After the incident of the rampaging Lava Dragon, Ray, Aria, Jason, Karua, and Kana were summoned to the disciplinary chamber. More than ten professors sat in a circle of chairs around them, listening to the account of the five students.
The children stood in the center, confessing and explaining everything, while being interrogated by the professors. The majority voted to punish Karua with expulsion for attempted murder, use of a forbidden artifact, and the destruction of school property.
Karua stood with hunched shoulders, nodding in acceptance. He admitted fault without protest. Kana held tightly onto her younger brother's hand. Ray felt terrible. He tried to tell the professors that he had already forgiven Karua for his attempt on his life, that they had reconciled as friends, and that he wished they would show leniency.
But half of the professors still disagreed. A child who had once served the Pandora cult should not be forgiven so easily. Even though Headmaster Witzany, seated at the head of the table, agreed with Ray, all she could do was sip her tea with a casual air.
Half the professors still insisted on expulsion. Jason wanted to shout at them for making such a fuss, arguing that since Ray had already forgiven Karua, they should let the matter rest.
But Aria noticed and stopped Jason with a sharp glance. The purple-haired boy sulked and stepped back. He knew that if Aria went so far as to stop him, the outcome would be far worse if he continued. Normally she never bothered to stop his antics at all.
Ray once more appealed to the professors for compassion toward the Dafger siblings. He looked around at them Professor David, Professor Kegel, and the others meeting their eyes one by one.
"Professors, please don't expel Karua. I beg you. To get this far, both of them have bled and suffered enough. I want them to have a chance at a better life. I believe Karua has truly changed. Please… don't expel him."
The black-haired boy of shadows only lowered his head, ashamed that someone like Ray had to beg for his sake. Karua could not utter a word, crushed by guilt.
"Well, Mr. Ray," Witzany said with a smile, "in the world of adults, rules are important. You forgive easily, and perhaps for you, an attempted murder can be overlooked. But Mr. Karua must still face judgment by the rules. Not everyone will trust him just because you do."
She smiled faintly, then glanced toward Professor Cornelia, stern with her rod, and old Professor Kegel, who distrusted anyone connected to the cult.
"Can't the rules be changed, Professor Witzany?" Ray asked, looking up with pleading innocence. She chuckled softly, hands folded on the table, regarding him fondly.
"Well, they can be changed—if there's a good enough reason."
At that moment, Aria stepped forward. She had seen that Ray's kindness and sympathy were not enough. She knew how she could help. She bowed calmly before the professors and spoke.
"Permission to speak, professors. I am Aria Atheria Falerian, first-year student of Black Dragon House. I propose that instead of expulsion, disciplinary actions such as probation, confinement, point deductions, and re-education be applied to Karua Dafger. These would be more reasonable and beneficial punishments than expulsion. Here are the details."
She took a deep breath as every eye turned to her. The white-haired girl stood straight, opened her palms slowly, and spoke clearly, glancing toward Karua and Kana standing together.
"If you expel him outright, Temmecia loses the chance to guide and reform a talented student who has confessed, shown remorse, and accepted responsibility. Expulsion might drive him back into crime outside these walls, simply to survive, once the academy closes off his future. But if he is punished through point deductions, probation, confinement, reparations, and community service, the outcome is better. The nation preserves a valuable individual for the future while reducing crime. Of course, attempted murder and destruction of property are serious crimes, and Karua must be punished. But I ask you to choose a punishment that is both appropriate and constructive. Thank you, professors."
When she finished, she bowed once more and calmly returned to her place. The professors murmured in astonishment that a girl so young could argue so logically. But it was not entirely surprising—Aria, who had never had friends, had spent her life buried in a thousand books, becoming uncommonly rational and thoughtful.
Beside her, Ray's eyes sparkled. He grabbed her shoulders and shook them with joy. "Whoa! You're amazing, Ariaaa!"
The silver-haired girl kept her composure in the face of his bright, innocent grin. Yet when he wasn't looking, she allowed herself a tiny smile.
The professors began to deliberate again.
Kana smiled sweetly and nodded in gratitude to Aria for speaking on their behalf. Karua followed his sister's lead. Jason just shrugged at Aria, as if to say, "I could've said that too. Easy stuff."
Meanwhile, Witzany unwrapped a piece of candy at the table and spoke lightly, not even glancing at the others as they debated.
"So what shall we do? Hmm… I think we shouldn't expel him. Miss Aria's reasoning makes sense. And look how much the children care for each other. Surely he can change. Everyone makes mistakes, don't they? Let's give him a chance. Shall we vote again?" She popped the candy into her mouth, smiling kindly at the children as always.
