I was walking back to headquarters when a figure stepped out of the shadows and I didn't even need to look that closely to know who it was.

It was Adrian.

We faced each other in the empty corridor. I couldn't help but notice that there was no witnesses here and no faction members.

Its just us.

"You're making a mistake," he said quietly.

"Am I?"

"Cedric came to you, I know. And I know what you're planning for the trial."

"Then you know I have evidence of your conspiracy to frame Ravenna."

"You have evidence that my faction was involved. Not me personally."

"Semantics. Still the same."

"Legal reality." He stepped closer. "I didn't order Cedric to frame her. I suggested she was a problem. What my faction did with that suggestion..." He shrugged. "Not my responsibility."

"You're really going to hide behind plausible deniability?"

"I'm a hero. People expect heroic methods. But sometimes my followers get... overzealous. Trying to please me and i can't control everything they do."

I stared at him. He actually believed this. That he wasn't responsible for what his faction did in his name.

"That's cowardice, Adrian."

His aura flared. "It's survival. You're going to present your evidence. Fine. I'll denounce Cedric and the others. Claim they acted without my knowledge. Express shock and disappointment. Maybe even testify against them."

"You'd throw your own people under the bus?"

"They made their choices. I'm making mine." He leaned in. "I'm the hero, Hadeon. You can expose my faction. You can free Ravenna. But you can't touch me. Because heroes don't lose."

"Everyone loses eventually."

"Not me." He smiled but it didn't reach his eyes. "See you at the trial. May the best story win."

He walked away, leaving me in the dark corridor.

And I realized that this wasn't just about saving Ravenna anymore. This was about proving that heroes could fall.

That stories could be rewritten.

And that destiny wasn't absolute.

"Four days," I whispered to the empty hall.

Four days to change everything.

☆☆▪︎▪︎☆☆

The Grand Tribunal Hall was packed beyond capacity.

Students lined the walls and faculty filled the observation gallery. Even off-campus visitors had shown up, some merchants, nobles, journalists from the capital.

This wasn't just a trial anymore. It has turned into an event.

At the defendant's table Ravenna was flanked by Thomas and me. She wore simple robes, her dark magic aura still suppressed by shackles. But her eyes were clear and determined.

At the prosecution's table, the Academy Prosecutor Aldrich Thorne, known for his ruthless efficiency. Behind him, observing: Dean Whitehall. And behind him, carefully neutral was Adrian.

The tribunal consisted of five senior professors. Professor Ironforge from Combat. Professor Moonwhisper from Magical Theory. Professor Helena Crimsonfang that has just been appointed recently. And two others I didn't know as well.

"All rise," the bailiff announced. "The Tribunal on Academic Misconduct is now in session."

We stood.

Professor Ironforge, presiding, looked over the assembled crowd. "This is a trial, not a spectacle. Anyone disrupting proceedings will be removed. Understood?"

Murmurs of assent.

"Good. Prosecutor Thorne, present your case."

Thorne stood, every inch the professional. "Thank you, Professors. The case is straightforward. Ravenna Blackthorn was found in possession of forbidden materials. Specifically, three restricted necromantic texts, seventeen banned reagents, and a completed summoning circle designed to raise the dead."

He displayed evidence photos with magical projection. The crowd gasped at the ritual circle.

"The evidence is clear," Thorne continued. "Miss Blackthorn was practicing necromancy, a capital offense under both academy and kingdom law. We seek expulsion and remand to kingdom authorities for criminal prosecution."

Criminal prosecution meant execution.

"Miss Blackthorn, how do you plead?" Ironforge asked.

Ravenna stood. Her voice was steady. "Not guilty, Professor. I was framed."

More murmurs.

"The defense may present its case," Ironforge said.

Thomas stood. "Thank you, Professors. We will prove that Miss Blackthorn was the victim of a conspiracy. That evidence was planted. That this entire case is a politically motivated attack designed to eliminate a rival of certain... influential students."

He didn't name Adrian. But everyone knew.

"Bold claim," Professor Moonwhisper said. "Can you prove it?"

"We can. We'll present magical analysis of the evidence. Financial records showing who purchased the materials. And..." Thomas paused for effect. "Testimony from one of the conspirators."

The room exploded.

"Order!" Ironforge banged his gavel. "Order in this court!"

It took a minute for the chaos to settle.

"You claim to have a conspirator willing to testify?" Thorne looked skeptical.

"We do. Cedric Valorheart."

More gasps. Cedric was Adrian's, former Adrian's, right hand.

Adrian's expression didn't change. But I saw his jaw tighten.

"Very well," Ironforge said. "Present your evidence."

Marcus took the stand first.

"State your name and expertise," Thomas said.

"Marcus Voidstep. Master Enchanter and specialization in magical signature analysis and artifact creation."

"And you examined the evidence found in Miss Blackthorn's workshop?"

"I did. Specifically, the summoning circle." Marcus pulled out his analysis. "The chalk used is imported, its from the Celestius barony, specifically. It's not available in the academy or surrounding city."

"Objection," Thorne said. "Chalk origin doesn't prove who drew the circle."

"I'm getting to that," Marcus said calmly. "I analyzed the magical residue in the chalk. Every spell leaves a signature. This circle was drawn using a composite spell, meaning multiple casters worked together."

He projected the analysis. Three distinct magical auras, color-coded.

"I identified three signatures. One belongs to Cedric Valorheart. One to Marcus Ashford. One to Elena Brightshield. All members of Adrian Celestius's faction."

The crowd erupted again.

"Ravenna Blackthorn's signature is nowhere in this circle," Marcus finished. "She didn't draw it. Someone else did."

Thorne stood quickly. "This could be fabricated. Magical signatures can be faked....."

"Not composite ones," Marcus interrupted. "Faking a single signature is possible. Faking three perfectly synchronized signatures? That requires cooperation from all three individuals. Which defeats the purpose of framing someone."

Professor Moonwhisper nodded. "He's right. Composite signatures are nearly impossible to fake."

"Furthermore," Marcus continued. "The circle shows signs of hasty construction. Uneven lines and inconsistent pressure. This was drawn quickly by people who didn't know what they were doing. Miss Blackthorn is an expert in magical theory. If she'd drawn a summoning circle, it would be perfect."

Thomas smiled. "Thank you, Mr. Voidstep. No further questions."

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