The anticipated day of reckoning arrived not with the cacophony of an earth-shattering event, but rather as a profound silence, subtly marking the tail end of a long, arduous storm whose fury had already spent itself. There was no grand, theatrical display—no blaring horns, no vibrantly waving banners proclaiming its arrival, and certainly no elaborate ceremony to signify the gravity of the impending judgment. Instead, the transition was almost unnervingly understated, its presence announced only by the faint, muffled echo of official boots striking the polished surface of the marble corridor; this hushed, measured sound served as the sole, understated herald leading inexorably towards the vast, imposing doors of the central tribunal chamber, where final decisions awaited.

Arios walked at the front. His uniform was neat, his posture steady, his expression unreadable. Behind him were Pokner, Lucy, and Liza, their presence calm but sharp, like the edge of tempered steel. The events of the past days had worn them down, yet something had changed among them. A shared understanding. A quiet conviction.

Instructor Garron was already waiting when they entered.

He stood shackled beside two guards, stripped of his rank insignia and wearing the plain grey robe reserved for the accused. The defiance that had marked him during the hearing was still there, but dulled—replaced with a simmering bitterness that clung to him like a second skin.

Council President Damian Ravencroft presided again, seated behind the long oak desk that stretched across the hall. His expression was as steady as before, though the lines under his eyes had deepened.

"This tribunal," Damian began, "is convened for final judgment regarding Instructor Garron's misconduct during the Dungeon Evaluation Exam. All gathered are reminded that testimony will be recorded for official academy records."

The silence that followed was heavy. Even the air seemed to wait.

Damian nodded toward Arios. "You may present your concluding statement."

Arios stepped forward.

He held the same crystal archive as before, now dimmed and sealed. His voice carried through the hall, steady but firm.

"During the exam, Instructor Garron deliberately altered the dungeon's mana structure. His intention was to conduct resonance mapping experiments without consent, endangering students and violating multiple academy statutes. We have presented proof of his involvement in the defunct Project Aegis, as well as confirmation of his identity as Gregory Harrow — a researcher expelled from three prior institutions for the same crimes."

He paused, letting the words settle. "This is not about revenge. It's about trust. The academy exists to train and protect students, not exploit them. If those responsible for safeguarding us are allowed to act unchecked, the foundation of this institution collapses."

For a moment, the room stayed utterly silent. Then Damian gestured. "Instructor Garron, do you wish to speak in your defense before judgment is passed?"

Garron lifted his head. The tired smirk returned, faint but venomous.

"You think you've won something," he said, his tone dripping with quiet contempt. "You think exposing me means anything. The system that built me still exists, boy. There are others. Smarter, stronger, better connected. You've only bought time."

Arios didn't flinch. "Then I'll use that time."

That answer drew a subtle reaction from Damian—barely noticeable, but it was there: approval.

"Enough," Damian said. "The evidence has been reviewed. The council has reached its verdict."

He rose to his feet, the sunlight cutting across his silver hair. His tone was final.

"Instructor Garron, also known as Gregory Harrow, you are hereby expelled from the Royal Academy of Vestoria. Your access to all institutional systems is revoked. You will be handed over to the Ministry of Magical Regulation for trial under national law. Effective immediately."

The sound of the gavel struck like thunder.

Liza exhaled audibly, the tension finally slipping from her shoulders. Lucy's expression softened with relief, though her hands remained clasped tightly before her. Pokner, beside them, kept her gaze locked on Garron, unreadable.

Garron's smirk faded at last. He said nothing as the guards took him by the arms and began to lead him out. But as he passed Arios, he stopped for a heartbeat.

"You've made enemies you don't even know exist," he whispered. "When the next storm hits, don't expect mercy."

Arios didn't reply. He watched in silence as the man was dragged from the hall, his footsteps fading into the corridor until they were gone.

When the door closed, the stillness left behind felt absolute.

Damian cleared his throat softly. "Now for the secondary issue—student Regulus. Following review of his conduct during the incident, he will be suspended for six weeks and stripped of his rank privileges for the remainder of the semester."

