บท 96: Return

Though Ohta was unable to access the network of shadows she had previously spread throughout the Academy, she still had an expansive network outside, allowing her to transport Will to the alleyway outside one of the cafes he had randomly visited in the past.

"Hmm...I guess the King wanted it to snow..." hummed Will, gazing at the sky above. It was the onset of Winter, but due to the barriers protecting the Capital, particularly the Inner District, it only snowed when the Royal Family permitted.

Turning his attention to Ohta, Will raised his brows and asked, "Will you be okay like that...?"

"Don't ask stupid questions," retorted Ohta, rolling her eyes. Since they were about to return to the Academy, she was wearing her uniform top, but instead of the usual slacks, she was modeling a pair of black shorts that left her pale brown legs exposed to the elements. Nearly a month of wearing nothing but panties, booty shorts, and skirts had caused pants to feel restrictive and uncomfortable, but since she had decided to continue presenting herself as a boy, she didn't have the option of wearing a skirt without garnering unnecessary attention and instigating rumors.

"I ask because I care..." reminded Will, causing Ohta's brows to crease before she averted her eyes and exhaled audibly from her nose. It wasn't intended as a snort, but due to the sub-zero temperatures, it generated a large cloud of condensation, making her seem like an angry bull.

Deciding against further teasing, Will exited the alleyway, prompting Ohta to follow after him, her eyes scanning the area like a loyal bodyguard. The eastern entrance of the Academy was less than half a kilometer away, but even though it took them less than ten minutes to reach it at a casual gait, a trio of hooded women were waiting outside to receive them.

"Her Highness, Princess Lyra Alcyone Astralis, is awaiting your presence. Please come with us..." said the leading figure, a woman with an athletic figure, dull golden hair, and piercing, grey-blue eyes. Will didn't know her full name, as the information on Royal Guards and their backgrounds was strictly confidential, but he recognized the woman as the Captain of Lyra's personal protection squad, Ord le Fay.

Adopting a smile, Will stated, "It's a pleasure to see you again, Captain Lux. Has Lyra been well in my absence?"

Following a brief pause, Lux closed her eyes, exhaled a faint sigh, and responded, "This lesser one seeks permission from the Gamma Star of House Oirthear to speak freely..."

"Have I ever asked you to speak formally?" countered Will, supplying a consenting nod as he added, "Speak your mind, Captain."

"Understood..." responded Lux, sporting a disapproving frown as she explained, "Because of your imminent arrest warrant, Princess Lyra has been beside herself attempting to mediate on your behalf. I would never deign to order or instruct one of my betters, but Princess Lyra is dear to us...please be more considerate of her in the future..."

"That was my intention from the start," affirmed Will, nodding a second time. Lux didn't seem particularly convinced by this, but since there was little she could do but trust him to keep his word, she reciprocated with a nod of her own before leading him and Ohta to the lounge where Lyra was awaiting them, looking a little worse for wear but adopting a vibrant smile the moment he entered the room alone.

"You've returned..." remarked Lyra, rising to her feet and waiting for Will to approach with her hands folded over her lap.

"Later than I should have..." responded Will, adopting an apologetic smile as he spread his hands near his waist, palms facing outward. Lyra thought he was asking for her own, but when she unfolded them and reached out, Will surprised her immensely by stepping forward and gently wrapping his arms around her, guiding her into his embrace.

Recovering from the momentary short-circuiting of her brain, Lyra's expression softened as she reciprocated Will's embrace, resting her head against his shoulder and permitting the tension to leave her body as she muttered, "I missed you as well..."

Though his embracing of Lyra was more of an apology than an expression of longing, Will didn't bother correcting the misunderstanding. Instead, he held her for several seconds before freeing but not disengaging from her completely as he directed her to return to where she had been sitting with his right hand on the small of her back. There, they spent nearly three and a half hours discussing what had transpired on their respective ends. Will had initially planned to meet with Chancellor Ogma, Professor Deidre, and Master Naitus first, but since Lyra had worked hard in his absence, he felt obligated to attend her until they were invariably interrupted by the arrival of Claire, Emily, Delphina, and Theodore...

...

After politely declining Lyra's invitation to each lunch together, Will made his way to the Royal Academy's Central Administrative Building, a palatial structure with a broad tower at the center, capped by an observatory and encircled by four towers with conical roofs serving as the office of each of the four Deputy Headmasters.

Waiting for Will and Ohta at the base of the stairs leading to the building's entrance, garbed in flowing purple robes and sporting a particularly stern expression accented by her gaunt features, ashen-grey hair fastened in a tight bun, and sharp, striking purple eyes, Professor Deidre waited for the duo to approach before stating, "You two have caused quite a commotion. I trust you've prepared a proper explanation for actions..."

"An Oirthear doesn't make excuses; they accept full responsibility for their actions," countered Will, exuding confidence as he added, "I am aware of how selfish my actions have been and how they have affected others and am prepared to do what I must to restore their trust and make amends for my behavior."

