There was a part of him, not a small one at that, that was simply rejoicing in this grand event. His face was stiff, trying to keep his expression neutral made him feel somewhat tired. As his facade had never been anything but impartial. Friendly, but fair. Such was the way people saw Sirius Dieke.

The halls bustled with life. Nobles made way to find seats amidst the sea of people, while the commoners had to make room and simply stand wherever they could, mindful of their surroundings in case some random aristocrat wanted to flaunt their status. Raphael didn't like this, he hated it in fact, but as he sat besides his father he had no way of expressing his discontent.

Where was that evil wench anyway? She made such a scandal when news of what happened at the Academy arrived, and she was the one to insist on coming to witness Keith Claes' punishment being delivered. Raphael stole a glance at his father, but he wore a mask that didn't give off anything but stress. His emotions too, were a twister of complicated feelings. Worry was among them, but Rapahel didn't think the man had even noticed his wife wasn't around.

He turned his attention back to the people coming and going. The factions were more or less traced as new arrivals looked to find seats close to their allies. Except this time around, perhaps for the first time in who knows how long, nobility was more or less united under a single banner. Raphael felt bile raise in his stomach. What wouldn't he give to channel the resentment in this room into that horrible witch. The dark feelings almost oozed up the walls, encroaching the whole hall without even a speck of light being allowed to exist.

Katarina Claes' influence would do nothing in that room. But given how the Claes couple was alone in their seats, that girl had probably been left behind at home. A smart move, all things considered, but one that left a bad taste in Raphael's mouth nonetheless.

The double doors opened. Or rather, the people trying to go through parted ways. Like a river being forced to obey water mages. Like the Academy had been twisted under Keith Claes' power.

Two men in the most exquisitely decorated armor were allowed in.

"The court greets the royal family, and their servants."

Was that allowed? That was just more power flaunting there.

The king and queen walked at the front, while the four princes and the people meant to take care of them walked behind. They walked as if in a parade, unmindful of the people all around them and simply going through the amphitheatre to sit in their special places. Having a clear sight of the judge ahead, and the highest ranked nobles to their sides and back.

The Claes matriarch wanted to step up. Go greet or talk to the most powerful people in the country. She didn't, her husband didn't let her. The woman was inconsolable, and the darkness in Raphael's heart reveled in her suffering.

He tried to push it aside, and tried to focus on the princes.

He nodded in acknowledgment when Alan Stuart locked eyes with him. Hopefully, the prince's grim expression was mirrored in Raphael's own. It wasn't hard, given how out of proportion everything had become. But he still worried about Gerald Stuart's all-vigilant eyes.

Even if he managed to go under his radar at the Academy, Rapahel didn't let his guard down.

He recognized other people. Some he had only seen in passing, some he had taken classes with and spoken to. He saw the Hunt, farther away from the crown than he thought they would be, and the Ascart missing both men but just as somber as the crown was.

"The court greets Earl Dan Ascart-sama and son."

The man that held the most influence in the Magic Ministry stepped inside. He rose to power by his own merit, so there was little political struggle in that department, but that didn't mean his presence didn't get the aristocrats talking.

Raphael had barely seen him in person, but he always thought he was a simple yet charismatic man… Nothing of that man was present in Dan Ascart when he arrived. His emotions were dark, darker than some of the negative emotions present even. His heart twisted and turned, barely held back malice clinging to his person like the mantle of a demon lord would to one.

He was followed by half a dozen mages, clad in dark robes and holding chains that linked to the guy whose fate was to be decided.

Keith Claes was stripped of anything resembling a badge of status, and wore simple clothes only meant to make him modest. It was bad. Most commoners wouldn't wear them if they could help it, except if poverty forced them of course.

The swirl of sorrow from the Claes raised to the roof. Eclipsing even the hatred from the other nobles for a moment. It grew bigger again when Nicol Ascart became visible, an orb of wind magic following his index and middle finger as he aimed it at Keith Claes' back like an executioner waiting for the sentence.

If Raphael had known anything about Nicol's true nature, he would have realized he was making a finger gun. But such a thing didn't happen. Instead, Raphael noted the luxurious suit he wore, green on top of more green, after noticing his emotions.

There was darkness in his heart, but there had always been. Venomous, untrusting, and so terribly alone. If anything, he seemed calmer than usual. His negative emotions mixed and intertwined with those of the people, almost as if he didn't have anything to do with what had happened.

Raphael focused back on the Prime Minister. It was becoming increasingly difficult to discern individual hearts from each other, and thinking about Katarina's entourage wasn't helping.

The judge took all the attention back towards himself. Raphael's heartbeat was audible to his ears. It was good that the nobles were holding back their venom, Rapahel wouldn't be able to take it. He was almost feeling ill from so much negativity, sweating and overall like the darkness didn't let him breathe properly.

As expected of having all the authority figures of the country in the same room, he supposed.

