Shattered Sanity

(House Argent Castle, Riven’s POV)

By the time Riven returned to House Argent Castle, news of the massacre at Northwatch Grounds had already spread throughout the Academy, leaving the surviving students desperate to learn what had happened to their friends.

Although the Principal had allowed him to return without any restrictions, Riven found himself surrounded almost immediately upon entering the castle, as dozens of students gathered around him and began demanding answers.

”Lord Dawnriver! Is it true that Randy, Batista, Flair, and Matt are all dead? What happened out there? We heard that almost everyone who went to Northwatch was killed!”

One of the students asked, as several others began speaking over him, their voices overlapping until Riven could barely distinguish one question from another.

However, Riven barely registered the questions that followed, as the names mentioned by the first student caused his already exhausted expression to turn into one of absolute horror.

”Randy... Batista... Flair and Matt? They’re dead?”

Riven asked, as his eyes widened in disbelief and his gaze moved desperately between the students surrounding him, hoping that someone would immediately correct what he had just heard.

He remembered Randy, Batista, Flair, and Matt accompanying him into the confrontation, yet he had never actually seen their bodies after regaining consciousness, having been far too preoccupied with Gary’s condition and the horrifying discovery of Mary’s corpse.

And now, standing in the middle of House Argent Castle, he was being told that almost every friend who had accompanied him to Northwatch had perished.

’They’re all dead? Every single one of them?’

Riven wondered, as the realization struck him with such force that he momentarily forgot about the crowd surrounding him.

Having already endured the questioning inside Principal Boseman’s office, Riven felt little desire to recount the events of Northwatch again, especially when the memories of Mary’s mutilated body continued tormenting him whenever he closed his eyes.

Fortunately, before the crowd could press him any further, Cedric Valemont pushed his way through the gathering and raised his voice.

”That’s enough, everyone! Can’t you see what condition he’s in? Dawnriver has clearly been through a great deal today, and the last thing he needs is to be surrounded by people demanding answers he might not even have.”

Cedric declared, as he positioned himself between Riven and the surrounding students before gesturing for them to move aside.

”Give him some space. Whatever happened at Northwatch, I’m certain the Academy will explain everything once their investigation is complete.”

The students reluctantly began dispersing, although several continued whispering amongst themselves as Riven offered Cedric a grateful nod and attempted to make his way towards the staircase.

However, before he could even reach the first step, the castle’s entrance suddenly erupted into commotion, as a contingent of Academy security guards marched through the doors with their weapons secured at their waists.

Their arrival immediately attracted everyone’s attention, particularly when the officer leading them surveyed the gathered students before fixing his gaze upon Riven.

”Riven Dawnriver!”

The officer called out, as his men spread across the entrance and prevented anyone from approaching the doors.

”By the authority of Principal Boseman, you are hereby ordered into temporary detention pending the arrival of Imperial investigators. The examination conducted by Sir Roderick has confirmed that your weapon, Sky-Cleaver, matches the wounds inflicted upon several victims recovered from Northwatch Grounds.”

For a moment, Riven simply stared at the officer, struggling to comprehend what he had just heard.

His weapon had matched the wounds?

The very halberd he had surrendered willingly, believing that its examination might help establish his innocence, had apparently been identified as the weapon responsible for killing his friends.

And if Sky-Cleaver really had been used during the massacre, then what did that mean about the period of time he couldn’t remember?

’Could I really have done it? Could I have killed Mary with my own hands?’

Riven wondered, as an unpleasant sensation spread through his stomach and the image of Mary’s lifeless body resurfaced within his mind.

He wanted to dismiss the possibility immediately, yet the knowledge that he had experienced similar lapses in consciousness during training made the accusation considerably more difficult to ignore.

Fortunately, the surrounding students erupted into such a commotion that the guards were temporarily prevented from approaching him, allowing Riven a few precious moments to regain control of his expression.

”That’s ridiculous! What exactly are you accusing him of?”

Cedric demanded, as he stepped forward and positioned himself directly between the officer and Riven.

”Everyone knows Dawnriver was the one who carried Gary Ironveil to the Medical Bay after the incident. If he was responsible for the massacre, why would he risk bringing one of the survivors back to safety?”

Cedric continued, as several nearby students voiced their agreement.

”And what do you mean his weapon matches the wounds? Are you suggesting that merely possessing the weapon makes him responsible for everything that happened? I’m afraid we’re going to need a considerably better explanation than that.”

The officer’s expression remained unchanged.

”Sir Cedric, we’re acting under direct orders from the Principal. The findings of the investigation are not something we’re authorized to debate with the students.”

Cedric frowned before turning towards Riven.

”Dawnriver, look at me. Did you have any hand in this?

Or are these guys just spewing nonsense?”

Riven slowly raised his gaze towards Cedric, as the question forced him to confront the very possibility he had been struggling to suppress.

For several seconds, he remained silent, remembering the inexplicable gaps in his consciousness and the horrifying scene that had greeted him upon awakening at Northwatch.