"It would be prudent of you to remember that moving forward," affirmed Deidre, understanding she wasn't really in a position to lecture Will for his actions. If he opposed it, even placing him on academic probation would be difficult, so after passing her gaze over Ohta, she turned and led them to Chancellor Ogma's office, the observatory at the center of the building that likewise functioned as the second-greatest repository of knowledge in the modern world. The first was an ancient Dungeon located high in the sky, but if anyone tried to approach it, it would disappear and reappear at a completely random location, making it virtually impossible to access for the past five hundred years...

...

'Now this is the office of a Grand Magi...' thought Will, marveling at the nearly thirty-meter tall bookshelves that lined almost every wall of the cylindrical-shaped Observatorium. There were also numerous displays depicting various animals, magical beasts, shelves upon shelves of DNA samples, and, most prominently, a fragmented wooden staff carved from one of the boughs of the Elves' Mothertree, Eldara.

Unfortunately, though he was undoubtedly within the Observatorium, Will was unable to see the Legendary Artifact that served as the centerpiece of the facility as it was located on a higher level, separate from the library and archive. Instead, as he approached a semi-circular desk encircled by towers of books and casually strewn Artifacts, an exceptionally elderly Elf raised his head from the oversized grimoire occupying its center.

"Ah, Master William, welcome..." greeted Ogma, his somewhat droopy Elven ears perking up, his blue eyes twinkling, and a grandfatherly smile developing across his face despite the veritable shitstorm caused by the former's sudden disappearance and belated return.

Placing his right hand over his heart, Will offered a cursory bow and said, "The Gamma Star of House Oirthear greets the Great Star of the Equuleus Constellation."

"Come now...would you have this old man stand and bow...?" asked Ogma, raising his bushy white brows from behind his half-moon spectacles. The probability of King Calius holding him in contempt of the Crown for failing to obey the rules of etiquette was slim, but with the whisperings of Queen Erisia in his ear, they weren't zero.

"Of course not..." responded Will, shaking his head and adopting a playful smile as he pulled out a chair and took a seat across from Ogma, causing the elderly Elf's brows to rise even higher as sub-space Magic and Magic Artifacts were supposed to be sealed within the Observatorium to prevent books and precious data samples from going missing.

Though he was curious about Will's methods, Ogma decided to focus on the matter at hand, flicking his right index finger to compel an elaborate white jade teapot to levitate, filling a pair of teacups that similarly moved of their own accord to sit in front of them as he remarked, "You've caused a great many people a great deal of trouble, young man..."

"I am well aware," responded Will, nodding slowly before contending, "But people are ultimately just animals with a developed ego. If we're raised in captivity, our growth stagnates, preventing us from reaching our greatest potential. The Royal Academy exists to enable the talented, determined, and hard-working to spread their wings and soar to ever-greater heights, but for those of us who already possess the ability to fly, remaining on the ground is suffocating..."

"Mmm...there is wisdom and reason in your words..." conceded Ogma, nodding sagely. "However, even Dragons must retract their wings and return to their nests. And while the ground might feel suffocating to one seemingly born to fly, having a place to land safely is important. That is one of the many purposes of the Royal Academy. We don't just nourish talents; we bring them together and provide a safe environment where they can connect with those who share their dreams and values. As the Gamma Star of House Oirthear and future Lord of Eastwarden, I believe you understand this better than most."

"That's why I returned..." asserted Will, testifying, "Though I was only away for a short while, my travels afforded me a broader perspective of the world and the place I occupy within it. I now understand I can effect greater change by fulfilling my duties, so unless it comes looking for me, I will do my utmost not to cause trouble for the Academy and its esteemed personnel moving forward..."

"You would be doing us a tremendous favor by doing so," affirmed Ogma. "But, as there must be some consequence for your actions, His Majesty, King Calius, has recommended that you and your companions be placed on academic probation until your grades have recovered to warrant your inclusion in the Elite Class. Furthermore, you are required to participate in the forthcoming Duelist League tryouts. I understand you may consider it unfair for someone of your strength and skill to compete against those far beneath you in Grade, but by raising the bar, His Majesty and many others hope you might inspire your contemporaries to, as you put it, soar to ever-greater heights..."

"What does academic probation entail...?" asked Will. He already planned to join the Duelist League to make the next four years pass quicker, so he was infinitely more concerned about how the former might impact his and Ohta's daily lives.

"Ordinarily, you would be restricted to the campus and required to assist Professor Deidre, but since you've taken on the role of sponsoring several students, the only restrictions you need to concern yourself with are the 10 PM to 5 AM curfew and reporting to Master Naitus if you plan to leave," explained Ogma. All things considered, Will's and Ohta's punishment was little more than a slap on the wrist, but that was one of the many perks of being from one of the wealthiest and most influential families in the entire world. Will's father had already petitioned for him to receive clemency and contributed a sizeable donation to the Royal Family's coffers, so while the average student would see the verdict as unfair, they would be in a similar boat if their parents could put forth a hundred million Astra as collateral to ensure their good behavior...

...