Shattered Sanity

(Meanwhile, Imperial Academy Detention Facility, Riven’s POV)

Riven found himself sitting upon the edge of a neatly made bed inside the Academy’s detention facility, staring at the stone walls surrounding him as he finally found himself with enough time to reflect upon everything that had happened.

The room itself was considerably more comfortable than an ordinary prison cell, furnished with a proper mattress, clean bedding, and a small wooden table upon which the guards had already placed a tray of food.

There was even a private urinal tucked away behind a partition in the corner, ensuring that the occupants could attend to their basic needs without having to summon the guards stationed outside.

However, despite these conveniences, the heavy iron door and the complete absence of windows made the room feel remarkably similar to the cold prison cells Riven had experienced before he was sent to the academy.

’This room does not bother me... I’m not some weak noble who has never experienced such adversity before.’

Riven thought, as thankfully, the mental conditioning he had undergone before entering the Imperial Academy had prepared him for circumstances such as these, allowing him to maintain his composure despite the uncertainty surrounding his future.

However, despite maintaining his emotional composure, Riven still found himself shuddering whenever he recalled the expressions of his fellow students during his arrest, as the accusatory gazes of those who had already condemned him as a criminal stung considerably more than the sympathetic looks of those who believed in his innocence.

’Did I actually do it? Am I really responsible for killing Mary?’

Riven wondered, as the image of Mary’s lifeless body once again surfaced within his mind, bringing with it the same terrible uncertainty that had haunted him ever since he regained consciousness at Northwatch Grounds.

Yet as he continued reflecting upon the circumstances surrounding his arrest, another possibility gradually began to take shape within his thoughts.

’Or are they attempting to frame me for a crime I never committed? Could this entire investigation be politically motivated to discredit the Dawnriver name?’

Riven wondered, as despite his young age, he was hardly naive enough to believe that every elder within the Imperial Academy necessarily had his best interests at heart, nor was he ignorant of the fact that several powerful individuals within the Empire stood to benefit considerably if the heir of House Dawnriver were publicly disgraced.

The more he considered the investigation, the more he began questioning whether his willingness to cooperate had been a mistake.

’I was foolish to cooperate so readily.

I believed that because I had nothing to hide.... That there was no reason to refuse their questions, but I should have demanded that a representative of House Dawnriver be present before agreeing to anything.’

Riven realized, as he recalled how readily he had surrendered Sky-Cleaver and answered the Principal’s questions while still struggling to process Mary’s death.

In his moment of emotional vulnerability, he had allowed his judgment to become clouded, placing his trust in an investigation whose consequences he had failed to consider properly.

Had he approached the situation with greater caution, there was a fair chance that he might have avoided his current predicament altogether.

However, since regretting his past decisions would accomplish nothing, Riven decided that it was better to focus upon what he could do moving forward.

For the moment, his options remained limited, as the Academy had made it clear that he would remain in detention until the Imperial investigators arrived, leaving him with little choice but to await their arrival.

Nevertheless, there was one decision he could make for himself, regardless of what the Academy authorities might demand of him.

’From this moment onwards, I won’t answer another question concerning Northwatch Grounds unless a representative of House Dawnriver is present. Whatever they wish to investigate, they’ll have to do so with someone from my family standing beside me.’

Riven resolved, as he leaned backwards against the mattress and stared towards the locked iron door, having finally decided how he intended to handle any further questioning.

—-------------

(Meanwhile, Vice Principal Chadwick’s POV)

By the time Vice Principal Chadwick received an urgent reply from the Prime Minister’s office, he had already spent several hours in an exceptionally pleasant mood, as Riven Dawnriver’s detention had convinced him that the Imperial Crown’s long standing ambition of removing House Dawnriver from power was finally beginning to bear fruit.

For years, Chadwick had understood the Emperor’s desire to replace the Great Ducal household with a more obedient subordinate, and the scandal surrounding Riven’s arrest appeared to offer the perfect opportunity to accomplish that objective.

’You’re finished, Dawnriver. Regardless of whether you’re truly one of Drew’s descendants or not, I’ll personally ensure that your chances of ever inheriting a noble title are reduced to nothing.’

Chadwick thought, as a satisfied smile lingered upon his face until his assistant entered the office carrying a sealed letter from the Imperial Court.

However, upon eagerly unfolding the parchment, his expression gradually darkened, as the contents were considerably different from the congratulations he had been expecting.

Rather than commending him for his initiative, the Prime Minister had demanded a more comprehensive report detailing the evidence collected against Riven, with there being a particular emphasis on whether the investigation had established anything beyond the involvement of his halberd.

The letter further instructed Chadwick to exercise extreme caution, emphasizing that if Riven’s involvement could not be established, the Academy was expected to release him without pursuing politically motivated accusations.

[ There are forces beyond your understanding at play here, Chadwick. Do not overplay your hand, and be prepared for a potential confrontation should Duke Drew Dawnriver personally arrive at the Academy. ]

The Prime Minister warned, as Chadwick reread the final passage with an increasingly dissatisfied expression.

”Surely the Duke wouldn’t personally travel all the way here and challenge Imperial Authority.

The Imperial Academy is not just any other place that he can simply waltz into.

Coming here and interfering in Imperial Investigation means he is ready to declare rebellion.

The Prime Minister is being far too cautious about this entire affair.”

Chadwick muttered, as he placed the letter upon his desk and shook his head in disbelief.

However, just as he had finished speaking, the doors of his office swung open once again, revealing his assistant rushing inside with an expression of unmistakable alarm.

”Vice Principal! Vice Principal! Principal Boseman has summoned you immediately! Duke Drew Dawnriver.... He, he has arrived at the Academy, and apparently, he’s brought a large contingent of his personal army with him!”

The assistant exclaimed, as Chadwick abruptly rose from his chair, his earlier confidence disappearing while the Prime Minister’s warning continued to echo within his mind.