He looked momentarily disoriented before his gaze focused on Audrey, relief washing over him.
"Hahaha you actually found me," he breathed, then groaned as divine energy knit his shattered ribs back together.
"Don't try to move yet. Your injuries are severe," Audrey cautioned.
Brother Simon approached with a small vial of orange liquid.
"This will neutralize the paralytic."
He carefully helped the young man drink.
Within moments, color returned to his face, and his breathing steadied. Though clearly he was still in pain.
"Thank you, Audrey."
Max's casual use of her name without title caused the returned vial in Brother Simon's hand to tremble.
"That's Lady Whitcross to you."
The injured man managed a small, pained smile.
"Sorry. Force of habit."
Audrey paused in her healing, her eyes narrowing slightly.
"You know me."
It was stated rather than asked.
"How?"
"Who doesn't know the famous Saintess candidate?"
Max attempted to stand up, but the pain was too much.
Under Audrey's reproachful eyes, he obediently sat up instead.
"Yeah, I know you."
Something in his tone suggested more than simple recognition of her reputation.
It was hardly strange for one to know her name, but her appearance was a different matter. Then again, silver-white hair for someone young as her was a rarity.
But Audrey didn't press further. Instead, she returned to healing his most critical injuries.
"What is your name?"
"Max Draeven. I was supposed to be starting as a first-year today."
"What happened to you?" Brother Aaron asked, his expression grave as he continued supporting Audrey's healing efforts.
Max winced as Audrey's healing magic continued to knit his broken ribs back together.
"An Academy administrator named Carrington claimed there was an administrative error. Apparently too many students accepted, not enough spots. He arranged a 'qualifier' between ten students for one remaining positions."
"That sounds... unusual but not necessarily inappropriate," Brother Simon remarked, still maintaining his distance.
"The catch was that one of the ten students was his son. And the other eight were his lackeys plus me, a complete stranger. The test was simple: whoever held the enrollment crystal at the beginning of the welcoming ceremony would get the final spot."
Brother Aaron's bushy eyebrows rose.
"The Academy Administrator's son…"
Max paused taking a few breaths. With Audrey's healing magic at bay, his breaths were gradually steadying down.
"The whole test was a joke. It was rigged from the start. They gave me the crystal, then immediately nine people chased after me. When that didn't work, I'm guessing Junior Carrington went running to his daddy—who apparently decided more permanent measures were in order."
He gestured to his injuries with his good arm.
"Obviously these weren't inflicted by students. Those bastard after me made it very clear that they were supposed to retrieve the crystal and ensure I'd never be a 'problem' again."
"By the Goddess..." Sister Meris whispered, her eyes wide.
Audrey's expression hardened, her healing never faltering despite her obvious anger.
"If what you say is true, this is inexcusable. No one, noble or common, has the right to inflict such violence on another, especially not within the Academy's grounds."
"If what he says is true that is."
Brother Simon's suspicious gaze lay fixed on Max.
"We have only his word against that of a respected administrator."
Max met his gaze steadily.
"I have no reason to lie. Are my wounds not enough? This isn't some school yard scuffle."
Brother Aaron conceded.
"Your injuries do suggest serious intent. But without witnesses or—"
"Any of you mind if I borrow a mana potion?" Max interrupted, getting a little pissed off. "I'm completely drained."
Brother Simon made an appalled sound.
"Those aren't common items to be handed out on a whim! Even at the Academy, they're demand is high, so they are tightly controlled and—"
"Give him one."
The one who interrupted was Audrey.
It surprised everyone, including Max.
"Lady Whitcross!" Brother Simon protested.
Audrey's amber-gold eyes flashed.
"He wouldn't ask without reason. And if he's truly being targeted, he may need to defend himself."
Damn. Audrey is rising in my good books. As for the other guy? Sorry who?
Upon seeing Brother Simon's unwilling face, Brother Aaron shook his head and reached into his robes, producing a small blue bottle.
"Likewise, one vial. However, with this, you will repay this debt to the Church."
Max accepted the potion with genuine gratitude.
"I swear I'll repay every drop," he said, his voice unusually solemn as he met the priest's eyes.
"On my name."
The sudden seriousness in his tone seemed to surprise the priests, who exchanged glances.
