Supreme Magus

d to keep up with etiquette, handing him the Guilt Ballot without saying a word.

”Already? ” Linjos was even more shocked than Lith.

”Yes. I don ’t know the range of this thing, but they called it ’a proper welcome ’. So much for a safe environment. ”

Linjos took the Ballot, placing it on a small tripod. It projected a 3D hologram of the recording, starting from the moment Lith had taken it out from the cuffs.

Contrary to Lith ’s expectations, even that phrase was perfectly audible by adjusting the audio settings.

When it ended, Linjos was hiding his face between his hands, full of shame and embarrassment.

”I ’m so sorry, I had no idea the situation is so dire. A Headmaster that has no knowledge or control of his own academy, I must look like a fool in your eyes. ”

– ”That ’s quite an understatement. ” Lith thought, but since his entire academic career rested on Linjos ’ shoulders, he decided to give him the benefit of the doubt. –

”Headmaster, I don ’t mean to be rude, really, but that was the daughter of a Duke. Right now, what really concerns me is what will happen to her, to me, and more importantly, what can you do to guarantee my family ’s safety. ”

Lith was seriously worried about the consequences of that clash, but he couldn ’t back down again and again out of fear. Even forgemastering wasn ’t worth having his self-esteem and body broken every time some rich kid wanted to have fun at his expenses.

Linjos didn ’t fail to notice how depressed and downcast Lith was, and that hurt even more than just his pride. He had failed another of his precious students.

”Don ’t worry about it. The three of them will be punished according to the rules. As I said to you the day we met, I don ’t do favouritism. You are the victim, nothing will happen to you.

And your family is safe, as a student, every single one of them is under the protection of the Mage Association, not even a Duke would dare defying their will. ”

”Yeah, right. ” Lith scoffed. ”Like I should have been safe here, nobles shouldn ’t abuse their status, and so on. Again, I mean no disrespect, Headmaster, but reality doesn ’t give a damn about ’should ’ and ’could ’.

People do things simply because they can, especially when they know they will go unpunished. What do you think would have happened if I didn ’t have the Ballot? You would probably be scraping off the floor my remains with a spoon.

Officially, my only backer is Count Lark, and to make things worse, a Duke is a title even higher than a Marchioness. I don ’t think Duke Hestia would be much impressed by a piece of paper that says ’Please don ’t. Be a good man ’. ”

At those words, Linjos had a dazed expression, then he shook his head and took a deep breath.

”I ’m sorry, Lith, I forgot you know nothing about these matters. After all you are just… ”

– ”Is he really going to add insult to the injury? ” Lith thought. –

Yet Linjos stopped in time, managing to correct himself by the skin of his teeth.

”…unfamiliar of how seriously this kind of things are considered. You see, every magician, but especially the students that have yet to reveal their true potential, are all considered as properties of the Crown.

That ’s why all the academies ’ uniforms are so flashy to the point of being almost tacky. It ’s a warning, just like for poisonous animals. Harming one of you, or using your families as a bargain chip, is considered an act of treason against the Kingdom.

Treason is the worst crime anyone could commit, is the equivalent of harming the King himself, and is punished by torturing and killing not only the responsible, but also his bloodline until the third generation, with no exceptions.

It ’s an open secret in the Court, that once one gets admitted to an academy, a full team of royal spies watch his/her loved ones 24/7. That serves the purpose of protecting them from internal and external enemies.

Without such precautions, envoys of the Gorgon Empire or any other powerful influence, could coerce our students in betraying their country. No one would be so stupid to leave a gold mine unprotected.

As much as it saddens me to say it, in all the academies ’ history, the successful attempts can be counted on one hand. The real problem is what happens within the academy walls. ”

– ”Records can be forged, and spies can get bribed. ” Lith thought. –

”Are you sure is not better for me to drop off the academy and take private lessons? Power and prestige are meaningless to me if I have to one to return to… ”

”Over my dead body! ” The Headmaster jumped up from his chair, it was the first time for Lith seeing him angry.

”I didn ’t tell you earlier to not put pressure on you, but our labs have finished analysing the poison you extracted. When they knew that you also applied for a Master healer specialization, well, let ’s just say that the Light department has the butterflies in the stomach at the idea of having you among their ranks.

You have already been marked as an A rank student. As such, your family ’s security detail is composed only by members of the Queen personal units. Would you like me to tighten the security even more? ”

”Yes, please. ” The Headmaster left the room to give the proper instructions, and Lith used that opportunity to contact the Marchioness, explaining her the situation and asking for help.

”Duke Hertia, I know him well. ” She said. ”He ’s a venomous snake, but he is very greedy. He would rather exterminate his whole family rather than losing an inch of authority or prestige. If Linjos said he will take care of it, you can believe him.

I made a full background check on him, he is really the good guy he seems. ”

”Do you still have your extraordinary authority? ” Lith asked.

”Yes, why? ”

”If it was your family, what would you do? ”

”Everything I can, I get it. I ’ll make sure the Association does his job properly, and put some extra guards in Lutia. If anything happens, I ’ll make you know. ”

After thanking her profusely, Lith interrupted the communication.

– ”A rank, uh? So far so good. ” Lith thought, but he felt no joy for his achievement.

”I put myself in this golden cage, it ’s time to put its bars to the test. I don ’t give a sh*t about Dukes, Queens and politics. If anything befalls my family, I will put everything I have to wipe out the Griffon Kingdom off the maps! ” –