Heaven's Greatest Professor

About thirty minutes passed since the fourth bell, and everyone was present in the office except Warden—the suspected convict for all Torin Walt's complaints. And she feared they had gone through the proceeding without Warden being present.

Of course, they threw an olive branch at her as she was allowed to testify on Warden's behalf. So far, she had managed to put most of the accusation in fairness, though she couldn't do anything about the fight. It was a punishable crime among rankers to attack an officer in charge.

June did her best to shout multiple times; it was Torin Walt who started it, but the noble prick had brought multiple witnesses in the form of students and guildsmen who testified against Warden. On top of that, Warden did not possess a badge at that time, and June wasn't present during the fight. She could only forfeit that.

Through her bond with Sylvie, she could feel them approaching. It would only take a few minutes for them to use the Warp Gate, and they would be here.

"For all your talk, Professor June," Torin Walt said with a smirk, "your combat instructor isn't even here. How long do we have to wait?"

The other people included in the room had a similar impression of annoyance, as most of them were not used to waiting. Well, other than Elder Vess, who had a thoughtful smile on her lips on most occasions, and her new apprentice, who wasn't sure why he was here.

June was about to retort to Torin Walt's comment, when, for a split second, the bond between her and Sylvie weakened, but a couple of seconds later it became normal. June knew exactly what that meant. They just phased through the teleportation.

"He'll be here in a moment," she said, feeling a slight pressure she didn't think was there lifted off from her shoulder. June frowned, unsure since when she began caring for him.

Well, we are friends, she thought. Under all the insufferable smugness and façade that he put on at times... June paused... She didn't them all that insufferable anymore, perhaps more childish. Yeah, definitely childish. It's almost impossible to imagine he was a high ranker who stood over the masses on their first meeting, and perhaps even now.

He's more humane, she thought,

And then he entered with a deep aura of malevolent and blood.

"Sorry for being late," Warden said, entering the room. "But to be honest, nobody bothered to inform me if it's a huge issue."

June frowned at him. Although she heard him, her eyes were on him. He seemed somewhat different. With a thought, she enabled [The Eye of the Dawn], as silver light shimmered around her pupil to let her see more. Definitely, the aura around him was unstable, thicker, far more than natural, and he wasn't using his cloak to hide it.

Is this a plan of some sort, like intimidating Torin Walt? June could only shake her head on that line of thought. Knowing him, he probably forgot about it after all the stress he was under in the dungeon. There was something more as well... though she couldn't put her finger on it. It would need a more thorough examination for her to figure out, though Warden might just tell her if she ask him.

She let the light waver from her eyes as he came to stand next to him. A frown appeared on his brows immediately, as he considered her form, from head to toe.

"You look shorter," he mumbled, standing a head taller than her, with his muscular form.

June blinked. Now that he was closer to her, she thought so too, though it was the other way around. It wasn't she who became shorter, but he became taller...

The realisation seemed to dawn on him immediately as a smile quirked up on his lips. The implication of all the change came to her mind, though she was unable to mull over them, as the elders began their proceeding immediately.

"Combat Instructor Warden," Elder Pavlov of the Disciplinary said sharply, a tangible pressure in his voice. "Are you aware of your crime?"

Warden blinked at the wizened man, and then his eyes darted to Torin Walt and his entourage.

He was probably thinking this was all a farce, June mused.

"Yes," Warden said with a sigh. "I was unable to beat some sense into an arrogant prick. For that, I'll take full responsibility for my weakness, even though it was his parents' err to begin with."

"The audacity!" Torin Walt shouted, unable to confirm the truth. Even now he stood with that false sense of superiority, which had formed a wall of disability around him. It was a common folly, honestly, as June had seen the same disability in many people, who failed to see fault in their actions.

The few people Torin Walt brought for testimony became stiff as well, though she saw a twisted smile on one of the demure figures. A short, frail man, who looked insignificant to anyone. He erased the smile from his lips instantly, as their eyes met for once. His face was blank again.