Max quickly uncorked the vial and downed its contents, grimacing at the bitter taste. Almost immediately, he felt energy flowing back into his depleted reserves. With his limited mana pool, it was working wonders.
Despite still being in obvious pain, Max looked much better. Audrey's healing had been remarkably effective. It was far more so than would be expected from a Saintess candidate still in training.
She's the real deal. That's why she's one of the members of the main cast. Well, in the future she will be.
"Thank you all."
This time, he managed to stand with Audrey's help.
"I know you have no reason to trust me, but—"
Their conversation was interrupted as a group of figures approached. Though they closed in, they seemed unwilling to come close, preferring to remain some distance. At their head walked a tall woman with a scar bisecting her left eyebrow.
"Pardon the interruption."
The scarred woman's eyes were cold as she assessed the situation.
She produced an official-looking parchment from inside her coat.
"We're here on Academy business. That young man is wanted for questioning regarding several serious incidents that occurred today."
Brother Aaron stepped forward.
"Under whose authority?"
"Administrator Carrington. The boy has committed multiple serious offenses and must be brought in before the welcoming ceremony begins."
"What offenses?" Audrey asked, her arm still supporting Max.
Max couldn't help but smile when he saw Audrey reflexively moved forward a little, as if to protect him.
The woman's eyes narrowed as she surveyed the scene. She saw Max's partially healed wounds, the divine magic still emanating from Audrey's hands. And how their body language showed a protective attitude for him.
"Theft of an enrollment crystal, assault on multiple students including the Administrator's son, impersonation of Academy staff, disruption of an official Academy performance, destruction of property, unauthorized use of magical artifacts, and trespassing in restricted areas."
Max couldn't help himself.
"Is that all? What about the story of me assassinating the King?"
The scarred woman's jaw tightened.
"You find this amusing?"
"Nah."
Max lowered his tone to be more serious.
"I just find it interesting that you've listed theft first, when in fact the crystal was forced into my possession by Administrator Carrington himself as part of a rigged qualification test."
The woman's expression didn't change, as if did not concern her.
"As for assault, I defended myself against five enforcers who were explicitly sent to attack me and take the crystal. The 'impersonation' was a misunderstanding during a theatrical performance I participated in—with the full knowledge of the performers, I might add."
"The 'theatrical performance' you disrupted required half the performers to be treated for injuries. And you infiltrated a restricted area without authorization."
"Amazing imagination. I was invited backstage by several cast members who can verify my story. The injuries were nothing much and just accidental."
Max lied as naturally as he breathed.
"You expect us to believe that you were just an innocent participant in all this?"
"Not innocent."
Max corrected with a wry smile.
"Just not guilty of what you're accusing me of. At the very least… not of anything worth sending armed people after an unarmed student."
Brother Aaron, clearly uncomfortable with the escalating tension, stepped between Max and the enforcers.
"This seems to be an internal Academy matter with significant discrepancies in the accounts. Maybe we should all proceed to the administration building and—"
"We have our orders."
Before anything could be said, the scarred woman produced another parchment. This one was stamped with the official seal of the Academy.
"And the legal authority to execute them. The boy comes with us now. His wounds have been treated, and your obligation to charity has been fulfilled."
Audrey studied the document carefully, her expression troubled. Even from a distance, it wasn't much trouble to see. While she clearly didn't trust the enforcers, the administrative order appeared legitimate.
"I'm not convinced of his guilt. But, I also cannot directly violate Academy authority without proper cause."
She turned to Max, her expression stern but fair.
"Swear by the Mother Goddess that you are being unjustly pursued."
Max hesitated, looking into her pure eyes that radiated, Swear, and I will promise to do my best to defend you!
In this world, invoking the goddess wasn't done lightly.
While false oaths were said to carry consequences, the reality was often ambiguous; a lie might not actually lead to anything unpleasant.
It was a matter of fate.
However, the rules seemed to change in sacred places.
There, as the novel often alluded, the world didn't forget: those who went against their words would face karma.
Divine retribution for their actions.
Luckily, Max was not on any sacred ground.
But it was another thing to do it in front of people of the Church and especially Audrey…
After a few tense seconds, Max opened his mouth.