Shattered Sanity

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

Riven felt his nerves gradually calming down as he looked into Drew’s eyes, for there was something oddly comforting about the Duke’s presence, despite the unmistakable contempt with which the man had addressed him only moments earlier.

Perhaps it was the confidence with which Drew carried himself, or perhaps it was the simple realization that the man standing before him would never concern himself with questions of right and wrong as long as the individual involved bore the Dawnriver surname.

Whatever the reason, Riven found himself feeling considerably more secure than he had at any point since his arrest, as he straightened his posture and finally gathered the courage to meet his father’s gaze without hesitation.

”Father, I swear to you, I don’t remember killing anyone. I know how bad things look right now, but there’s something seriously wrong with these accusations, and I honestly don’t know what happened.”

Riven began, as Drew folded his arms across his chest and gestured for him to continue without interrupting.

And so, Riven began recounting everything that had happened during the final stages of Black Week, from the events inside the Northern Forest to his confrontation with Gary Ironveil at Northwatch Grounds, where he had eventually been knocked unconscious and lost possession of Sky-Cleaver.

However, his expression grew troubled as he admitted that he had no recollection of the massacre itself, and that the next thing he remembered was waking up on the devastated battlefield, where he had discovered Gary gravely injured and carried him back to the Academy for treatment.

He then explained everything that had happened during his subsequent interrogation, including how the Truth Orb had initially reacted when he concealed his unexplained blackouts, only to stop reacting once he revealed the truth.

Throughout his explanation, Drew listened without interrupting, his initial impatience gradually giving way to a look of unmistakable satisfaction, until by the time Riven finished speaking, the Duke was grinning from ear to ear.

”Archimedes?”

Drew mumbled, as instead of addressing Riven, Drew turned towards the elderly librarian standing beside the entrance.

*Sigh*

Archimedes released a long sigh before offering a small nod, his gesture confirming that Riven was telling the truth.

”The boy’s telling the truth, Your Grace. I kept track of his heartbeat the whole time he was speaking, and it barely changed, even when he was talking about the murders.

Now, I suppose there’s always a chance someone’s trained him to lie without giving anything away, but I highly doubt that’s the case here.”

Archimedes explained, as he briefly glanced towards Riven before returning his attention to the Duke.

Upon hearing the librarian’s assessment, Drew began rubbing his palms together with visible satisfaction, even smacking his lips as though he had just been presented with an opportunity too tempting to ignore.

”Excellent! Then you’ve got nothing to worry about anymore, boy. Leave this mess to me. I’ll take care of everything.”

Drew assured, as he regarded Riven with an expression that appeared considerably more pleased than one might have expected from a father whose son could be implicated in a massacre.

However, rather than feeling entirely reassured, Riven found himself raising an eyebrow at the Duke’s enthusiasm, particularly because he could not understand how his explanation had managed to resolve the accusations against him.

”Handle this how, Father?”

Riven asked nervously, as he looked towards Drew with a mixture of confusion and cautious hope.

”Boy, everything they’ve got against you is circumstantial.

And the way they’ve gone about this investigation is a bloody insult to House Dawnriver.

Since when did the Imperial Academy start keeping Truth Orbs around to interrogate its students? And who gave them the right to treat the heir of a Great Ducal household like some common criminal whose word means nothing?

The fact that they even dared put you through a Truth Orb interrogation is reason enough for me to burn this entire place to the ground.”

Drew declared, as his earlier satisfaction gradually gave way to an expression of cold indignation.

”And even if I were to let that insult slide, there’s still the matter of what actually happened.

You told them yourself that you don’t remember killing anyone, and from everything you’ve told me, you didn’t even have a reason to want those students dead.

Hell, you even saved Gary Ironveil’s life after the bastard nearly knocked you unconscious, when you could have just left him there to die.

And after hearing all of that, they still decided to lock you up because your weapon happened to be involved in the murders? That’s the best excuse they could come up with?”

Drew continued, as he began pacing slowly across the detention room, seemingly growing more convinced of his own interpretation with every passing moment.

”Tell me, boy, does any of that sound like a fair investigation to you?

Because to me, this whole thing stinks of a conspiracy to drag the Dawnriver name through the mud, and I’ll be damned if I let them get away with something like that.

If these fools think they can humiliate my household and simply carry on as though nothing happened, then perhaps it’s time I reminded them exactly who they’re dealing with.”

Drew declared, as he finally stopped pacing and turned towards Archimedes, who had been listening to the exchange with an increasingly thoughtful expression.

”I have to agree with you, Your Grace. Something about this whole affair doesn’t sit right with me, especially after hearing what the boy has to say.

If the Truth Orb confirmed that the boy genuinely doesn’t remember killing anyone, then what more do they expect him to tell them?

And yet, they’ve somehow found an excuse to keep him locked up anyway.

I think... whatever you decide to do from here, you can count on my support.”

Archimedes assured, as he inclined his head towards the Duke.

Riven, however, found himself growing increasingly puzzled by the exchange, as he could not understand why someone as powerful and influential as Duke Drew Dawnriver appeared to place such considerable importance upon the opinion of an elderly librarian.

’Just who exactly is Archimedes? Why does Father keep consulting him as though his approval actually matters?’

Riven wondered, although he wisely decided against voicing his suspicions, as he remained standing before the two men and anxiously contemplated what his father’s next course of action might entail.