The disciplinary hearing for Constantine was convened in the grand hall of St. Heath Academy, attended by the leaders of all major neutral factions. The Twilight Tower Master stood with an air of detached observation, while Headmistress Angelina Olette presided with a firm grace. The air was thick with unspoken judgments and political tension.
Olette adjusted her glasses, the lenses catching the light as she delivered the official verdict to the assembled dignitaries and Dragon Kings.
"After careful deliberation," she began, her voice clear and carrying, "the following sanctions are placed upon the Crimson Flame Dragon Clan and its king, Constantine."
She listed them methodically:
"Expulsion: All Crimson Flame Dragon students currently enrolled at St. Heath Academy are to be expelled immediately."
"Isolation: The Crimson Flame Dragon Clan is hereby confined to its territory for a period of twenty years. During this time, they are barred from leaving their lands, participating in any inter-clan Dragon activities, or engaging in external trade or communication."
"Compensation: The clan will bear the full cost of repairing the damages inflicted upon the Academy and will provide financial compensation to all affected families."
"Monitoring: Constantine himself will remain under strict surveillance for fifty years. All his movements will be monitored by a council of Dragon Clans."
To many, the punishment seemed surprisingly moderate, considering that no lives had been lost during the rampage. Both Olette and the Twilight Tower Master had approved the decision, carefully balancing justice with diplomatic necessity to maintain the fragile peace.
Yet, not all were satisfied. Several Dragon Kings, seeing a chance to exploit the situation and permanently weaken a rival, immediately lobbied for harsher penalties. They cited Constantine's long history of transgressions and his inherently violent nature, attempting to escalate the stakes.
Before Olette or the Tower Master could respond to these complaints, the Silver Dragon Prince, Leon, intervened.
He did not raise his voice. He did not need to. He simply stood, and a single, piercing glance from his calm eyes swept across the room. The intensity of his gaze, filled with silent authority and a hint of danger, silenced every dissenting voice instantly.
Olette adjusted her glasses once more, sighing inwardly with relief.
"Very well, then," she said aloud, her composure restored. "The punishment will be officially announced in three days' time."
At that precise moment, a flustered teacher hurried into the hall and whispered something urgently into Olette's ear.
Her expression shifted visibly, from professional calm to one of profound shock and confusion.
The Dragon Kings immediately noticed the change.
"Is there a problem, Headmistress?" one of the more vocal Kings asked with mock concern. "Don't tell me Constantine has fled, evading punishment like a coward."
His comment drew low, anxious murmurs from around the room.
"Twenty years of confinement and fifty years of monitoring aren't severe enough to warrant an escape," another Dragon King sneered, seeking to capitalize on the moment. "If Constantine's truly fled, it's only because he's grown weak and pathetic."
"Should've thrown him in the Academy's dungeons when we had the chance," one grumbled from the back. "Spare us all this political circus."
Clang!
The sharp, resonant sound of steel hitting the stone floor cut through the murmurs, silencing the room once more.
All eyes turned to Leon, who now stood at the center of the hall. His battle-worn katana lay at his feet, its polished blade gleaming coldly under the hall's lights, radiating an icy, unspoken threat.
"Apologies," Leon said mildly, his tone deceptively calm. "As a Silver Dragon Prince, isn't it reasonable for me to carry a sword capable of cutting through steel?" He paused, letting the implication hang in the air. "For... protection, of course."
No one dared to respond or question him.
Slowly, Leon bent down, picked up the blade, and cradled it reverently in his arms.
Standing beside him, Rossweise leaned closer, her silver hair brushing his shoulder as she whispered, "You realize you didn't need the theatrics. They'd have quieted down anyway."
Leon tilted his head toward her, a subtle smirk tugging at the corners of his mouth.
"Yes," he whispered back. "But this way, they'll stay quiet for much longer."
The couple exchanged a brief, amused glance, a moment of private understanding amidst the public tension, before Leon rested a reassuring hand on her shoulder.
Finally, someone dared to steer the conversation back on track.
"So, Headmistress," a more measured voice called out. "What was the urgent matter?"
Olette took a deep, steadying breath, her usual composure slightly shaken by the news.
"Last night," she began, her voice grave and steady, "the Crimson Flame Dragon Clan suffered a catastrophic attack. Most of their members were massacred. Only a handful managed to survive and escape."
Her words fell like a thunderclap in the silent hall.
Shock rippled through the assembly as murmurs of disbelief and fear filled the air.
"Annihilated? That's impossible!"
"Who could accomplish such a thing? Who has that kind of power?"
The Dragon Kings, many of whom had long viewed the Crimson Flame Dragon Clan as a significant threat, suddenly found themselves grappling with a new, chilling reality. A power that could erase an entire clan in one night was a danger to them all.
Olette continued, overriding the din, "The Academy's initial investigation confirms that the Flame Dragon territory has been reduced to ash. Their stronghold is gone."
"And Constantine?" someone asked tentatively, almost afraid of the answer.
"No body was found," Olette replied. "He may have escaped... or he may have perished. We simply do not know at this time."
The room fell into a deep, heavy silence, the enormity of the situation settling over them like a shroud.
Olette straightened her posture, facing the assembly with renewed determination.
"Given the gravity of this incident, I urge all Dragon Kings to return to their territories and bolster their defenses immediately. Whoever could annihilate the Crimson Flame Dragon Clan in a single night is a force none of us can afford to underestimate."
Leon sat quietly through the remainder of the meeting, his katana resting across his lap, a silent sentinel. When the discussion was formally adjourned, he stood, sheathed his blade with a smooth, practiced motion, and took Rossweise's hand. Together, they walked toward the exit, a united front.
As they reached the large double doors, Leon paused.
Without looking back, he spoke, his voice carrying easily across the now-hushed hall.
"Tower Master, I may need to discuss something with you soon. Please keep some time available for me."
The Twilight Tower Master nodded slightly, his enigmatic gaze sharp and analytical as he studied Leon's departing figure.
After the assembly had fully dispersed, the Tower Master remained in the hall with Olette.
"The forces behind this attack have already begun to move openly," the Tower Master said gravely.
"If we remain passive, it will be our undoing."
Olette's expression darkened, the weight of leadership evident on her face.
"We've always known there was no retreat from this fight," she replied, her voice low. "Whatever comes, we must face it head-on. Notify Odin. We'll need the Thunder Dragon King's strength and wisdom."
The Tower Master hesitated, sensing a deeper unease within her.
"What else is troubling you, Angelina?"
Olette moved to the window, her gaze following Leon and Rossweise as they walked across the sunlit courtyard below, their figures growing smaller.
"It's Leon," she murmured, more to herself than to him.
"What about him?"
"When he heard about the Crimson Flame Dragon Clan's destruction and Constantine's disappearance... he didn't show the anger or the grief I expected. There was no outburst, not even a flicker of surprise."
The Tower Master frowned. "You think he's suppressing his emotions?"
"No," Olette replied slowly, her eyes narrowed in thought. "That's just it. I don't believe he was suppressing anything. I didn't sense any emotional turmoil from him at all. If anything..."
She watched as Leon paused to say something to Rossweise, his posture relaxed and assured.
"He seemed... calm. Utterly confident."
Her voice dropped to a whisper, laden with a mixture of curiosity and foreboding.
"Leon... what are you planning?"