Two days after the incident at the training ground, Thornfield Academy felt like a powder keg ready to explode. Rumors about Seraphina Valemont were spreading like wildfire - from whispers of "demonic transformation" to lurid speculation about the "trophy room" Damien had mentioned.
Aeris walked into the Principal's office with a heavy heart. he had been summoned along with three others - Seraphina, Leon, and Damien - for an "emergency disciplinary hearing" that would determine their fates.
[TIMELINE ANALYSIS: CRITICAL JUNCTURE REACHED]
[ORIGINAL PLOT DEVIATION: 87%]
[NEW VARIABLES: DEMONIC CONTRACTS, PUBLIC EXPOSURE]
[WARNING: EXTERNAL FORCES MOBILIZING]
"External forces?" Aeris muttered as he read the system notification. "What do you mean—"
Before he could finish asking, the office door opened and the Principal's secretary showed him in. Inside, the atmosphere was suffocating with tension.
Principal Aldric Nightshade sat behind his massive desk, but he was not alone. There were three other figures in the room - all wearing the formal robes that marked them as representatives of the Academy Council.
Seraphina was already seated in one of the chairs with perfect posture, but Aeris could see the exhaustion in her ruby eyes. Leon stood with a rigid posture, hand instinctively near the handle of his sword. And Damien... Damien sat with an eerie casual confidence, as if he was enjoying the entire situation.
"Ah, Mr. Draemor," the Principal said in a carefully neutral voice. "Please, take a seat."
Aeris sat in the empty chair, immediately feeling the weight of the gazes of all the authority figures in the room.
"Now then," one of the Council members said - an elderly woman with piercing blue eyes, "let's discuss what transpired two days ago."
"Councilor Ashworth," the Principal introduced, "will be conducting this hearing alongside Councilor Drake and Councilor Vex."
Aeris glanced at the other two figures - a middle-aged man with a stern expression and a younger woman who was eyeing Seraphina with obvious suspicion.
"Mr. Ravencrest," Councilor Ashworth began, "your... resurrection has raised several concerning questions. Particularly regarding the nature of your current condition."
Damien smiled, not touching his emerald green eyes. "I assure you, Councilor, my condition is perfectly... manageable."
"Manageable?" Councilor Drake interjected in a sharp tone. "You've entered into a demonic contract! Do you understand the severity of your actions?"
"Oh, I understand perfectly," Damien replied in a honey-sweet yet chilling tone. "I understand that without that contract, I would be dead. And certain individuals," he glanced at Seraphina, "would have gotten away with murder."
"Alleged murder," Councilor Vex corrected, but his voice was uncertain.
"Alleged?" Damien laughed coldly. "Would you like me to show you scars, Councilor? Or perhaps testimony from... otherworldly witnesses?"
Dark energy briefly flickered around his body, making all Council members tense.
"That's enough," the Principal said with authority. "Mr. Ravencrest, control your demonic influence or you will be restrained."
"Of course, Principal," Damien said while suppressing his dark aura. "I apologize for the... outburst."
Councilor Ashworth turned to Seraphina. "Miss Valemont, the accusations that have been made against you are extremely serious. Do you have any statement to make?"
Seraphina is silent for a moment, then speaks with a perfectly controlled voice. "I deny all accusations, Councilor. Mr. Ravencrest's... enhanced condition has clearly affected his perception of reality."
"Enhanced condition?" Damien scoffed. "My perception is clearer than ever, thanks."
"Clearer?" Leon suddenly said, unable to contain himself longer. "Or corrupted by demonic influence?"
"Ah, the Chosen Hero speaks," Damien turned to Leon with a mocking smile. "Tell me, Leon, how does it feel knowing that you completely failed in protecting innocent students?"
Leon's face flushed with anger. "At least I don't make deals with demons for personal revenge!"
"Personal revenge?" Damien's eyes glowed with dangerous light. "Leon, this is about justice. Something that is apparently beyond understanding of corrupted heroes."
[ALERT: TENSION ESCALATING]
[DEMONIC INFLUENCE DETECTED IN DAMIEN'S SPEECH PATTERNS]
[LEON'S PSYCHOLOGICAL STATE: INCREASINGLY UNSTABLE]
"Enough!" Principal commanded. "This hearing is to determine facts, not to bicker like children."
"Facts," Councilor Drake repeated. "Mr. Draemor, as witness to recent events, what did you observe?"
Suddenly all eyes turned to Aeris. he felt overwhelming pressure when realizing that his testimony could determine the fate of everyone important in his life at the academy.
"I..." Aeris started, then stopped. What should he say? Truth? But which truth? That Seraphina was indeed capable of murder? That Damien was right about his accusations? Or that Leon was already showing signs of dangerous corruption?
[CRITICAL DECISION POINT]
[TESTIMONY WILL AFFECT ALL FUTURE RELATIONSHIPS]
[CHOOSE CAREFULLY]
"I saw..." Aeris began again, then paused when he saw the desperate look in Seraphina's ruby eyes. "I saw a misunderstanding that escalated out of control."
