Fredric refocused on me. His expression shifted from practised concern to quiet disgust.
"Ezekiel," he said, drawing my name out from like lips like it was filth, "I have heard both sides of the story, and the conclusion is clear."
He hadn’t finished speaking.
"Ivory is a model student. She’s respected even by those who envy her," he continued. "She wouldn’t fabricate something this heinous just to lie against you. There’s too much at stake for her."
"Whereas you... don’t have much to lose," he stated, clicking his tongue in disappointment.
"I cannot believe that a student of mine would descend to such a level of moral degeneracy. However, from what I have heard about you from your peers and, at this moment, witnessed for myself, you are guilty of this crime." He tapped his fingers against his elbow slowly.
Then, he dealt the final blow.
"I will inform the Instructors Committee. They’ll determine your punishment. But I suspect that it will be expulsion."
"Is there anything you want to say for yourself? Make it quick," He said, awaiting my response.
I took a deep breath. "If you doesn’t believe me, then you can check the camera mounted at the gates. I am certain the security footage will provide an accurate report of what had occurred," I said.
Fredric gave a hollow chuckle. "You are not aware?"
I didn’t like his tone.
"The security system is down. Cameras. Sensors. All of it. Apparently, the repair crew had food poisoning, so they were not able to repair it. We are waiting for a specialist from the city. Until then, the academy is on total lockdown."
"I remember that the Disciplinary Committee has a lie detector which we can use to ascertain which one of us is lying and who is speaking the truth."
"The Disciplinary Committee has announced that their lie detector is broken. It has been scheduled to be fixed after the lockdown is lifted. I believe that you should already be aware of this fact, Ezekiel," Fredric responded.
"That’s convenient." I let the words slip through my lips.
"Coincidence," he replied, his smile thin and sharp. "Surely, you understand."
I forced myself to breathe slowly.
Sabotaged security system.
Poisoned repair crew.
They had orchestrated this from the top down.
If the lie detector was broken and they are able to stall their repair for this long, then it meant that they convinced someone in the Disciplinary Committee to conspire with them.
It would make it easier to understand how a first-year Magical Swordsman instructor and four ordinary students are capable of pulling off such a feat.
I didn’t find it strange that the Zahara Clan’s descendants would go this far to ruin me.
However, I was surprised that the Grand Avalon Academy would allow them to flex their authority so freely.
As one of the most prestigious schools in the world, Grand Avalon Academy claimed that every student, no matter their background, were treated as an equal.
The Grand Avalon Academy prided itself on fairness and merit. Equal opportunity. Strength over status.
That was its doctrine.
Despite this, it was impossible to prevent students from influential backgrounds from forming inner circles and ostracising those whom they deemed unworthy.
The academy couldn’t interfere in this either as long as they didn’t go too far, as it would demean their rights as students.
This created a similar situation that the academy had once hoped to prevent.
"If that’s the case," I said, my tone calm. "Then, I will wait until the lie detector is fixed. As an instructor, I trust you wouldn’t judge a student without carrying out a proper investigation."
My expression was unreadable.
A typical nineteen-year-old would have been intimidated by the current situation. He would have pleaded his innocence and cried for justice to be served for those who had wronged him; He would have given up hope and accepted his defeat after recognising that those conspiring against him were more powerful than he could handle.
He would have suffered a mental breakdown, unable to handle the nightmare.
He would have done the unthinkable.
I wasn’t a typical nineteen years old.
I was a transmigrator.
I had awakened the Beastmaster Path.
I had a system and an incredibly talented talent to boot.
I wasn’t going to keep my head low and follow everything they did without asking questions. I wasn’t going down without a fight.
I observed as Fredric’s frown deepened.
I observed as Ivory’s, Delilah-in-training, eyes narrowed and lips twitched with disdain.
I saw the vengeful expression of the three students beside her flare up.
Suddenly, one of them charged at me.
"YOU BASTARD!!" He screamed, throwing a fist towards my face.
I stepped to the side, dodging his fist.
The boy immediately regained his balance and refocused on me.
"YOU STILL HAVE THE AUDACITY TO SPEAK LIKE THAT AFTER WHAT YOU DID! DON’T YOU HAVE NO SHAME?!" He screamed at me before surging towards me again, this time attempting to tackle me.
I leapt, somersaulted clean over his head and landed behind him. Before he could turn, I drove my heel into his back.
He tumbled across the room, rolling over until he came to a gasping, ragged halt. He wasn’t unconscious but close.
I barely looked at him.
Though the Zahara Clan had forced me to awaken the Magical Swordsman Path, with incompatible skills that didn’t suit my attributes, one of the things they had done correctly was to train me to survive their cruelty.
I had mastered the sword forms. Drills. Combat trials. My unarmed combat skills were unmatched on the same level.
I had earned my place at the Grand Academy through sheer grit.
I glanced at the other two boys.
Their eyes widened, frightened at how effortlessly I had dealt with one of their own.
They didn’t take a step forward.
Only Ivory seemed not to be affected, her curved into a smirk.