The death of the three girls that had fallen into obscurity suddenly resurfaced when whispers of Saevin's death echoed through the academy. At first the students thought that it was suicide but now, it was clear that these deaths were intentional, someone in the shadows orchestrating them.
It was hard to calm the students as conspiracies came to be. Some urging that it was a traitor sent by Vorthmere Academy, others insisting that it was Jarren who acted once more after news of the first attack had died down. Regardless of what the public thought, there was no clear answer.
The professors were in disarray, unsure of who to take the blame. The scene of the crime was surgically clean, no malcore essence lingering, no signs of struggle and no malicious aura lingered about. It felt as if she merely died at the hands of a shadow that had no form thus it was logical for the to suspect Jarren.
"It would be better to have him undergo a proper interrogation. I still can't believe that the head professor won't have us conduct a proper search on him." Forare snarked as the death of Saevin was detrimental to her faction. Students had already started to leave the faction.
Perceived as well and incapable of fending for themselves. Sure the faction had no direct impact to him but he feared with this that his students would be less inclined into training and recalling Jarren's fight, it made him all the more sour. "That is his decree, besides the head professor has already arranged a personal meeting with him."
Esdora stated as her mind was still rummaging with the data that they had about the scene. As a veteran expert who has hung her adventurer coat to become a teacher at the academy, she was familiar with all kinds of attacks and damages but this was too strange. The way it transpired was too quick and little to work with.
"I just hope that we can finally get to the bottom of this madness. However I do hope that Jarren gets to compete in the tournament, his unpredictability something of an ace for us." Veriyal who was usually silent when the matter was about Jarren shot up. And with it she was given strange glances.
"I think that he's way too hazardous for us to allow him to compete." An instructor mused. "Other than him, Callista is becoming more like him and well having her not participate will result with a proper explanation to the Vaewlyn family."
Faces grew grim at the thought. Sure Jarren wasn't simple but something they could have managed but Callista was a completely different ballgame. "Well I'm sure the head professor will come up with a proper explanation for that." A joke that failed to land from another professor.
"I just hope that the death of Saevin can be enacted upon with justice. Some of the students are already paranoid, feeling unsafe within their own walls." Esdora sighed to which the rest understood. The atmosphere as of late was heavy, stiff and uncomfortable.
It was clear that the killer was amongst them, their reason still unclear but their presence was felt. However the disparity between the two deaths were incomparable. One was self harm, the other was murder. Autopsy proved no signs of pheromancy thus the case that they had neglected at the time felt more like an enigma that they couldn't crack.
...
"He'll meet you now." His hands pocketed, his demeanor callous of the formal air that enveloped the scene as he made his way towards the head professor's office. 'He already has elevators?' Amused, he pressed the top floor and waited, his gaze shifting to the academy beneath him. He could hear the whispers of fear circulating, the professors decoding a puzzle that lacked the necessary pieces and Callista.
It wasn't a bother to him whether he got caught or not. Hiding was for the sole reason as to meet the champion but after that, he would be forced to drop out and choose another lifestyle. Possibly one that had him drowning in luxury and screams of misery.
*Ding*
Stepping out of the elevator, he was met with a room that had a faint aesthetic similar to the older mages. The place dense with malcore which heavily contrasted with the bottom floor that was sleek in design, clearly from two different worlds.
The windows had heavy tarps preventing any form of light from seeping through. A faint layer of dust covered every inch of the place. The stiff air slightly hard to breathe but it wasn't a bother to him as he took a seat and looked at the chair facing away from him.
"I haven't told you to take a seat." The tone that came through heavy and densed with gravel. Clear that he hadn't talked in a while. Sure the head professor would make casual appearances here and there but on average he was hard to find him out of his office. "You would have stopped me if you didn't want me to do so."
His elbows resting on the handles, his fingers interlocked as he sunk into his chair. "For a fourth year, you definitely have some nerve Jarren Velros." The creak of the chair swiveling barely a whisper as Jarren came to see the face of the head professor. The smile that he wore like code was gone, now replaced with a grim deadpan face.
"The death of the three, you were the last to meet Meryln. Saevin, you being one of the last people to interact with her. Both parties dead with you as the common denominator. So do you mind confessing your crimes?" This was the reason why he had so much fear surrounding him at the academy to the point that students had dreaded to be as much as be in the same space as him.
"I doubt your conclusion. For the former, it was her friends and the latter it was the faction head councils. But it is reasonable to shift the blame to me. So do you think that I'm the one behind it?" Both sides nonchalant as they surveyed each other. Rhydian, the head professor and principal of Caelbridge Academy felt as if he wasn't looking at a student but something more.