"Misunderstanding?" Damien said with disbelief. "Aeris, surely you don't—"
"I saw," Aeris continued in a stronger voice, "people letting fear and suspicion cloud their judgment. And I saw friends turning against each other based on assumptions rather than facts."
Councilor Vex leaned forward. "But what about specific accusations? Trophy room? Attempted murder?"
Aeris met the eyes of everyone in the room. "I see accusations made by someone who admitted to making demonic contracts. I question the reliability of such testimony."
Damien's face darkened. "Aeris, you don't understand—"
"I understand," Aeris cut him off, "that demonic corruption affects not just power, but also perceptions and memories. How can we trust testimony from someone whose soul has been compromised?"
Brilliant move. He used Damien's own admission about the demonic contract to discredit his testimony.
Principal nodded approvingly. "Valid point, Mr. Draemor."
"However," Councilor Ashworth said, "there remain concerns about Miss Valemont's... transformation during the incident."
"Transformation that was clearly defensive response," Aeris replied quickly. "When faced with demonic energy and hostile crowd, defensive mechanisms are activated. It's a natural magical response."
"Natural?" Councilor Drake questioned.
"Every powerful mage has defensive transformations," Aeris explained, hoping he sounded convincing. "Seraphina response was consistent with someone protecting themselves from perceived demonic threats."
Seraphina looked at him with an expression that was a mixture of gratitude and something deeper - something that made Aeris uncomfortable.
[RELATIONSHIP CHANGE: SERAPHINA VALENCIA]
[OBSESSION LEVEL: INCREASED SIGNIFICANTLY]
[WARNING: PROTECTIVE MEASURES INTENSIFYING]
"Well," Councilor Ashworth said after consulting with other Council members, "given the circumstances and testimony provided, the Academy's decision is as follows:"
The room fell silent with anticipation.
"Mr. Ravencrest, your demonic contract violates Academy regulations. However, given the extraordinary circumstances of your survival, you will be allowed to remain - under strict monitoring and mandatory sessions with the Academy's exorcism specialists."
Damien's face twisted with frustration, but he nodded instead.
"Miss Valemont, while accusations remain unproven, your public display of advanced magical abilities requires additional oversight. You will undergo an evaluation with the Academy's magical assessment team."
Seraphina inclined her head gracefully. "Of course, Councilor."
"Mr. Hartwell, your involvement in the incident shows concerning lack of judgment for someone in the Hero program. You will receive additional counseling."
Leon's jaw clenched, but he accepted his decision.
"And Mr. Draemor," Councilor Ashworth turned to Aeris, "your testimony shows wisdom beyond your years. The Academy commends your measured approach."
Relief flooded through Aeris, but celebration was short-lived when Council members continued.
"Which is why," he said with a smile that didn't reach his eyes, "Academy has decided to recommend you for a special assignment."
"Special assignment?" Aeris asked with growing dread.
"From His Majesty directly," Principal explained. "Recent intelligence suggests neighboring kingdoms are mobilizing for potential conflict. Your house's... unique position makes you a valuable asset in diplomatic reconnaissance."
[QUEST ALERT: ROYAL MISSION INCOMING]
[DIFFICULTY: UNKNOWN]
[PARTICIPANTS: SELECTED BY PLAYER CHOICE]
[WARNING: WAR TIMELINE ACCELERATING]
"Diplomatic reconnaissance?" Aeris repeated, not liking where this was going.
"Spy mission," Damien translated with a bitter smile. "They want you to infiltrate neighboring kingdoms and gather intelligence."
"It's not infiltration," Councilor Vex corrected. "It's a diplomatic mission with secondary intelligence gathering objectives."
"And because of the dangerous nature of the mission," the Principal added, "you will be allowed to select team members from Academy students to accompany you."
Aeris felt the world spinning. This was completely off-script from the original novel. The war timeline that was supposed to happen years later suddenly accelerated, and he was being thrust into the center of an international conflict.
"When?" he managed to ask.
"Departure in one week," the Principal replied. "The royal messenger will arrive tomorrow with a detailed briefing."
As the meeting concluded and everyone filed out, Seraphina approached Aeris in the corridor outside.
"Aeris," she said in a soft but intense voice, "thank you. For what you said in there."
"I just told the truth as I saw it," Aeris replied, though he was still troubled by the implications of his testimony.
"And I won't forget it," Seraphina stepped closer, her ruby eyes burning with an intensity that made Aeris uncomfortable. "Which is why I'm volunteering to accompany you on this mission."
"Seraphina—"
"I won't let you face danger alone," she interrupted in a voice that brooked no argument. "Not after what you did to me."
Behind them, Leon's voice called out. "If Seraphina goes, then I'm going too. Someone needs to keep eye on her."
And from the shadows nearby, Damien's voice drifted with horrifying amusement. "Oh, this should be... interesting. An international mission with a dysfunctional team full of secrets and hidden agendas."
Aeris realized with a sinking feeling that his life had just become infinitely more complicated.
And the upcoming mission would probably determine not just the fate of Academy relationships, but potentially the fate of the entire kingdom.