Chapter XVIII - Disciplined

Basil remained unmoving in the opposite bed. Kizu might think his roommate dead, save for the occasional snores and grunts. He marveled at how Basil still created noises without possessing any lungs.

Just when Kizu bagan to finally nod off, there was a knock at his door. He opened it groggily to find a nervous looking first year covered in quills. And, more surprisingly, he recognized her. Evie, from Combat F.

“Kaga Kizu?” she asked quietly.

“You know I am. What are you doing here, Evie? How did you get into the third year boys dormitory? You could get in massive trouble if they found you here.”

“Th-the headmaster’s administrator would like to see you.”

“Oh.” Kizu rubbed the sleep from his eyes. “Yes, that’s right. Can you lead me there? I misplaced my scrying orb.”

She nodded and started walking away with a nervous look over her shoulder at him. Nobody in the common room questioned Evie as she escorted him out of the dorms. He imagined they must have questioned her when she first arrived. He did, however, notice one of the third years jeering smugly as he was escorted away. The same student he had punched. Kizu gave him a little wave.

Kizu tried to ask Evie questions as they walked, but she only gave little squeaks as responses. Even his earring couldn’t translate those.

They arrived in front of a massive clock that ticked at the end of a hallway. Evie pressed her gloved hand against the 6 and it opened into a door. Kizu followed after her.

Two separate staircases spiraled up on either side of them but they followed neither one, instead opting to move straight down to another, more plain, doorway. Evie knocked on it softly.

“Enter.”

Evie opened the door a crack and poked her head in.

“Administrator,” she said. “Kaga Kizu is here.”

“Well done. Send him in, Evie. Classes will be starting soon, hurry along.”

Evie stood aside, looking relieved.

Kizu passed her and walked into the room. The walls appeared to be made entirely of see through glass and out of the windows fish swam. It looked as if they had been transported under the ocean in just a few paces. A shark crossed along one window, eyeing him as he walked by. Kizu considered what enchantments they must have used to keep the glass from shattering.

The room itself was neatly organized with a desk setup as the centerpiece. At the desk, an old woman sat, rapping her fingers against the wood. In front of her, the leaner constable sat at a chair with an empty seat beside him.

“Sit down, Kaga,” the lady said to him, directing him at the vacant seat. As he did as she instructed, he recognized her. She was the same lady that had been in charge of disposing of the blood samples.

“You’re the headmaster?” he asked.

“Of course not. Don’t be ridiculous,” she snapped. “The headmaster has far more important duties to attend to. However, I act in his authority.”

“More important duties than an open investigation on your academy students destroying constable property?” the constable said.

“I just said as much, did I not? And this was the student, correct?”

The constable glanced at him. His face was red with either embarrassment or anger. “Yes. Undoubtedly.”

And this was the calmer constable, Kizu thought to himself.

“And why was his arrest not reported to the academy immediately?”

“He refused to give us his name. There was nothing to go off of.”

“And yet, lo and behold, you’ve found him now without knowing his name. What excellent luck.”

The constable spluttered and muttered incoherently.

“Now Kaga, why don’t you explain yourself? I’ve heard this man blathering on about a student breaking into one of the villas down by the beach in the middle of the night. Is this a true story?”

“Yes, but-”

“And then he says that this student melted down the cell he was being kept in. True?”

“Yes, but-”

“And then knocked out his compatriot using magic and escaped the constable’s authority. True?”

“No!” Though, he didn’t add that he probably would have if given the means and the necessity.

“Ah, at last we arrive at a divergence of tales. Why admit to so much, but not this final act? Very well, Kaga, tell us your side of the story.”

Kizu launched into his story, freely admitting that he broke curfew but not lingering on his motivation to locate his sister, instead just saying that his bond to his familiar kept him awake at nights. The last thing he wanted was to bring up his expelled sister. Better to not bring anyone’s attention to expulsion. He also glazed over how he climbed over the wall. It hardly seemed relievent. But everything else he told as it happened. Getting booted out of his family’s villa, imprisoned because of his brother, not having anyone believe him, and finally escaping.

“So,” the lady said. “If I understand correctly. The constables are not only completely inept in questioning and investigating, but also their security can be thwarted by a first year with barely any experience. Is this an accurate assessment, Constable Garret?”

The constable looked around the room as if counting the escape routes. “But, even if the younger Kaga lied to an active investigation, that doesn’t explain why the Kaga villa booted him out as a trespasser. If he’s not some imposter, then he should be able to come and go from it without issue.”

“The Kaga family has faced some drama in their household in the past few years,” the administrator said dismissively. “Kaga Anna ended her time at the academy prematurely. Her family decided to disown her as a result. And as such, they would have set up new defense measures. As Mr. Kaga Kizu was presumed dead at the time, his inclusion was likely overlooked. All of that information could have been easily found under an actual investigation.”

“Fine then,” Constable Garret said. “I can still prosecute him for destruction of government property. And the younger Kaga for disrupting an active investigation.”

“Are you certain this is a road you wish to go down?” the administrator asked coolly.

The constable fidgetted. Then he stood up, not meeting either of their eyes. “Very well, I entrust their disciple to Wave Edge Academy and the headmaster.”

“And we will compensate for the damages accordingly.” The administrator threw the offer of compensation to him like a chicken bone to a dog.

After the constable left, the lady drummed her fingers on her desk. “Now Mr. Kaga, what am I to do with you?”

“Let me return to my classes?” he suggested.

She moved some papers on her desk. “Enchanting C, Astronomy E, and Music F today. In all, you’re a very low skill student, ranking at one of the overall lowest in the academy.”

He opened his mouth to protest but she silenced him with a look.

“Excuses are not becoming, Mr. Kaga. Instead of looking back at the excuses of your past, accept what you are now and look forward to what you could be.”

He waited. Finally he asked, “And what could I be?”

The old lady actually rolled her eyes at him. “You’re human aren’t you? You’re nothing but potential wrapped in skin. Decide what you will be for yourself.”

Kizu watched the shark outside the room’s window. It prowled about, opening its mouth to bare its pointed teeth. Small fish swam away in every direction, but he noticed the smallest fish sticking near the shark. They appeared so small as to be insignificant nutrition. Scavengers that fed off the success of others.

“Could you teach me?”

“You mean add to my already overflowing schedule to tutor a boy with very little skill?” The old woman leaned forward. “Of course.”

Her tone didn’t sound sarcastic, but the structure of her acceptance seemed that way. He hesitated, trying to figure out how to go forward.

“I can help you with your schedule,” he offered. “Run errands and things.”

“I’d expect no less from my assistant. I will require you to take on the disposal of blood samples every week. It hurts my back.”

That seemed like a very easy trade.

“In return, I will review and advise you on your studies at the end of every week. As a result, you will have less time to yourself on the weekends. Some might even call this academic detention and a punishment for your actions.”

He grinned and nodded.

“Very well then, I expect to see you here in this office tomorrow after lunch to summarize your education so far. Any questions about our arrangement?”

“Just one,” he said. “Um. What’s your name?”

She barked a laugh. “Refer to me as Roba. Now, unless you have any other pleasantries you should have already exchanged, you need to attend the last bit of your Enchanting C class. Off with you, Kaga.”