However, despite everything that had happened, he still couldn’t bring himself to believe that he would deliberately harm the people who had trusted him.

”I swear upon my honour that I have no memory of harming any of them, Sir Cedric. I even testified under the Truth Orb before Principal Boseman, and I genuinely do not believe that I could have done something so terrible to my own friends.”

Riven replied, as he struggled to keep his voice steady beneath the attention of the surrounding students.

Although several members of House Argent appeared reassured by his declaration, others exchanged increasingly uncomfortable glances, particularly those who had lost friends during the massacre.

”Then how did your weapon end up being the murder weapon?”

One of the students demanded, as he pushed forward from the crowd and pointed an accusing finger towards Riven.

”You expect us to believe that someone just happened to pick up your halberd and kill everyone while you were lying unconscious? Do you think we’re fools, Dawnriver?”

Another student stepped forward, his expression twisted with anger.

”My friends are dead, and now we’re being told that your weapon was responsible! How dare you stand here and speak about honour when you might have been the one who murdered them?”

The accusation caused several others to begin shouting, as the gathering quickly divided between those defending Riven and those demanding that he be taken away.

”Enough!”

The officer shouted, as two guards stepped forward and forced the nearest students to retreat.

”What any of you believe is irrelevant to the orders we’ve received. Principal Boseman has authorized Dawnriver’s detention until the Imperial authorities arrive, and we intend to carry out those orders without further interference.”

He turned towards Riven.

”Lord Dawnriver, I suggest you cooperate willingly. We have no desire to make this more unpleasant than necessary.”

Riven remained motionless for a moment, as the officer’s words finally brought his attention back towards the situation unfolding around him.

The prospect of being detained frightened him considerably more than he wanted to admit, especially when he realized that the Imperial authorities would soon be investigating him for the murder of several noble students.

Nevertheless, he understood that resisting would accomplish nothing beyond making the accusations against him appear more credible.

Taking a deep breath, Riven slowly stepped around Cedric and approached the waiting guards.

”I understand, officer. You have your orders, and I have no intention of obstructing them. I’ll accompany you willingly.”

Riven replied, as he extended his hands towards the guards without waiting to be instructed.

The officer appeared momentarily surprised by his cooperation before gesturing towards one of his subordinates, who stepped forward carrying a pair of reinforced restraint shackles.

As the cold metal closed around his wrists, Riven felt another wave of humiliation wash over him, although he refused to lower his head or allow the surrounding students to see how deeply the situation had shaken him.

He was Riven Dawnriver, the acknowledged heir of House Dawnriver, and regardless of what accusations had been raised against him, he would conduct himself with the dignity expected of someone bearing that name.

With his shoulders straightened and his expression carefully composed, he began walking alongside the guards, maintaining a measured stride as they escorted him through the crowded entrance hall.

”This is bullshit! You can’t just take Dawnriver away like that when you haven’t even proven he did anything!”

One student shouted, as several others immediately voiced their agreement.

”Are you trying to pin the blame on him simply because he’s the only one who came back able to explain what happened?”

”Explain what happened? His weapon was used to murder countless individuals in cold blood! That man is a criminal!”

Another student retorted, as the argument spread throughout the gathering.

”Murderer! How dare you kill our friends and then pretend you’re innocent?”

”Shut your mouth! Dawnriver might have his flaws, but he’s never been the kind of person who would slaughter his own companions!”

The accusations and arguments continued following Riven as he walked through the castle, although he made no attempt to defend himself against any of them.

For although some of the words wounded him considerably more than he cared to acknowledge, he understood that the students were frightened, grieving, and desperate to find someone responsible for the deaths of their friends.

And until the investigation established what had truly happened, he had little more to offer them than the same incomplete testimony he had already given.

However, just as the guards were preparing to escort him through the castle’s main entrance, a familiar voice suddenly rose above the surrounding commotion.

”Don’t worry, Lord Dawnriver! I’ve got your back! I’ll write to the Duke at once!”

Circuit shouted, as he pushed towards the front of the gathering and pointed reassuringly towards Riven.

The declaration caused Riven to pause momentarily, as he turned his head and caught sight of Circuit standing amongst the students, his expression filled with the same unwavering confidence he had displayed throughout their time together.

For the first time since the guards had entered the castle, Riven felt a faint measure of reassurance, knowing that at least one of his companions was already thinking about how to help him.

He offered Circuit a small nod of appreciation before turning back towards the entrance and continuing alongside his escorts.

However, as he stepped beyond the doors of House Argent Castle, another troubling thought gradually began taking shape within his mind.

’How will the Duke react when he hears about this?’

Riven wondered, as the guards led him away from the castle and towards the Academy’s detention facilities, leaving the arguments of his fellow students growing increasingly distant behind him.

Some of them believed that he was innocent.

A wider majority did not.

However, regardless, the very fact that he had to wear these chains today, was a stain on his honor and the Dawnriver name.