference with the tournament’s charm.”

Irate voices suddenly hounded amongst the hooded figures in the pews, but they all hushed when one among them stood up and pointed accusingly at the headmaster.

“That report has no credibility given the circumstances. You yourself-“

A flash of silver light suddenly exploded at the room’s ceiling, astounding the man and everyone else while the light’s glittering remains fluttered towards the ground and faded. Lucy rubbed her eyes instinctually, but she was surprised that the harsh flash hadn’t blinded her in any way. When she looked back up, she was unsettled to see that everyone’s eyes were intently fixated on something.

“Be mindful of the things you say, Mr. Dewart.” A dark-skinned woman stood in the pews opposite the man and lowered her wand where it had been aimed at the ceiling. “You have no jurisdiction to divulge such information in the presence of a student. If you do, the council will not hesitate to take disciplinary actions, even against someone as tenured as yourself.”

The room fell deathly silent, and when Lucy studied the woman, she couldn’t believe she hadn’t noticed her before. Unlike everyone else’s purple robe, the woman wore a flawless white robe embroidered with silver threads and clasped together by a chain of silver. Lucy’s eyes fixated onto a small medallion that hung decoratively from the chain. She could barely make it out the symbol etched into it, but it was exactly what she figured—a twenty-pointed star, nesting a set of three others inside itself.

This woman was an emissary for the governing council of mages—The Council of Eighty.

“Hmph. Cocky council reps,” the man who had just been yelling a second ago, grumbled under his breath and begrudgingly took his seat. For a moment, Lucy thought things might not be so bad with this woman here. But when the woman fleeted a suspicious look at her, Lucy’s heart sank back down.

“…Thank you, Emissary Liostra,” Headmaster Falk said. “Though, I’m confident Mr. Dewart wasn’t going to say anything reckless. I would appreciate if you could trust Greidwhen’s school board to observe such basic rules.”

“If you didn’t want to adhere by the council’s strict methods, you shouldn’t have requested their presence for this hearing,” the woman said flatly. She then looked unimpressed at Lucy. “Though I fail to see why this circumstance warrants their attention. Without interference, there is no basis for revoking the girl’s victory. And there are already prescribed protocols for anomalies with the tournament’s charm. See them through and be done with this.”

The headmaster gave a cheeky smirk. “You’ll see in a moment, Miss Liostra, that it’s precisely the circumstance of this anomaly that warrants the council’s interest.”

The woman emissary raised a curious eyebrow and opened her mouth to speak, but she was cut off by the low, rustling drag of the court’s main doors opening at the back of the room.

The doors opened fully to reveal another magistrate, a man apparent by his large frame and broad shoulders that his cloak draped over. As he entered, Lucy felt there was an air of irritation in his step, but her interest in why was evaporated when she saw a boy towing behind him. He had unkempt, chestnut hair, and was sporting a pair of mustard-colored glasses over his tired eyes, and a book-bag over his shoulder.

“Cedric,” Lucy called out thoughtlessly. She didn’t know whether to offer a frown or a smile given the circumstances.

“My apologies for the late arrival, headmaster.” The magistrate took his place beside the other and bowed. “This young man refused my offer to transport him here.”

“As is his right to do so,” the headmaster replied without missing a beat. “Forgive our intrusion on your studies, Mr. Leonarch. But this matter is of immediate significance as I’m sure you are aware.”

“Of course,” Cedric replied. His expression was uninspired.

“Leonarch?” the council emissary said, sounding astonished. Lucy noticed the woman look cautiously at Cedric.

The headmaster looked gravely at the dark-skinned woman in white. “Indeed, Emissary Liostra. Mr. Leonarch is the center of this anomaly—instantly transported six meters by none other than the elementary level spell, Inanimport.”

“Inanimport?” the woman said. “How can that be?”

Lucy watched awkwardly as several members of the schoolboard shifted uncomfortably in their seats. The question hung dead in the air, and soon even the council rep looked like she regretted asking it.

Observing the entire room’s nervous display, the headmaster gave a quiet sigh, figuring he should be the one to say it so they could all move on.

“Because I’m a magicless, obviously.”

The entire room froze, and Lucy nearly choked on her nervous swallow. She couldn’t believe Cedric was the one to say it—with his signature, dull expression, no less.

The headmaster fought an amused look, seeing his faculty and the council rep squirm, but the liveliness in his eyes faded as he remembered a time when the young boy before him wouldn’t have been so brazen.

“So, you reached that conclusion as well?” Falk said.

“Yes. But only after Lucy made the initial deduction herself. Without her, we wouldn’t even be having this discussion.”

Lucy’s cheeks flushed lightly as she threw a shy glance at Cedric.

“Well, if it is indeed true, may we see a demonstration?” the emissary asked.

The headmaster showed a look of interest at the woman’s request and looked back to Cedric. “If Mr. Leonarch is willing.”

At once, every eye in the court locked onto Cedric, whose face remained indifferent. Lucy thought it was incredible that he could be so calm in front of Greidwhen’s entire school board and a representative for the council.

“It wouldn’t do much good to refuse,” Cedric said. “We can do it.”

“Wonderful,” the elegantly robed council rep said and teleported before Cedric in an instant. With an eager face, she brandished her wand and aimed it at him, but her expression became confounded when she saw the boy raise a rejecting hand up to her.

“Not you,” he ordered.

Lucy’s eyes went wide in shock, as did everyone else’s, and immediately whispers began to pass amongst the crowds—along with the sound of a few stifled laughs.

“Excuse me!?” the council rep shrilled. Her face burned with irritation and embarrassment, but Cedric didn’t give her reaction a second thought as he walked past her, arriving at Lucy.

“Let’s do it,” Cedric said.