Liza nodded slightly. "He'll still follow Chase around, you know."

"Perhaps," Damian said. "But even loyalty has limits."

He looked at Arios then, directly. "As for you, Arios Pureheart — your actions have been commendable, but reckless. The academy recognizes your contribution in exposing corruption, yet officially, this record will remain sealed."

Arios blinked once. "Understood."

Damian's expression softened faintly. "You understand why."

"Because a public scandal would damage the academy's reputation."

"Yes."

"I expected as much," Arios said simply.

Pokner spoke up then, her tone edged with quiet defiance. "He deserves recognition."

Damian met her gaze. "He'll have it — from those who matter."

The tribunal concluded there.

As the four of them walked out into the afternoon light, it felt like stepping from one world into another. The shadows that had haunted them through the dungeon arc had begun to fade, replaced by the faint hum of everyday life returning.

Liza stretched her arms behind her head. "So that's it, huh? We win, nobody dies, and the council pretends none of it happened."

"Sounds about right," Lucy said quietly. "It's strange… I thought I'd feel happier."

Pokner gave her a small look. "Relief isn't always joy."

Arios walked a few paces ahead, hands in his pockets. "We did what needed to be done. That's enough."

Liza tilted her head. "You sound like a soldier."

"Maybe I am," Arios replied.

They reached the courtyard, where the wind carried faint laughter from other students — ordinary laughter, untouched by the weight of what had happened. For the first time in weeks, the academy felt normal again.

Lucy broke the silence first. "So… what now?"

"Now?" Arios said. "We rest."

Liza grinned. "Finally."

Pokner gave a slight, rare smile. "I'll take that as permission to cook something edible for once."

"Define edible," Liza muttered.

Lucy laughed softly, and for the first time since the dungeon disaster, Arios found himself smiling too.

Later that evening, the four of them gathered in Arios's dorm. The windows were open, letting in the soft gold of the sunset. Pokner stood by the stove, sleeves rolled up, focused with surgical precision as she stirred a pot. Liza sat on the table edge, swinging her legs, while Lucy organized plates with an almost ceremonial neatness.

The quiet domesticity was jarring — in a good way. After days of tension, blood, and suspicion, this felt almost unreal.

Liza leaned toward Arios. "You know, you're weirdly calm for someone who just dismantled an entire conspiracy."

Arios shrugged. "Calm helps me think."

"Or maybe you're just bad at showing emotions," she teased.

Pokner smirked. "That's generous. I'd call it selective indifference."

Lucy hid a smile behind her hand. "You three really can't go one meal without arguing, can you?"

"It's called chemistry," Liza said proudly.

"More like chaos," Pokner countered.

Arios leaned back in his chair, letting their voices blend into a faint background hum. For the first time, he allowed himself to feel the exhaustion beneath everything — the ache in his limbs, the dull throb behind his eyes. The battle was over. At least this one.

When Pokner set the food down, they ate together quietly, laughter occasionally breaking the silence.

As the sun dipped below the horizon, painting the room in amber light, Arios glanced out the window.

Somewhere beyond those walls, the academy continued — classes, exams, whispers. Life moved forward, as it always did.

But something else lingered, just beyond sight — the faint sense that Garron's words weren't just threats. That the shadows he spoke of still moved behind the scenes.

Still, Arios pushed the thought aside. For now, there was warmth, and food, and the quiet company of people who'd chosen to stand beside him when it mattered.

Pokner caught his gaze and raised an eyebrow. "You're thinking again."

"Habit."

"Try not to, for one night."

He gave a small, rare grin. "I'll try."

Liza pointed her fork at him. "If you start brooding mid-dinner, I'm throwing you out your own window."

Lucy laughed softly. "Please don't."

"Relax, I said if."

The night settled around them, calm and warm.

And though none of them said it aloud, they all knew it — this was the first true peace they'd had in months.

Tomorrow, new problems would rise. Chase would move again. The academy's hidden politics would shift once more.

But tonight?

Tonight was theirs.

[A/N:] The Book has been a mess, so after this month it would end

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