The next morning, I found out.

A message arrived at dawn. Official academy letterhead.

Hadeon Ravana.

You are hereby summoned to appear before the Student Disciplinary Committee regarding allegations of:

1. Theft of private property

2. Illegal surveillance

3. Conspiracy to commit fraud

4. Manipulation of academy markets

Hearing scheduled in three days hence

Failure to appear will result in automatic expulsion.

—Dean Marcus Ashford

"This is bullshit," Marcus said, slamming the summons on the table. "Complete fabrication."

"Obviously." I read through the charges again. "But well-crafted bullshit. Each charge has just enough plausibility to require a defense."

We were in the meeting room, three hours before the hearing. My entire inner circle was present. Thomas acting like a legal advisor.

"The theft charge is about the financial records," Thomas said, reading his notes. "They're claiming you stole them from Adrian's quarters."

"Which we did," Lucille said flatly.

"Which they can't prove," I corrected. "No witnesses and no evidence. Just Adrian's word against ours."

"The illegal surveillance charge stems from your intelligence network," Thomas continued. "They're arguing that monitoring Adrian's activities constitutes harassment."

"Half the academy monitors each other," Isabella pointed out. "That's standard behavior in this academy."

"True. But they're painting it as obsessive stalking." Thomas grimaced. "The fraud charge is clever. They're claiming YOU'RE the one running the predatory pricing scheme, not Adrian."

"That's insane," Isabella said. "My books are completely transparent."

"Are they?" I asked quietly.

She looked at me. "What do you mean?"

"Adrian's playing the victim. Accusing me of exactly what he's doing." I stood, pacing. "And it might work because who's going to believe the villain over the hero?"

Silence.

"The market manipulation charge is the vaguest," Thomas said. "They're basically saying you have too much influence over academy commerce."

"Which isn't illegal," Isabella said.

"No. But combined with the other charges, it creates a narrative of Hadeon Ravana is a dangerous manipulator who needs to be stopped."

I leaned against the wall, thinking. This was smart. Adrian couldn't beat me economically, so he was trying to eliminate me through official channels.

"What's our defense?" Damian asked.

"Truth," I said simply. "We show our financial records. Prove we're operating legally. Demonstrate that Adrian's the one manipulating markets."

"They won't accept evidence against Adrian," Thomas warned. "The committee is chaired by Professor Aldric Whitehall. He's publicly pro-Adrian."

"Of course he is." I smiled without humor. "Then we don't just defend. We attack."

"How?" Marcus asked.

"We make it a trial of Adrian's methods, not mine. Every charge they level, we show he's guilty of worse. Force them to investigate both of us or neither."

"That's risky," Thomas said. "You could both end up expelled."

"But Adrian has more to lose. His entire hero narrative depends on being beyond reproach. Mine doesn't." I looked around. "I've always been the villain. I can survive scandal. Can he?"

Isabella nodded slowly. "It's a game of chicken. Who blinks first?"

"Exactly."

The system chimed.

```

[QUEST TRIGGERED: THE DISCIPLINARY HEARING]

[OBJECTIVE: Survive the hearing without expulsion]

[BONUS OBJECTIVE: Turn the tables on Adrian]

[DIFFICULTY: Hard]

[CONSEQUENCE OF FAILURE: Expulsion, faction dissolution]

[REWARD: Variable based on performance]

[ANALYSIS: Adrian is desperate]

[He's risking his reputation to eliminate you]

[This is his all-in move]

[Match it or fold]

```

"Alright," I said. "Thomas, prepare our defense. Isabella, bring every financial record we have. Lucille, I need something."

"What?"

"Insurance. If this goes badly, I need leverage to force a mistrial."

Her eyes glinted. "What kind of leverage?"

"The kind that makes people reconsider their decisions. Quietly and professionally."

"I'll see what I can find."

☆☆▪︎▪︎☆☆

The Disciplinary Committee met in the Old Hall, a formal chamber that reeked of tradition and judgment. Wooden panels, high ceilings, rows of seats for observers.

It was packed.

Word had spread. Students filled every seat. Faculty lined the walls. This wasn't just a hearing but it was theater show for them.

I walked in flanked by Damian and Thomas. Isabella carried our documentation. Marcus and Lucille sat in the front row of observers.

Adrian was already seated at the opposing table. He looked perfect, as always. Concerned. Serious. Appropriately regretful that it had come to this.

Behind him, his faction are smaller than before, but still substantial.

The committee sat at a raised dais. Five professors. Professor Whitehall in the center, as Thomas had warned.

"This hearing is now in session," Whitehall announced. "Hadeon Ravana you stand accused of four charges. How do you plead?"

I stood. "Not guilty to all charges, Professor. Furthermore, I challenge the validity of this hearing."

Murmurs from the audience.

"On what grounds?" Whitehall asked, frowning.

"These charges are politically motivated retaliation for legitimate business competition. Adrian Celestius is abusing the disciplinary process to eliminate a commercial rival."

"That's a serious accusation," another committee member said, Professor Elara Moonwhisper, Magical Theory. Neutral, according to my intelligence.

"Yes. But I can prove it." I nodded to Isabella.

She approached, handed documents to the committee. "Complete financial records for our business. As you'll see, all our business practices are entirely legal. We maintain proper licensing, pay all fees, operate transparently, and price according to market rates."

Whitehall barely glanced at them. "This doesn't address the charges of theft and surveillance."

"Because those charges are fabricated," I said calmly. "Adrian Celestius has no evidence I stole anything. No witnesses. No magical traces. It's just an accusation."

"Are you calling him a liar?" Whitehall bristled.

"I'm saying he has no proof."

Adrian stood. "If I may, Professor?"

"Of course, Mr. Celestius."

"I don't claim to have witnessed the theft personally. But my financial records were copied without permission. Mr. Ravana companion"—he glanced at Isabella—"somehow obtained information she couldn't have acquired legally."

"We received an anonymous tip about market manipulation," Isabella said smoothly. "Including copies of documents. We have no knowledge of how they were obtained."

"Convenient," Whitehall said with a sneer.

"Professor," I said. "Since we're discussing financial impropriety, I'd like the committee to examine Adrian's business practices as well."

"This hearing is about you, not..."

"If I'm accused of predatory pricing and market manipulation, shouldn't we compare my practices to my accuser's? Fair investigation requires examining both parties."

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