Shattered Sanity

(Meanwhile, Imperial Academy Administrative Building, Chadwick’s POV)

Chadwick gazed at the gaping hole in the corridor wall with his mouth hanging open, unable to comprehend the sheer audacity of Duke Drew Dawnriver, who had just assaulted an Imperial investigator appointed directly by the Emperor.

Throughout his many years of service at the Imperial Academy, Chadwick had often heard juicy gossip involving influential noble families, although even the most arrogant aristocrats had never dared to openly assault an officer carrying the Emperor’s authority.

”P-Principal? Did he just... Did that bastard actually...?”

Chadwick stuttered, as he turned towards Boseman with an expression of utter disbelief, seemingly struggling to find the appropriate words to describe what he had just witnessed.

Principal Boseman, however, offered no immediate response, merely tightening his fists as he stared towards the ruined wall, realizing that the situation had spiraled far beyond anything he had anticipated.

Step... Step... Step...

The heavy footsteps of armored boots suddenly echoed through the corridor, drawing the attention of both Academy officials towards the detention room as Duke Drew Dawnriver casually emerged through its open doorway.

”I thought I made myself perfectly clear when I told you that nobody was to disturb me, Principal.”

Drew remarked, as he turned towards Boseman with an expression of mild disappointment, seemingly more irritated by the interruption than concerned about the unconscious Imperial officer lying beneath the rubble.

”Now look what you’ve gone and done. Those two poor assistants didn’t have to die today, you know. They were simply doing their jobs, and now their families will have to bury whatever’s left of them.

Such a shame, really. Their deaths are on you, Principal. Perhaps next time you’ll learn to follow a simple instruction.”

Drew concluded, as Riven cautiously emerged from the room behind him, his expression almost as shocked as Chadwick’s while Archimedes gently encouraged him to continue walking.

”Duke Drew Dawnriver! Have you completely lost your bloody mind?”

Chadwick finally exclaimed, his voice rising considerably as he stepped forward, unable to contain his outrage despite the overwhelming difference in their respective positions.

”Do you even understand what you’ve just done? That man was appointed by His Majesty himself! You’ve assaulted an Imperial investigator and murdered his assistants inside an Imperial institution!

Are you seriously telling me that you’re not afraid of the consequences?”

For a brief moment, Drew merely stared at the Vice Principal, seemingly amused that the man had found the courage to raise his voice after everything he had just witnessed.

”Consequences? You’re asking me whether I’m afraid of the consequences?”

Drew repeated, as a cold smile gradually spread across his face before he took a deliberate step towards Chadwick.

”No, Vice Principal. I’m not particularly worried about what happens to me after today. But if I were standing in your shoes, I’d be shitting myself right about now.

You should be worrying about the consequences of interrogating my son with a Truth Orb that this Academy had no bloody business possessing in the first place.

You should be worrying about the consequences of dragging the Dawnriver name through the mud with accusations that you haven’t even managed to prove.

And most importantly, you should be worrying about what happens when the Emperor learns that you locked my boy inside a detention room despite having nothing more than circumstantial evidence against him.”

Drew declared, as Chadwick instinctively took a step backwards, his earlier outrage gradually giving way to apprehension beneath the Duke’s increasingly hostile gaze.

”And don’t think for a moment that this matter is finished just because I’ve come to collect my son.

You bastards have humiliated my household, and if you think I’m going to forget that simply because I have managed to release him, then you’re sorely mistaken.

Now, you can try stopping me if you’ve suddenly developed a death wish, but I promise you won’t receive the same kindness I showed that filthy mutt lying in the rubble.”

Drew warned, as faint orange flames began gathering around his fingertips once again, causing Chadwick’s expression to stiffen immediately.

”Jack Sullivan got away with a broken face and a little nap. Keep running your mouth, Vice Principal, and I’ll burn you alive just like those two idiots inside.”

Having apparently lost interest in the Vice Principal, Drew turned towards Boseman, who had remained silent throughout the exchange while carefully considering the consequences of intervening.

”Now then, Principal. I’ve wasted enough time in this damned place, and my patience has just about run out.

I’m taking my son home. You can stand down and let us leave peacefully, or you can try stopping me and watch this entire Academy turn into a bloody graveyard.

And before you start lecturing me about Imperial law, understand something. I have no problem painting these corridors red if that’s what it takes to get my boy out of here.”

Boseman swallowed nervously, his eyes briefly moving towards the destroyed corridor wall before returning to the Duke, whose expression suggested that he was entirely prepared to follow through with his threat.

As a Radiant Rank Ascendant, Boseman possessed considerable strength of his own, although he knew that any confrontation involving Drew could result in catastrophic destruction throughout the Academy, and the potential death of all of his staff members.

So, after several tense moments, Boseman finally released a weary sigh before giving a reluctant nod, accepting that preventing further bloodshed had become his most immediate responsibility.

”Very well, Your Grace. You may leave with your son. However, I must warn you that the Imperial authorities will be informed of everything that has happened here.”

Boseman replied, as Drew merely chuckled at the warning before turning away without offering the Principal another glance.

”Good. Make sure you tell them every bloody detail. I’d hate for His Majesty to think I was trying to hide something.”

Drew remarked, before gesturing towards Riven with a casual movement of his hand.

”Come along, boy. We’re going to return to the White Castle.”

Riven hesitated momentarily, glancing towards the ruined corridor where Jack Sullivan lay unconscious, before Archimedes gently placed a hand upon his shoulder and encouraged him to follow.

And so, with his armored boots thudding heavily against the stone floor, Duke Drew Dawnriver walked through the administrative building without encountering any further resistance, while the Academy guards hurriedly stepped aside upon recognizing him.

Behind them, the two Imperial assistants had finally stopped screaming, their bodies reduced to ashes beneath the lingering Undying Flames, leaving behind a grim reminder of what happened to those unfortunate enough to stand in the Duke’s path.

By the time Drew reached the central grounds, the Dawnriver Legion had already begun preparing for departure, and within minutes, Riven had been escorted into the Duke’s carriage drawn by four magnificent white War Pegasi.

As the flying legion ascended into the sky and departed the Imperial Academy, Drew gazed towards the direction of the Imperial Capital, before settling in with a smug smile on his face.

His actions today were sure to provoke outrage among the Imperial court, and Drew knew that countless nobles would seize the opportunity to demand punishment against House Dawnriver.

However, the Duke appeared remarkably unconcerned by the political storm gathering on the horizon, as he leaned back against his seat and closed his eyes.

After all, he had never expected to leave the Imperial Academy without creating a controversy, and if the Emperor wished to turn this incident into a confrontation with House Dawnriver, Drew was more than prepared to remind the Imperial court as to what his surname really meant.