And so, after deliberation, Karua received punishment according to his crimes—but not expulsion.
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Five days later.
Summer had arrived. The midday sun blazed down on Lugana, not a cloud in the sky. During the entrance exams, fog had blanketed the city, but now sweat soaked their backs, forcing them to carry umbrellas in the scorching heat. Even so, the Sunday streets bustled with crowds.
"Stupid Ray, did you use your big toe to think of going out today? It's hot enough to fry your insides! We should've stayed in my room playing guitar while Vega kept us cool all day," Jason grumbled, dressed in fine white summer clothes. Aria shaded them with her umbrella as they walked.
Ray, in light shorts and a yellow shirt, turned to the complainer and retorted, "Hey! I promised Aria I'd treat her to ice cream today. And you're coming too. You copied my homework in every subject—you're paying me back."
Jason puffed himself up. "No way. I don't even need to copy. My genius brain can do that garbage homework easily. Copying's just faster, that's all." He tapped his head smugly, smirking.
"Yeah yeah, you're the smartest, Jason. Happy now?" Ray muttered, resisting the urge to smack him. He turned to Aria with a grin. "C'mon, Aria, let's ditch the loudmouth." He slung his arm around her shoulder as they walked.
Aria sighed, staring at Ray's arm on her like they were just guy friends. She wondered if he even thought of her as a girl anymore.
"You two don't need to treat me. I don't even care for ice cream. I just didn't know what else to ask for that time."
"Don't be picky, Snowy. We're almost there," Jason said, tapping her head lightly. Aria blinked at him, realizing with exasperation that both boys really did see her as just another guy friend.
Ray suddenly remembered something. "Wait, that's right—you told me you don't like sweets. I remember when you gave me that lucky candy. Want to eat something else instead? I'll treat you." He smiled brightly.
"…Anything's fine. Ice cream is okay today," she replied softly.
Jason groaned. "Ugh, forget it. I'm too hot. I'll go line up first." He stomped toward the ice cream cart in the town square.
The line wasn't long. Soon it was their turn.
"Uncle Bobby! Hellooo! I brought my friends to try your ice cream. How's business?" Ray greeted the chubby vendor cheerfully.
"Oh, young Ray! Back again, and with friends this time. Come, come, pick your flavors! I'll scoop extra for you."
"I'll have vanilla, with bread, please!" Ray said happily.
"Lemon for me, in my golden cup," Jason demanded, pulling out his personal gilded dish.
"And you, young lady?" the vendor turned to Aria.
Unused to being addressed so naturally, she answered quietly, "Chocolate, in a cone."
The three sat under the shade of a large tree, eating as the city bustled—adventurers heading out, tamers with their beasts, families strolling, couples dating.
Jason broke the silence. "That gloomy guy and his sister should've come too."
"Should we visit them? Maybe bring gifts. We never even celebrated that they survived," Ray suggested.
Jason slammed the table. "Great idea! Let's throw a party at Karua's place tonight. Barbecue, drinks, music—I'll handle the entertainment!"
Aria sighed. "If you invite a crowd, I'm out."
"Aw, come on! Parties are fun!" Jason protested.
"I never liked them. At my father's parties, I always hid with Sereni," she replied coldly.
Ray leaned toward her. "Then just come with us. No big crowd. Please?"
"…Fine," she conceded at last.
Ray cheered, Jason whooped, and the two planned noisily. Aria warned them, "If you try to surprise me with a big crowd, I'll stop letting you copy my homework."
Both boys froze, caught off guard.
Later, as Jason ran off to shirk errands, Ray and Aria lingered.
"Do you really dislike parties that much, Aria?" Ray asked.
"Not exactly. I just never know what to do. When people talk to me, I can only manage a sentence or two. It doesn't feel like I belong."
"Don't worry. Jason will make things lively. You'll see," Ray reassured her.
Then he noticed a smudge on her cheek. "Hey, you've got chocolate here."
She blinked, wiped it quietly. Ray grinned.
"Oh! Aria, your family makes equipment for beasts, right? I want to try it. Seeing Karua use one was amazing. I want to be stronger too."
"You can order something if you like," she replied.
"Then let's go to your house before shopping for the party. We'll be together all day anyway."
She hesitated. "…Alright. But my father is… a little strange."
Ray laughed. "Ha! And I'm not? Don't worry. Let's go!"
Aria sighed inwardly. What worried her wasn't the items—
It was bringing a boy to meet her father.
Dangerous indeed.
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