Cedric was quiet for a long moment. "Because halfway through drawing that circle, I realized what we were doing. We were destroying an innocent person's life for politics and for convenience. For..." He looked sick. "For a lie."

"You had doubts about Adrian before this."

"I had questions, just small ones. Why did he care so much about beating you? Why did he obsess over his friends leaving? Why did everything have to be about maintaining his image?" Cedric slumped against the wall. "But this was different. This was evil. And I was part of it."

"You can still fix it. Testify at Ravenna's trial. Give me that recording."

"If I do, Adrian will destroy me. My family. Everything."

"If you don't, an innocent woman dies."

Cedric flinched. "I know."

"Then the choice is simple. Hard, but simple." I stepped closer, my voice became low and dark. "I won't lie to you, Cedric. Testifying against Adrian will cost you. His faction will turn on you. Some students will hate you for betraying the hero. It won't be easy."

"But?"

"But you'll be able to look at yourself in the mirror. You'll know you did the right thing. And you won't be alone. My faction protects its allies."

"I'm not asking to join your faction....."

"I'm not asking you to. I'm offering protection while you do the right thing with no strings attached."

He studied me for a long moment. "You're really going to protect me? Even though I helped frame your friend?"

"You're trying to make it right. That matters, I'll let you go for that."

"Adrian would never...."

"I'm not Adrian." I met his eyes. "I don't demand perfection. I value people who try to do better. You made a mistake. A big one. But you're here. That counts for something."

Cedric was quiet. Then he handed me the crystal.

"Make sure she goes free," he said. "Make sure this wasn't for nothing."

"I will. Are you willing to testify?"

"Yes. But Hadeon..." He looked scared. "Be careful, Adrian's father is involved. Baron Celestius doesn't lose gracefully. If you expose this, he'll retaliate."

"Let him try."

☆☆▪︎☆☆

Back at headquarters, we laid out everything.

Thomas reviewed the evidence with professional precision. "This is good. Very good. The chalk analysis proves the circle wasn't Ravenna's work. The composite magical signatures show multiple casters. Cedric's testimony and recording prove premeditation and conspiracy."

"Enough to clear Ravenna?"

"Enough to prove she was framed. Any reasonable court would acquit." He paused. "But this isn't a normal court. This is academy politics."

"Meaning?"

"Meaning even with this evidence, some people won't want to believe it. Adrian is the golden boy. Accusing him of conspiracy to frame someone..." Thomas shook his head. "It's explosive."

"Good," I said. "Let it explode."

Isabella looked concerned. "Hadeon, this will start a war. Not a political skirmish. An actual war. Adrian's backers versus everyone who believes the evidence."

"The war already started when they arrested Ravenna. I'm just finishing it."

"The academy might fracture," Damian warned. "Students will be forced to choose sides definitively."

"They're already choosing sides. We're just making the choices clearer." I looked around at my team. "Anyone having second thoughts? This is the point of no return. Once we present this evidence, we're declaring open war on Adrian and his backers."

Silence.

Then Marcus grinned. "Took us long enough. I was getting bored with the subtle political maneuvering."

Lucille nodded. "Ravenna is one of us. We don't abandon our own."

"The financial evidence alone proves corruption," Isabella said. "I'm in."

Damian bowed slightly. "Where you go, Young Master, I follow."

Even Thomas nodded. "Let's do justice."

I felt the weight of their support and their trust.

"Alright. Trial is in four days. Thomas, prepare our case. Make it airtight."

"On it."

"Lucille, keep Cedric safe. If anything happens to him before he testifies....."

"I'll guard him personally."

"Marcus, I need you to prepare something special."

"What kind of special?"

"The kind that makes sure everyone at that trial sees the truth. Can you create an enchantment that projects magical recordings for a large audience?"

His eyes lit up. "A projection array? For Cedric's crystal? Oh, that's beautiful. Yeah, I can do that."

"Isabella, reach out to neutral faculty members. People who value truth over politics. We need them at the trial."

"Professor Ironforge will come. Maybe Professor Moonwhisper. I'll work on the others."

"Good. Everyone knows their role. Four days to save Ravenna and expose Adrian's conspiracy." I stood. "Let's be magnificent."

I visited Ravenna again that night with same ten-minute window and some gold.

She looked better even though she's still imprisoned, still wearing anti-magic shackles, but more hopeful.

"You've found something that might free me from this?" she said.

"Not might. Will in four days from now. And we have everything we need to prove you're innocent."

"Everything?"

"Magical analysis proving the evidence was planted. Financial records showing who paid for it. And..." I smiled. "A confession from one of the conspirators."

Her eyes widened. "Someone confessed?"

"Cedric Valorheart. He helped frame you. But he had a crisis of conscience. He's testifying on your behalf."

"Why would he do that?"

"Because deep down, he's a good person who made a bad choice. And he's trying to make it right."

She was quiet, processing. Then. "You really think I'll be free in four days?"

"I know you will."

"How can you be so certain?"

"Because I have the truth, evidence, and a really good lawyer. That's a winning combination."

She laughed softly. "You're either the most confident person I've ever met or the most reckless."

"Why not both?"

"Fair point." She looked at me through the bars. "Hadeon....." Her expression softened. "Thank you. For everything. For saving me. For believing me when no one else did. For..." She paused. "For being the first person to treat me like I'm worth saving."

"You are worth saving. Remember that."

The guard tapped his watch.

"Four days," I said. "Hold on for four more days."

"I will. Because you asked me to."

```

[QUEST UPDATE: SAVE RAVENNA BLACKTHORN]

[TIME REMAINING: 4 days]

[EVIDENCE GATHERED: 95%]

[CONFIDENCE: 88%]

[WITNESS SECURED: Cedric Valorheart]

[RELATIONSHIP UPDATE: RAVENNA BLACKTHORN]

[LOYALTY: 80% → 95%]

[TRUST: 95% → 100%]

[EMOTIONAL BOND: Maximum]

[NOTE: Complete devotion achieved. She would die for you. She would also kill for you. Handle with care.]

[WARNING: Trial will be contentious]

[ADRIAN'S RETALIATION: Guaranteed]

[POLITICAL FALLOUT: Severe]

[PROCEED WITH CAUTION]

```

I dismissed the notification and headed back to prepare.

Four days to trial.

Four days to expose the truth.

Four days to start the real war.

☆☆▪︎▪︎☆☆

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