"...for the sins of having acted against, not only the royal Stuart family, but against the well-being and lives of several dozen heirs of the Sorcier nobility plus those of our neighbours…" That one got a raise in stress from the highest ranking people around. It wasn't hard to see why, either.

Conflict with other nations. In other words, war.

If the children that got trapped in the Academy were high ranking enough, it wasn't hard to see countries demanding compensation for it. Sorcier might not be the best nation in terms of territory, but it compensated for it with its number of mages. Furthermore, the weather had already changed, so it would be more difficult to use it in Sorcier's favor.

No one would want to try and force the winds back. Nature could be toyed with only so much before it retaliated.

Raphael discretely cleaned the sweat away from his forehead. The knot in his throat was almost throbbing, demanding his attention from how painful it was.

This wasn't it. This wasn't what he wanted. Although Keith was influenced by Katarina Claes, and Raphael's dark magic merely exposed all the bottled up emotions in the guy… He wasn't the one Raphael wanted to see kneeling and shackled in front of the country's judging eyes. The vision dark magic gave him wasn't helping. If he stayed for longer in that room, he feared the sheer malice would crush and kill him.

And of course, the screaming started.

"Kill him!"

"Hang him like a vile rat!"

"Behead him for what he did to my boy!"

"Lash him and let it bleed out!"

Disgusting. Utterly, horribly, disgusting. They couldn't see the darkness in Keith Claes' heart. They couldn't know how much the guy was taking, how badly they were condemning a kid for what they perceived to be justice.

Their children were alright. The loudest voices probably were those of the kids that hung the furthest back, the ones that gave Gerald-sama the most trouble. The ones that could have made things escalate the furthest if they had asked for help from outside the Academy.

Raphael stood up… Tried to.

"Sit down, Sirius." His father spoke directly to him for the first time in… Probably the whole day? Maybe even before that.

Some attention came his way after the whole thing became known, but that man didn't have his child in his priorities. Not now. Not ever.

Raphael couldn't do anything but oblige. Perhaps if that evil wench was around, he would be allowed to leave the amphitheater. But as things stood, the Dieke patriarch had the last word.

The judge used his small hammer to calm down the nobles.

Most of the commoners were eyeing Keith Claes warily now. Those closest to him were seriously trying to leave his vicinity.

Raphael did his best to ignore anything and everything coming from the Claes.

"Is there anyone here who is against the death sentence?" The king spoke, sending a stern glare at the judge.

Normally, judges spoke in representation of the crown. Meaning, their job extended only as far as the crown allowed them to. The king being present meant that the judge being present was merely a formality, and would defer to the crown's decision no matter what.

And consequently, most aristocrats would stay their tongue to not upset the monarch.

Those that had common sense, at least.

"I am." It wasn't surprising, really. Nicol Ascart always had a way to be stubbornly annoying, walking the path just hairs away from fully rejecting manners.

Raphael released a long sigh while the crowd exploded again in anger. The vortex now wholly directed at the young noble.

Keith Claes tried to raise his head and turn, but the mages holding his chains did something and he returned to his prostrate position.

The king eyed the pain in his rear with the same disdain he would a vermin, but nodded towards the judge nonetheless.

"This court acknowledges Nicol Ascart-sama."

What the hell was he thinking? Raphael couldn't stop sensing the dread. The anxiety swelling within the noble that had the whole country giving him the evil eye now. Almost as a second person begging him to stop.

That would be the sensate option so, of course, he didn't take it.

"I've been wondering for a while." At no point did he stop pointing his magic at Keith, but moved out of the way so he could turn his face to face either the judge or the king as required "Is making uninformed decisions to solve a problem started by uninformed decisions that good? Does it make sense?"

What the hell was he talking about?! The general mood worsened immediately.

"Nicol Ascart." The king boomed, his voice carrying even farther than it should have. It echoed in the whole chamber, silencing the start of another riot before it took strength "Explain what you call 'uninformed decisions'? Are you saying the unrest of the people is unfounded? You? The so-called wind prodigy that stopped this monster from killing our children?"

Nicol-sama's emotions exploded again, survival instincts kicking in with a vengeance.

"Indeed." He masked his fear with a smirk. It didn't come quite right, and the nervousness in his voice was evident. But he pushed forward nonetheless "I've been wondering for a while now, but… Why was Keith Claes among the student body to begin with? Why was he allowed into the Academy in spite of the security risk he represents?"

His hollow eyes became sharper, his smirk widened.

"Or is your highness telling me… That you were not aware of Keith Claes' capabilities?"

"That's impossible." Dan Ascart interjected, eyeing his child for him to shut up immediately "There is a reason why he was allowed to go to the Claes. Though I did suggest for Keith to be raised within the Magic Ministry."

Ah… So that was it. It was strange that Nicol-sama had been chosen to follow the people that had Keith Claes imprisoned. It was even stranger that it had been him instead of his father the one to speak up.