June frowned. Something's wrong with this fellow...

"Silence!" Elder Pavlov ordered. "This is not a clubhouse where you make a ruckus."

Although the words were meant for both parties, the elder's eyes were on Warden.

"It is unbecoming for a teacher to have this type of disrespect for the establishment," Elder Pavlov said harshly. "Don't let me reassess our decision of appointing you."

Warden shrugged one shoulder.

June could easily tell he was antagonising Torin Walt with a plan, but this... the way he chose to do it antagonised the elders as well. Nothing good would come out of it.

Is he thinking straight? She thought, looking at him with concern. Worried, that the harsh battle of the dungeon made him callous for this instance.

"With all due respect, elder," Warden opened his mouth, "you seemed to already deem me guilty for me to respect this... court thing going on here."

"Silence!" Elder Medwin ordered with Will this time. "Don't disrespect your elders, boy."

Warden spared him a glance and said nothing. June could feel the tangible pressure on Warden from Elder Medwin, though he hadn't even shown any sign of discomfort. Although this wasn't the full pressure of Will of a Peak Gold ranker, it was still too much for an Iron ranker.

However, Warden didn't even break a sweat. That angered the elder even more, as more force bore on Warden, as the tension in the air was palpable.

Elder Vess lifted an eyebrow. "Perhaps that isn't the best of things to do to receive respect from another, Elder Medwin."

Elder Medwin of Public Relations narrowed his eyes and let the pressure disperse. He spat at Warden, "As the elders of the 3rd Arcane Academy, as well as the High members of the Arcane Society, we have full jurisdiction over punishing crimes. Your disrespect for our seat will only make us harsher for your folly."

"Perhaps you let me deal with this, Elder Medwin?" Elder Pavlov said in a clear tone. "For it is my duty to discipline petulant children."

"Of course," Medwin said brightly, "I was only unable to bear the disrespect, that is all. It is your call, Elder Pavlov."

The Elder of Disciplinary turned to Warden again. "As you have failed to turn up on both occasions, we have carried on with the proceeding."

Warden only gave a look that asked if this was how things happened on here.

"But don't think we are unfair to you just because you failed to turn up," the elder continued. "Professor June, who recommended you to the Academy, is an exemplary figure of honesty and fairness. And she also witnessed some part of the happening. She had acted on your behalf to plea of your innocence.

Unless you are against her acting on your behalf, or anything more to add, we'll proceed to your punishment."

Warden narrowed his eyes and turned to June, who bit her lips.

'I tried my best to put everything fairly,' she said to him telepathically, 'unfortunately, I fear it will go against you.'

'No shit,' Warden replied to her. 'They seem ready to butcher me. How will be the punishment do you think?'

'Hard to judge,' she said. 'It can be unpaid work in the academy for a few months with a formal apology to--"

'I'm not apologising to that shitstain,' Warden cut in. Honestly, he didn't mind working as long as he could get this over with, though from the way June mentioned, that seemed like the light punishment. ''Hey, can they fire me from the job of combat instructor?'

June exchanged a look with him to say, 'Yes.'

"Instructor Warden, your crimes are unjustified violence against several people, insufficient justification of butter of a dozen rankers, unjustifiably attacking a Justicar in charge of his duty, halting the procession of--"

"Wait a second," Warden said with a frown, his face twisting into disgust. "What are you basing all this on? I get that this prick's daddy has a big dick that you have to suck on, but those people I killed are there to sack a village, and rape women, I got them what they deserved when your so-called Justicar in Charge was on a vacation. As for my action against this prick--"

"Insolence!" Elder Pavlov shouted, standing up, his voice bore the pressure that managed to unnerve everyone in the room. While Warden had to grit his teeth to bear the most of the brunt of the blow. He flinched, as his tall figure slumped under the palpable pressure.

'June,' Warden shouted into her mind through the telepathic link she shared with him. 'Something... someone is tampering with my emotions.'