Thorne tried to discredit the analysis and asked about methodology. He questioned assumptions. But Marcus was unshakeable.

The evidence was solid.

Next, Isabella took the stand.

"State your name and expertise."

"Isabella Frostvale. Economic analyst and merchant. Specialization in financial investigation."

"And you traced the origin of the forbidden texts found in Miss Blackthorn's workshop?"

"I did. They were purchased from a black market dealer three days before the arrest. The transaction was 5,000 gold."

"Who made the purchase?"

"The money came from a Celestius family account. Specifically, Baron Celestius's personal discretionary fund."

More gasps.

Adrian's face was carefully blank now.

"Baron Celestius, Adrian's father, paid for the forbidden texts used to frame Miss Blackthorn," Thomas summarized. "No further questions."

Thorne stood. "This proves nothing. Baron Celestius is a private citizen. His son cannot be held responsible for his father's actions."

"Perhaps," Thomas said smoothly. "But it establishes a pattern that Celestius family resources being used to target Miss Blackthorn. We'll demonstrate why shortly."

"The defense calls Cedric Valorheart."

Silence as Cedric walked to the witness stand. He looked terrified but at least determined.

Adrian watched him like a hawk.

"State your name for the record."

"Cedric Valorheart."

"And you were a member of Adrian Celestius's inner circle?"

"Yes. Until four days ago."

"Why did you leave?"

Cedric took a breath. "Because I couldn't participate in what we were doing anymore."

"What were you doing?"

"Framing Ravenna Blackthorn for practicing forbidden magic."

The room went absolutely silent.

"Tell the tribunal what happened," Thomas said gently.

"Three nights before the arrest, Adrian called a meeting. Just his inner circle. He said Ravenna was becoming a problem. That she was corrupting students with dark magic. That she needed to be removed."

"What did he propose?"

"Planting evidence. Making it look like she was practicing necromancy. He laid out the whole plan." Cedric's voice shook slightly. "Steal forbidden texts from the restricted library. Purchase reagents from black market dealers. Draw a summoning circle in her workshop. Anonymous tip to security."

"And you participated?"

"Yes." Cedric looked sick. "I helped draw the circle. Me, Marcus Ashford, and Elena Brightshield. We used a composite spell to hide our individual signatures. Or so we thought."

"Why did you do it?"

"Because I trusted Adrian. I thought... I thought he knew what he was doing. That he was protecting the academy from a real threat." Cedric met Ravenna's eyes. "I was wrong. And I'm sorry."

Ravenna's expression softened slightly.

"Do you have proof of Adrian's involvement?" Thomas asked.

"I recorded the planning meeting." Cedric pulled out the crystal. "Everything. Adrian giving orders and us agreeing to execute them."

Thomas took the crystal, handed it to Marcus who'd set up the projection array.

"I object!" Thorne stood quickly. "Private conversations recorded without consent are inadmissible....."

"This isn't a criminal trial," Professor Moonwhisper interrupted. "Academy tribunals have different evidentiary standards. I vote we allow it."

"Seconded," Ironforge said.

The crystal activated.

The projection showed Adrian's private room. Five people sitting around: Adrian, Cedric, Marcus Ashford, Elena Brightshield, and one other I didn't recognize.

"Ravenna Blackthorn is becoming a problem," recorded-Adrian said. "She's too close to Hadeon. Her dark magic research gives his faction capabilities we can't counter. We need to remove her."

"How?" Cedric's voice asked.

"Frame her. Make it look like she's practicing necromancy. It's perfect, she already researches dark magic. People will believe she went too far."

"That's... isn't that illegal?" Elena sounded uncertain.

"It's necessary. Sometimes heroes have to make hard choices. The ends justify the means."

"What if we're caught?" Marcus Ashford asked.

"We won't be. We'll be smart about it. Composite spell to hide signatures. Anonymous tip. No direct connection to us. Even if they suspect, they can't prove anything."

"And if it works?" Cedric asked.

"Then Ravenna's removed, Hadeon loses his dark magic expert, and we eliminate a major threat. Everyone wins."

"Except Ravenna," someone muttered.

"She made herself a target by joining him. That's not my fault."

The recording ended.

The tribunal hall was dead silent.

Then chaos.

Students shouting. Faculty arguing. The tribunal banging gavels for order.

Adrian stood slowly. His face was pale.

"That recording is out of context...."

"OUT OF CONTEXT?!" someone yelled from the crowd.

"Order!" Ironforge bellowed. "ORDER!"

It took five minutes to restore calm.

"Mr. Celestius," Ironforge said coldly. "Do you deny that's your voice on that recording?"

"I... it's my voice, but—"

"Did you or did you not instruct your faction to frame Miss Blackthorn?"

Adrian's holy aura flickered. "I suggested she was a problem. What my faction did with that suggestion...."

"You gave explicit instructions," Professor Moonwhisper interrupted. "We all heard it. Frame her. Plant evidence. Make it look like necromancy."

"I was speaking hypothetically....."

"You arranged the execution," Ironforge said flatly. "Your father provided the funds. Your faction executed the plan. You are responsible."

"I'm the hero!" Adrian's aura flared fully now. "I don't....heroes don't....this isn't..."

He was breaking. Right there in front of everyone.

"Heroes don't frame innocent people," Professor Helena said quietly. "But you did."

Adrian looked around the room. At the students watching him with shock and disgust. At the faculty shaking their heads. At his faction members who'd followed him, now looking uncertain.

At me.

I met his eyes, but didn't gloat. Didn't smile.

Just watched.

"This tribunal needs to deliberate," Ironforge said. "We'll reconvene in one hour with our verdict."

☆☆▪︎▪︎☆☆

The hour felt like days.

Ravenna sat quietly, hands folded. She'd watched the recording without expression. Watched Adrian's breakdown without comment.

Now she just waited.

"Are you okay?" I asked.

"I don't know," she said honestly. "I should feel vindicated. Triumphant. But I just feel..." She paused. "Sad."

"For Adrian?"

"For everyone involved. Cedric looked destroyed. Adrian's breaking. Even the people who helped frame me, they look sick." She shook her head. "Nobody won here."

"You're alive. You're free. That's winning."

"Is it? Or did we just... make everything worse?"

I thought about that. The academy was fractured. Adrian was exposed. His faction was collapsing. War was coming.

"Maybe both," I said. "Maybe we won the battle and started a bigger war."

"Was it worth it?"

"You're alive. So yes."

She smiled slightly. "You always know what to say."

"Practice."

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