Raphael could see it. Those that belonged to the Ministry becoming cheekier, their emotions more focused and relaxed. And even if the king himself was feeling the heat on his shoulders, his children had a lighter mood too.

Cunning nobles, they knew how to cover their own asses.

But somehow, for some reason… Raphael didn't hate it. It must have taken a long time to get the pieces together, but he had seen Gerald-sama and the rest working together. If someone existed that could pull Keith off the death sentence, it was probably them.

So Raphael relaxed a bit. Even as the hearing became chaotic, regular nobles arguing against the workers of the Ministry, and even the most loyal to the crown losing their temper, Raphael simply enjoyed the chaos. He allowed the darkness in his heart to bask in it all, and even got to enjoy his father being put on the spot as collateral.

The hearing ended. Keith was still alive.

It would take more to convince the aristocrats to give Keith to the Magic Ministry as a 'study subject', but it was probably possible. It made Raphael feel better.

He had to admit, he never wanted this whole thing to go so far. So it was a relief, even if his revenge wasn't full yet.

"Young man."

While everyone was heading back home, Raphael heard a voice calling out for him.

The tide of nobles separated him from his father, but he didn't mind. The least he saw him, the better. And the person calling for him was an actual important person, so Raphael didn't want to be seen along with that trash man.

"Dan-sama, it's a pleasure to make your acquaintance." Raphael quickly greeted the man as he approached.

The man motioned to a corridor away from the people. Raphael felt anxiety raise again, but it was just a step or two out of the nobles heading home. A perfectly innocent invitation to be more comfortable talking, or so Raphael wanted to believe.

The fact the Minister's child almost died because of him didn't help with convincing himself.

"Sirius Dieke, I've heard a lot from Sophia. Good work at the Academy, we need more people like you back in the Ministry." The man greeted him with some rather big praise. It actually took Raphael by surprise, and made him blink until the words fully set in.

"Nothing of the sort, I'm merely doing my job as the student council president." He actually blushed a bit. He didn't want to be praised by the Ascart, but it actually felt… Good.

When had his father praised him for anything?

"Humble, I see. I'm glad. A lot of people could learn from you." The man chuckled and Raphael forced some laughter out of his lungs.

He wanted to apologize. To spill everything and tell the man the truth.

He didn't. The darkness in his heart wouldn't let him. Besides, the man seemed so honestly friendly Raphael wasn't heartless enough to confess the truth like that.

So he played along.

"I am very sorry about Nicol-sama." He still winded up saying it, even if he couldn't explain why. Maybe his conscience would go easier on him with just this apology "I'm glad we have someone like Maria Campbell at the Academy, otherwise this would have ended up as a tragedy."

"Campbell… Is it?" The man frowned. A thoughtful expression setting on his features.

"Indeed." Raphael smiled more genuinely now "She is a rather powerful light mage. A commoner, but the future looks bright for her. Dan-sama must know."

"Oh, that's right!" The man smiled once more "I've been just itching to meet her. Such a promising young lady… If everything goes well, I'll send her an invitation. After we're done with some loose ends."

Raphael chuckled awkwardly. He would know about loose ends.

"And you, young man. I'm also interested in you." Dan Ascart continued, more serious this time around "There are things that raw talent can't bring, and the Ministry is not interested in just promising mages."

…

What?

"I-I don't understand." Raphael's breathing stopped. This time around not out of anxiety.

"Indeed." Dan-sama smiled "Would you be interested in coming to the Ministry with me?"

"I-I…" Raphael's mind was blank. Unable to produce a coherent thought "It'd be an honor! I… I don't think I have anything of value right now. And with the Academy being as it is…!"

"Nonsense." The man patted Raphael on the shoulder. When had his father done this for him? "Everyone has something to bring to the table. No matter how small, it's always significant."

Raphael stared. Those gentle eyes welcomed him with open arms like no one else had before.

This man was too good, too gentle. Raphael felt even more guilt for what Nicol-sama went through. He couldn't possibly accept…

But maybe, just maybe. If he worked hard. If he did his best… Perhaps he could see the world with his head raised proudly.

The darkness in his heart tried to stop him, Raphael shrugged it off.

"...If that's the case, I can't help but comply." Second chances… Perhaps things could change for the better.

"Excelente." Dan-sama beamed "I just want to ask a question before..."

Dan Ascart's cheerfulness died in an instant.

"Did you really have to involve my son like that?"

"...Eh?"

Dan Ascart-sama's darkness stirred and swelled.

Like the darkest sea, it engulfed everything and everyone. Eclipsing even the sun for a moment.

Raphael realized he knew that sort of darkness. He held it in his heart, after all.

"I think you didn't hear me." His voice was devoid of any friendliness, it was cold as the most barren tundra in existence "This is an order: Tell me everything that happened at the Academy."

...Why had that evil woman not been around anyway?

The darkness swallowed Raphael and he obeyed.