"The silence that warps your body is way to calm to belong to a student of your age. Not to mention that illogical glyph that you wield like a badge of honor. I'm dead certain that you are the perpetrator." His tone grave as his eyes never left his. His rank was that of Bloodwright, his physique Dragon Wrought.
A select few having such a status treated with respect wherever they would go. And yet his intimation failed to faze the twenty four year old. His guts telling him that he was the one they had been searching for and yet he too lacked certain pieces of the puzzle make it all click.
"Why did you kill Meryln?" Jarren tilted his head, his eyes shifting to the side in a playful manner. "I don't know? I got bored at the time. Saevin was more of a test field to gauge how much I've accumulated." Rhydian wasn't startled with Jarren's revelation as he supported his head with both his hands.
Letting out a sigh, he went on. "At first I thought that it was rather bizzare with the shift of the Jarren Velros but meeting you now, it makes perfect sense. It's rather simple, you're not him. An imposter no doubt. Maybe a traitor." Jarren didn't seem bothered as he let out a sigh of his own.
"What are you talking about Rhydian? I thought that it would be wrong for me to continue with my old habits and now you have a problem when I don't do it? Make up your mind." A tease he refused to take. "At first I thought of having you expelled with the three ladies but now, I'll settle to having you meet your demise here."
His acts promising his words, Jarren felt a heavy pressure pin to the seat, threatening to shatter his ribs and puncture his heart. "So long Jarren Velros."
*Blam*
His chest caved inwards, his heart skewered with the overwhelming pin point pressure crawling his figure like needle pricks. His face lost his composure, blood dripping out of his head orifices and with a final breathe fell deeper into his chair. Still curious with his figure, Rhydian probed Jarren's body just to see what he truly was.
His brown mystical eyes narrowed as he felt a barrier around his corpse. 'Just what are you truly?' With a question, he was ready to delve into Jarren's mind for a proper investigation. If it was pure bloodlust then him attacking a high profile student like Saevin was unlikely given the way that he carried himself.
He spoke of calculation and meticulousness thus blind attacks of rage was out of character for him. 'What?!' Puzzled that he couldn't breach it for a Bloodwright, he felt a hand rest on his shoulder. "I really don't appreciate you probing my body so casually." His tone contrasting the weight of his actions to be.
'How couldn't I sense you?!' The grip on his shoulder increased and looking back at the corpse, it gave a chilling smile before it withered away akin to a daydream that was never meant to be. "Your eyes are a little all over the place so let's fix that shall we." Before Rhydian could react, Jarren grasped his throat lifting him up.
'Why can't I use my skills?!' Screaming in his own mind, he opted to use physical attacks which felt like paper grazing the surface of a brick wall. The look on Rhydian was unsightly, his eyes boring deep into Jarren who met him with a small playful smile.
With both hands, he held to his skull, threatening to crush it with ease. "Argghh!!!" The cries of an old well aged man filled the air as Jarren plunged his thumbs into Rhydian's sockets. His face never once letting out a malicious gleam of sadism but his calm innocent smile.
Blood trickled down the old man's robes before Jarren let his figure fall back to his chair. "Done, now for your tongue." Pressing Rhydian's head to his table, he brandished a knife. It's components mind boggling as it shone like the stars that watched, each glimmer whispering words long forgotten.
Rhydian already knew where this was going and instead of using his wits, his mind froze in shock. Not to his accord but thanks to Jarren and he hated that he knew that. Nothing about it was gentle or careful. Jarren started with a cut that went through Rhydian's cheek tearing with ease through his lower jaw.
Still he had his mouth clumped shut forcing Jarren to carve the blade more. Pulling him by his hair, he held onto his jaw and with a swift pull broke his mandibles leaving his mouth wide open. With the blood that bled and the pain seering through his body, it was a matter of time before he passed out. His will keeping him conscious.
Holding out his tongue, he managed to cut it out and casually place it on his table. The old man had mist on the verge of his eyes and yet not tears trailed down. He looked at the man's eyes, feeling the raw unfiltered hatred directed at him. His right eye flickered, a glyph forming on Rhydian's forehead.
*BAM*
Forcefully shutting his mouth back up, he broke even more bones in his jaw than fix. Without his aid Rhydian's mouth had already started to mend itself, a feat common for a Bloodwright. He didn't bother excusing himself leaving the old man shaking with fear and spiralling in contemplation.