Students:*is that him?* *Who is this guy?* *is he even saying the truth?*.
Everyone is in shock but the most shocked person between All of them was none other than Magalie, in a disbelief in her eyes she looks at the strange guy who's standing in the second floor balcony.
Magalie: (im. . . impossible, I'm sure it was John, but John is standing next to me, then who is this guy?!).
John: (who the hell is that? And why does he kinda looks like me?)
The man who is sent from the consul starts talking.
Strange man: by the order of the consul you must come with me.
???:No.
Strange man: I don't think you understand, I wasn't asking you.
The masked guy jumps from the second floor balcony and lands in front of the strange man, then he punches him in the face making him fall on the floor, then he jumps through a nearby window, then starts running into the woods, the strange man gets up from the floor and leaves the student's dormitory building and starts chasing the masked guy.
Everyone gathers around the broken window, in that moment John takes Elesa and puts her on his shoulder, preparing to leave, all of a sudden someone pulled John to the back door, it was Aldric.
Aldric: we need to leave as fast as we can, I'll explain later.
Without any word John followed Aldric between the woods until they arrived at a small old statue.
Aldric: this place should be fine.
John: after running all this way do you care to explain to me why we're here?
Aldric: I'll get to that, but first, what do you know about the consul?
John: to be honest, I don't know that much about it.
Aldric: exactly, you shouldn't know much about it, the consul is the hand that controls the academy in the shadows, some even say that the principal himself doesn't have the same access as the consul.
John: ( no wonder someone like Thorn is the principal, he's just a cover for them).
Aldric: and it seems like the consul want to do something with the one who defeated the demon in the library that day.
John: but that doesn't explain how the consul knew that I was the one who defeated the demon, or how the consul even knew that it was a student who did it ( I'm sure it was Magalie, she even confirmed that she knew that I'm the mysterious guy that defeated the demon, heh reckless move from someone like her).
Aldric: I really don't know how you managed to pull that Trick back in the students dormitory, but it seems like the consul removed you from their suspension list, but from now on I'm pretty sure that the consul will put their eyes on the students.
John: so what do you suggest?
Aldric: hmmm, for now let's keep things normal until we fully understand the situation, but don't let your guard down.
John: I think you're right ( even though I studied here before, I really didn't know that much about the consul, well I think it's time to visit that old man).
John: it's getting late, let's return and we can discuss things some other time.
Aldric and John left the area of the small statue, while Aldric returned to Lona and the others, John was on his way to see someone who might know something about the consul.
[Later that night]
In his office,on the couch, putting his feet on the guest table, principal Thorn began thinking about the guy who destroyed his life.
Thorn: when will this horrible nightmare gonna end, that guy, he didn't just take my access as a principal, he tricked me to be some kind of a slave to him, if it's wasn't for the curse he put on me I would've delt it with him by now.
Just then, a familiar voice comes from his desk.
John: oh really? Do you mind telling me how you would deal with me?
John who's sitting on the principal's chair, Putting his elbows on the desk and his hands held together in front of his face, his Red eyes glowing, while Elesa, the black cat is laying on his shoulder, Thorn, almost had a heart attack from what he Saw, he quickly stood up from his seat and Tried to compliment John, hoping he would change the subject.
Thorn: m . . Mr,shon!! What a beautiful night to meet you and your cat, and the sweater you're wearing today makes you look, um . . . stronger.
Despite the fact that John was wearing his school uniform, he didn't seem to mind the failed attempt at flattery. After all, he came here about something more important than hearing a few nice words of an old man.
John: if it's wasn't for the information you have, your head would've been on the ground the moment you talked, now say, I have a few questions for you.
Thorn: ye . . Yes.
John: now what can you tell me about the consul?
Thorn's eyes widened when he heard the name, tension and fear evident on his features, The words started to come out of his mouth and a hint of weakness was present in his voice.
Thorn: the. . . the consul?!! I . I . . . I don't want any trouble please.
John: calm down, no one can hurt you and I'll make sure of it, now tell me what you know.
He hesitates for a second before he starts to talk.
Thorn: you. . . You might not be aware of this, but I was chosen by the Consul to be the principal so that I can be a face shown to the people.
John: do you have any names you know about?
Thorn: unfortunately, I don't know any of them but I remember that there were seven people who lead the consul, they call themselves the heads of the consul.
John: hmmm, anything else?
Thorn: um . . There's actually one more thing but I really don't know if it's useful.
John: what is it?
Thorn: well, a year ago the heads of the consul stopped meeting me in person and in exchange they started sending me letters if they needed me to do something.
John: hmmm, do you know where the heads usually stay?
Thorn: I'm sorry but before the last year they used to close my eyes and make their guards take me to them.
John: (it's seems like my enemy this time is very smart, not only that they used Thorn as a face for their own good, but also they made sure that no one in the academy knows more than a few things about them, even Thorn who worked with them for decades doesn't know anything about where they stay, that only shows how much intelligence they have by pulling moves like that, any wrong move with the Consul will cost me a lot, I must stay focus).
John gets up from the chair and starts walking to the door, but before leaving the office he asked Thorn about an "old friend".
John: I want to ask, do you know where is professor minsium?
Thorn: professor minsium? He committed suicide a year ago.
With disbelief and shock on his face, John couldn't believe what he just heard.
John: WHAT??!! HOW?!!
Thorn: we-. . Well a year ago after the explosion of the summoning hall, he was found Hanging by his neck in his office.
John: hmmm,(this answer doesn't match what I know about minsium) I want you to gather information about what happened to minsium, folder's, News papers, everything connected to minsium's death, I want it as fast as you can, when you're done, send it to my room.
Thorn: un . Understood.
After that John leaves, in the hallway heading to his room a conversation starts between John and Elesa.
