Damien POV
There was chatter of students all about.
An Old professor with droopy eyes was wandering about in the academy hallways. His slow movements were paired with frustration on his face.
Damien was a professor in the Academy that taught First years. This year too, he was tasked with recruiting young promising students as spies for the church. But It seemed that the church's trust in him was dwindling. They had sent a new batch of students from the Nuan to keep eye on others. He felt uncomfortable, knowing a girl worth nothing was sent here to do what he had been doing for years.
Her name was Love, She had been sent directly to second year as a transfer student. When I asked Mr. Martin about her, He simply said, "Just lay low for now."
'Like hell I will, I am not inferior to some random experiment in Nuan' He thought
Mr. Martin better tell his superior about me, I have worked my ass off, trying to contribute for the cause of church and every time he sweeps aways the credit.
While he was lost in his thought, Something strange happened. It seemed all the Academy suddenly became quiet. The atmosphere became chilled. His eyelids became heavy.
He suddenly felt weak, his legs felt like twigs, He waddled forward, losing his balance.
His vision began to turn black.
'What the hell'
And the last thing he saw before He blacked out was cascading silver hair.
After whom knows how long, He opened his eyes.
The room was rusty and more of a dungeon than a room.
Breathing heavy. He tried to move, but something cold and metallic bonded him against the wall.
He moved his head, trying to assess the situation. Looking beside him, he found more people unconscious on the floor. Some were instructors like him, others were students. He recognized most of the faces.
And then the realization kicked in. All the people here were churches assets sent to academy.
The panic started to set in.
Who? Who could have uncovered their secret? The thought started to consume him.
His line of thought moved Because Not even Principal herself could have perfectly detected all the spies sent by the church.
Unless! Unless it was someone from within them.
Was it the girl who sold them out? Already bearing hatred against the filthy Nuan experiments. He became frustrated.
After a while, everyone started waking up.
"Huh, Where Am I?"
"Professor, what are you doing here?"
"I was just studying, What is happening?"
All sorts of questions reverberated throughout the room.
Then came footsteps.
Everyone silenced themselves in suspense, Their confused echos of voices started to die down.
As if answering their questions, the creaky door opened with a metallic screech.
Screeech!
Damien's breath hitched.
"…Principal Richards," he said, recognizing the presence before him.
Niccole Richards stepped fully into the chamber, the door closing behind her with a dull, final thud. She moved forward and lowered the briefcase in her hand to the ground
Her presence changed the room.
Damien had stood before cardinals, even emissaries of the Church, who carried Threads powerful enough to level buildings. None of them had ever made his instincts scream like this.
She stood across the chamber, hands clasped behind her back, long coat immaculate as ever. Her expression was calm.
Almost bored.
"Professor Damien," Niccole Richards replied. "You look disappointed."
Even now, she exuded such an aura that even the most powerful kings would find it hard to penetrate her gaze.
"This is a mistake," Damien said immediately, voice firm. "You've apprehended the wrong people."
A few of the others echoed him. Trying their hardest to salvage this situation.
"Yes, Principal—"
"We don't know anything—"
"You're misunderstanding—"
Niccole sighed, rubbing her temple.
"Oh, please," she said. "We're past that part."
"You don't need to pretend. We can be honest with ourselves here" She took a step forward and looked at all the prisoners that she had captured.
"I mean, do you really think that I wouldn't be able to catch rats like you. Sneaking, and conspiring against me, You pathetic bugs, you really think you could ever really outsmart me"
Pausing for a second, she reeled back a bit as if remembering something.
Everyone present was tensed, Especially Damien, Principal's behavior was different from her usual self, usually she remains calm and cold no matter the situation but here she looks like she is almost excited.
"No, You did! Right" She spoke again, "you did sneak past me first time about"
Folding her arms, her platinum eyes glinted, and she said with a sly smile.
"Oh! Then a punishment is an only fair judgment here"
Nodding, she continued, "I think I've earned the right to be a little… indulgent."
Damien hearing the words chilled for a second, wondering if he would truly able to survive this.