“Eh?” Lucy looked surprised at him. “Are…are you sure?”

“I’d rather you do it, than anyone else here.”

Hearing that statement, Lucy’s cheeks were ready to flush an embarrassed shade of red, but when she looked closely at Cedric, she completely forgot her feelings. She couldn’t be sure, but she swore he looked uncomfortable.

Lucy passed a look to the council emissary behind him. Could it be because of her?

“A-alright,” Lucy said softly. She then looked at her empty hands and pondered. “Is it alright if I get my staff?”

“I’ll retrieve it immediately,” Lucy’s accompanying magistrate said. With a subtle motion of her hand, the air around the woman began to whirl as Lucy could feel, and a moment later she disappeared, leaving behind a short gust that quickly died out.

“Hmph. I suppose I’ll cast a monitoring charm in the meantime,” The council rep announced. “After all, I’ll need proof that the spell you are using is indeed Inanimport.”

“That goes without saying,” Cedric replied.

The council rep threw a short look of irritation at Cedric, and then extended it to Lucy, who wasn’t at all thrilled to be included under the woman’s scrutiny. Thankfully, the awkward wait didn’t last long as the magistrate re-appeared with Lucy’s staff in-hand.

“Thanks,” Lucy said, taking her staff.

Receiving a confirming nod from Cedric, the two spaced themselves out on opposite sides of the room, where the emissary’s casting of the monitoring charm ended with a resounding chime.

“Whenever you two are ready,” the emissary said.

Lucy looked anxiously at Cedric, who nodded for her to go ahead.

Taking a breath to steady herself, Lucy brought her staff forth and aimed it at Cedric. The room had gone silent, save for the creaks that came from several viewers leaning forward intently in their seats to watch the display unfold. Lucy tried to ignore their prying eyes, and taking another deep breath, she channeled her magic and released the spell with a bigger burst than she planned.

Cedric betrayed a nervous look as he braced for the invisible spell to hit him, and in the instant it connected, gasps resounded throughout the crowds at his disappearance. Their wonder didn’t last long, however, as they all looked dumbfounded at where Lucy had transported the boy who now had a panicked look on his face.

He was three meters in the air, directly over Lucy’s head.

Lucy looked up, realizing her mistake too late. She hadn’t thought properly about where to transport Cedric like she did in the match against Nora. As a result, she had put him in the same spot she put everything else she used Inanimport on—directly overhead, ready for her to catch.

Cedric landed on Lucy with a harsh thud.

“Ack! What the hell are you doing!?”

“Sorry!”

Cedric scrambled to get off the girl as fast as possible, all the while trying not to think about the unsolicited sensations and smells that came with being so close to her. He had to collect himself. Like hell he’d get ensnared so simply. Thankfully, for him, Lucy was too distracted by the pain to notice his rare, flustered face.

“Erm, you alright?” He asked.

“…No,” Lucy winced, rolling side to side while cradling several different areas of herself. “Is this what it felt like when I fell on you?” She then smiled and gave a short laugh which put Cedric at ease. Surely this was some form of destined payback for falling on him first. Oh well, at least she didn’t need to apologize for it anymore.

“Incredible,” the emissary said with astonishment while Cedric helped Lucy to her feet. The white robed woman glanced between where Cedric had been transported. “This discovery…it’s…it’s…”

“Groundbreaking,” the headmaster finished.

The emissary sighed whimsically. “So little magic was used compared to the standard methods. I can see why you requested the council’s attention on this matter. I’ll be sure to report it in the highest possible priority.”

“I appreciate as much, and please allow me to provide some further details once we adjourn here, before you go.”

The emissary responded with a curious look, but soon figured what these details might concern as she fought a reflexive glance towards Cedric. “Agreed,” she said.

“If I may, headmaster,” a new woman from the crowd stood up—a member of Greidwhen’s board, apparent by her violet robes and gold trimming. “The discovery is all well and good, but there is still the matter of its compatibility with the tournament’s charm. Though there was no interference as the magistrates reported, I’m hard pressed to believe it guarantees the spell’s safety. What would we do if the charm failed even once to protect this young man?”

Lucy’s chest tightened uncomfortably at the woman’s suggestion. Failed to protect him? Had she really put Cedric in such a dangerous position?

“Hmm. You raise a fair point,” the headmaster said, scratching his beard thoughtfully. “I suppose a thorough analysis of the spell’s compatibility is the most responsible measure to take. How long would that take your office to complete, Thomas?” The headmaster directed his gaze towards a separate man, who stood up in response.

“Six months, at the least.”

“My… that long. I hope that isn’t due to any deficiencies in our experience with this sort of dilemma.”

“Not at all. We do an exhaustive drill twice every year. Six months is the standard amount of time to vet a new interaction. Like Eleanor suggests, we can’t afford to miss anything.”

“I see. Well, that is regrettable. No doubt it would have been an exciting tactic for audiences to witness. I would have liked to see it in action, myself.”

Lucy felt her heart sink. After she had cast Inanimport on Cedric in their match, she was excited at the thought of how useful it could be for their other matches. But now, she wouldn’t even get to use it a second time. The only advantage she had come across had been taken away so quickly.

“We’ll finish with a vote for the following measure,” the headmaster announced. “Blacklisting the use of Inanimport on Mr. Leonarch until the tournament office concludes their six-month investigation. At that time, should the office deem the spell be of no threat to Mr. Leonarch’s person, the ban will be immediately lifted. All in favor-”

“Hold on a moment,” a dull voice called out, interrupting everyone in the middle of raising their hands.

All eyes turned to Cedric, who was standing firm in the center floor with a sharp look in his eyes.

“An investigation won’t be necessary. The spell is compatible, and I can prove it.”