John: Elesa I want to ask you, at the party, that guy with the mask who looks like me, was that was a Trick from you?
A playful smile appear on Elesa's cat face.
Elesa: hehehe, I didn't know my master has hidden abilities, but I must ask how did you know it was me?
A playful smile appears on John's face while he explains to Elesa.
John: well, at first I didn't, when I saw that illusion I was stunned like everyone, but when I focused on it, I recognize that the guy with the mask is almost a copy of me, then I used the arcane arts to see through that guy and I found that He has no bones or even flesh, it was in that moment I knew he was an illusion and looking at the people I was surrounded with the only one who has the power to make an illusion like that was no other than you.
Elesa: impressive, to be honest I didn't think you could know that I was the one who did it in such a short time, I will give you the blessings of the demon queen.
John: yeah I'll pass on this one.
[in the meantime]
in the same dark room under the academy, Magalie sits on the same chair facing the same man from last time, the strange man's voice seems full of rage.
???: do you know what it'll cost the consul taking the wrong suspect?
Magalie: NO You've misunderstood, it was John shon, I'm sure he used a Trick, trust me. . . .
???: SILENCE.
Magalie: Eek.
???: I've heard enough, guard.
Guard: yes.
???: escort MS.Lithblom to the exit and when you return, give this order: "I want complete surveillance throughout the academy, inside the classrooms, in the hallways, in the students dormitory, make sure that the only places without watching are the bathroom as for the student's rooms, put some guards outside the building and make them watch the students rooms from there" now go.
Guard: Roger that.
The guard grabs Magalie's hand and starts pulling her out of the room, Magalie starts screaming to the mysterious man to give her another chance.
Magalie: NO . . NO!! GIVE ME ANOTHER CHANCE, I'LL PROVE IT TO YOU, IT WAS JOHN, JOHN IS THE ONE YOU'RE LOOKING FOR.
[Later that night]
lying on his bed and looking at his room ceiling, while Elesa sleeping beside him Placing get book over herself like a blanket, John seems to be in deep thought.
John: (minsium is dead, hmmm that sounds too good to be true, killing himself doesn't seem like something that man would do, and it was a year ago after the explosion of the summoning hall, this whole situation smells fishy, but I can't do much now *sigh* I'll have to wait until Thorn gets me what I need).
With that John closed his eyes and went to sleep.
[In the morning]
After preparing himself, John grabs Elesa and puts her on his shoulder, when he opens his room door he finds two guards on each end of the hallway.
John: (are those guards? Did the consul send them? I knew the consul will make a move to catch the guy who defeated the demon, but I didn't expect it to be this fast, that only makes things harder for me).
Later in class, John couldn't help but to think about what's going on, especially with the guard in the back corner of the classroom.
John: (on my way, I saw that the consul put the guards everywhere outside and inside the academy buildings, even in the classroom, by the look on Magalie face I think she lost the consul's trust after what happened last night, right now, I need to find a way to contact with Thorn so I can get my hands on minsium's case).
[Afternoon]
In the cafeteria, John looks at his food with an empty face, it seems like a lot is happening in his mind.
John: (this is bad, I wasn't expecting such heavy security, finding a way to reach Thorn's office is more difficult than I thought, and the guards outside the buildings make it even harder, hmmm there must be a way).
In the middle of his thoughts, someone holding a box in his hands, the entire cafeteria starts walking to where John is sitting, the students start looking at the man with the box, it was Thorn, he put the box in front of John.
Thorn: here is the box you asked for.
John: (what the hell is he talking about?).
A guard saw Thorn put the box in front of John and he comes to check it out.
Guard: hold it right there, what's inside this box?
Thorn: oh it's just some books that this young man asked me to bring them to him.
Guard: then open the box.
Thorn: it's just some books, no need for that.
Guard: If you won't open it then I'll do it myself.
The guard steps forward and opens the box just to be surprised to see novels.
Guard: what the, "the night that I discovered how baby's come to the world"? "the monster prince who just wants my body"?, are you seriously gonna read this?
The guard looked at John wondering why a guy would read such a thing.
John: I. . . I enjoy reading on my free time.
The guard leaves the table, and sees that the students are looking at what's happening.
Guard: everyone, get back to your places nothing to see here.
Disgusted by what he Saw, the guard returns to his position, and so does the students, who return to what they were doing.
John looks at Thorn with an empty face while Thorn start leaving the cafeteria.
John: (I'm going to hang this old man from the ceiling by his beard).
At the same time, Thorn, who's leaving the cafeteria has a Cold expression on his face with lifeless eyes.
Thorn: (I can feel Mr shon's gaze burning my Head from the back, well there's nothing I can do about it, I guess I'm going to enjoy my life while I still can).
With these words on his mind, and tears dripping from his eyes, Thorn leaves the cafeteria.
[Evening]
In his room, after getting all the novels out of the box, John discovers some files on the bottom of the box.
John: all these files must have the answer that I need about what happened to minsium on that day, Elesa, what do you think about. . . Elesa. . Elesa are you listening?!!
Elesa seems like she found a treasure since she didn't hear her master.
Elesa: . . . . It's. . It's. . It's impossible, those novels are special editions, not only that, but some of these books didn't get released to the public, to think that old man was able to put his hands on these kind of things only shows how much he can help us, your present is accepted.
John: yeah, I don't think Thorn did that on purpose, but you probably won't listen to me.
John takes the files and puts them on his desk, then he sits on the chair, preparing to go through every paper.
John: (this is the moment I was waiting for, minsium is the only name I hated when I first put my foot on this place as Leon, I don't care how much it will cost me I will digg into the truth even if it's mean to use my bare hands, as a part of my revenge I'll be sure to make you suffer).