Shattered Sanity

(Meanwhile, back at the Medical Bay, Riven’s POV)

Tremble

Riven’s hands kept trembling frantically as he sat outside Gary’s operation room with his head buried between his knees, while his arms refused to remain still no matter how tightly he pressed them against his body.

There were several other students gathered around him, although Riven did not dare lift his head and look towards any of them, because deep down, he knew that whatever expression he currently wore was nothing resembling that of a noble.

Every time he closed his eyes, Mary’s mutilated body appeared inside his mind again, as sometimes it was the wound across her throat that he saw, while other times it was Cyrus lying motionless beside Gary, his body refusing to respond no matter how desperately Riven shook him.

’What the fuck happened out there?’

Riven wondered, as his fingers tightened against his knees.

The obvious answer was that someone had attacked Northwatch after Gary had beaten him, yet there was another possibility buried much deeper inside his mind that Riven desperately wished he could dismiss entirely.

He had blacked out again.

He had never considered it to be a big problem before, as the unexplained gaps in his memory during training had always been to his benefit, yet something about the circumstances surrounding this particular blackout made his stomach feel increasingly uncomfortable.

It had been raining, with thunder rumbling throughout the sky while lightning repeatedly tore through the clouds above Northwatch.

’No.’

Riven thought, as he immediately forced the suspicion away.

’That’s ridiculous. I would never hurt Mary even if I were not fully conscious.’

Logic told him there was no reason to connect the two events, especially when he did not possess the ability to completely overwhelm so many opponents.

Yet no matter how many times Riven reminded himself of that, the uneasiness inside his chest refused to disappear.

For now, however, there was nothing he could do about Mary or Cyrus, so instead he tried to divert his thoughts towards Gary.

’Please, Minerva... I’ve already lost enough today. Please don’t take him too.’

Riven prayed, as he squeezed his trembling hands together when footsteps suddenly echoed through the Medical Bay, causing the conversations surrounding him to rapidly die down.

It was Principal Boseman who had entered the building alongside the Vice Principal and a group of professors, and upon noticing the large gathering of students still lingering inside the Medical Bay, Chadwick immediately frowned before raising his voice.

”All of you, there’s a curfew underway.”

The Vice Principal scolded, as his stern gaze travelled across the gathered students.

”Why are you still inside the Medical Bay? Unless you’re critically injured or receiving treatment, I want every one of you out of here and back inside your respective Houses immediately.”

Nobody dared argue with the Vice Principal, as the gathered students began quietly dispersing almost at once, while Riven finally raised his head and gave the approaching professors a brief glance before reluctantly pushing himself onto his feet.

His entire body protested against the movement as the injuries Gary had inflicted were beginning to stiffen now that the adrenaline had faded, while his swollen face and broken nose continued throbbing painfully as Riven turned towards the exit alongside everyone else.

”You can stay, Dawnriver.”

Principal Boseman said calmly, causing Riven to stop and glance back towards him.

”And have someone look at those injuries while you’re here. You look like you could use the attention yourself.”

”I’m fine, sir.”

Riven replied, as he glanced back towards the closed operation room.

”I just hope Gary makes it.”

Boseman’s expression softened slightly, although he said nothing as Riven returned towards the wall and waited alongside them.

For the next several minutes, nobody spoke much, as Riven remained standing despite the exhaustion spreading through his body while Boseman occasionally glanced towards the operation room and Chadwick watched Riven with an expression that made it difficult to tell what the Vice Principal was thinking.

Eventually, the doors opened, as the Academy’s Chief Doctor stepped outside looking visibly exhausted, although the faint smile upon his face immediately caused some of the pressure inside Riven’s chest to loosen.

”I’ve stabilized Gary properly.”

The doctor informed, as everyone immediately focused upon him.

”His internal Aether channels suffered considerable damage, so he won’t be able to channel Aether safely until they’ve had time to recover. However, he’s no longer in critical danger, and provided there aren’t any unforeseen complications, he should make a full recovery.”

Riven’s shoulders immediately dropped as a long breath escaped his lungs before he could stop it, while several professors surrounding him reacted with similar relief.

Principal Boseman’s reaction was perhaps the most noticeable.

”Praise Minerva....”

Boseman muttered, as some of the tension finally disappeared from his face.

The death of any student inside the Imperial Academy was already disastrous, although losing the son of a Duke within its grounds could create consequences extending far beyond the Academy itself.

Boseman turned towards Riven with a broad smile.

”You can cheer up a little now, boy.”

He said warmly.

”You helped save at least one life today.”

Riven stared at him for a moment before lowering his gaze, because he didn’t feel like he had saved anyone while Mary’s corpse remained burned into his mind.

However, hearing that Gary was going to survive still lifted enough weight from his chest that Riven finally managed to breathe without feeling as though something was pressing against his lungs.

Beside Boseman, Chadwick visibly frowned, while the Chief Doctor noticed Riven’s expression before giving him an appreciative nod and raising one thumb towards him.

”You brought him here quickly enough that we had something to work with. Another ten or fifteen minutes could have made the situation considerably worse.”

Riven nodded weakly.

”I’m glad I found him when I did.”

Chadwick’s gaze sharpened slightly upon hearing those words.

”We have several questions regarding what happened at Northwatch, Student Dawnriver.”

He said sternly, as Riven looked towards him.

”If you’re well enough to speak, I’d prefer that we move this discussion to the Principal’s office so we can begin establishing exactly what occurred before your blackout.”

Riven’s stomach tightened at the word, although before he could respond, Boseman raised one hand and calmly interrupted.

”That can wait for a few minutes, Chadwick.”

The Principal said, as his eyes moved across Riven’s bruised face and battered body.

”The investigation will be conducted properly, but the boy looks almost as exhausted as Jeff.”

Chadwick opened his mouth before deciding against whatever he had intended to say, while Boseman turned towards the Chief Doctor instead.

”Doctor, have a proper look at Dawnriver. Treat whatever injuries require attention and make sure he drinks the appropriate restorative potions before you send him to my office.”

”Yes, sir.”

The doctor replied immediately.

”Once you’re finished, Dawnriver, come meet me. We need to have a chat.”

Boseman instructed, as his gaze returned towards Riven, who nodded in understanding.

”Yes, sir.”

He said, as the Chief Doctor gestured towards one of the adjoining examination rooms before Riven reluctantly followed him inside, while Boseman and the others remained behind.

Gary was going to live, and for the moment, that was enough to keep Riven moving, although as the examination-room door closed behind him, Riven could not stop thinking about Chadwick’s choice of words and the questions that were waiting for him inside the Principal’s office.

Because eventually, someone was going to ask Riven what had happened during the period he could no longer remember, and Riven had absolutely no idea what he was going to tell them.