"Yes, Lady Maya. Everything was my fault. I deserve whatever punishment you give. I will bring my parents to receive my Unworthy Magus—"
"STOP!!!" Nina's sudden scream shattered the chamber.
Every eye turned toward her. Tears streamed down her face as she clutched her chest.
"He's lying! It wasn't his fault… it was mine. I… I chased that deer. Shaun followed me to protect me. He saved my life — more than once!" Her voice broke.
She stepped in front of Shaun — shielding him with her own body.
"So if someone must be punished… Let it be me. Please… don't take his future away. Don't hurt the one who saved me…" Her voice trembled — but her resolve was unshakeable.
Shaun froze. Noa's eyes widened — a crack forming in her usually emotionless expression. Even some teachers gasped. Vince, on the other hand, nearly exploded—
"N-Nina!? What are you saying—?!"
But Nina ignored him completely. The brave princess stood against her own fate…to protect the boy who protected her.
**********
Nina's sudden confession sent a ripple of shock across the chamber. Only Lady Maya remained calm — studying her with eyes that seemed to read deeper than mere words.
"Hm," Maya spoke softly, "Nina… explain. In detail." Nina quickly wiped her tears and nodded.
"Yes, Lady Grandmaster. I'll tell you everything that happened."
The room fell silent as she began.
"I was waiting for my friends… when I saw a white fawn peeking from the bushes. It was glowing… like it was carved from crystal."
Murmurs echoed across the room. Kurumi's eyes narrowed.
"A crystal deer? That creature doesn't exist anywhere in the known bestiaries. Are you… trying to craft a story to protect him?"
Before Nina could respond—Akshay adjusted his glasses, calm but intense.
"Continue. What then?"
"I followed the deer into the deeper part of the Mist Forest…" she admitted.
"That area is guarded day and night. How did you get past them?" Kevin spoke up next — sceptical but curious.
"There… were no guards," Shaun answered before Nina could.
That caught even Maya off guard. Edward stepped forward, expression darkened by the memory.
"He's right. When I arrived with reinforcements… the guards who should have been stationed were missing. It was highly irregular. The deer stopped… then shattered into tiny pieces and vanished. I didn't even get time to think. Something ripped through the air — a spear," Nina resumed, voice trembling.
"A masked assassin attacked me. If Shaun hadn't come… I would already be dead," Her knees shook. The entire room stiffened. Lady Maya leaned in, voice deadly calm.
"A masked assassin… within Silver Heaven Academy. So — either of you see their face? Hear their voice? Any detail?"
"No… everything was hidden." Nina replied.
"We only know she used frost magic," Shaun said and nodded to confirm.
Maya's fingers tapped the desk — thoughtful, displeased. Nina's voice rose again — pleading, shaking:
"So now you know… Shaun did nothing wrong. He risked everything to protect me," She stood taller — courage overtaking fear.
"My father — Emperor David — always upheld righteous judgment. I carry his blood. I will not allow an innocent to be punished to protect my reputation. If someone must face consequences — let it be me. Expel me, Lady Grandmaster. But please… spare Shaun." Her final declaration struck the chamber like lightning.
Gasps filled the room. Even Lady Maya's expression softened… just slightly. The teachers exchanged relieved looks — proud of Nina's integrity.
In the corner, Vince stood frozen — disbelief painted across his face. She… would sacrifice herself for him?
Nina bowed deeply, tears falling like pearls.
"Please… do not take the future of the boy who saved my life."
Just as relief finally settled into the room, a venomous scoff shattered it.
"That's a lie!" Vince shouted, pointing at Shaun with wild eyes.
"He must have forced Nina to say all this! He threatened her — didn't he!? These filthy commoners... I swear I'll—!"
He surged forward again—but Akshay's voice cut the air like a blade. He stood without even lifting his voice.
"Vince Dragonblade. Finish your sentence… and I will continue what Aiden and I left unfinished that day."
Vince halted. His bravado died instantly, swallowed by fear. But Katherine, refusing to let the matter settle, stepped forward with a mocking laugh.
"So this is how far Silver Heaven Academy has fallen… letting lowborn pests stain these sacred halls," she spat.
"Training commoners is a waste of time and gold. No matter how hard they try, they'll never rise above what they are — dirt beneath our shoes."
Sakura slammed her fist on the armrest, rising with rare fury.
"Katherine! Don't you DARE call any disciple dirt! Even the beautiful lotus grows in a pond full of mud — and miracles grow in places where hope is weakest!"
But Katherine only smirked — cruel amusement in her eyes.
"Oh yes… miracles." Her gaze snapped to Shaun.
"This boy — this commoner — once barked in class that he would challenge the Three Supreme Mages, become the World's Strongest Magus."
She burst into laughter.
"Hahaha! He should learn the difference between dreams… and reality."
Then she leaned forward, eyes narrowing into a hiss:
"Seems you've put high hopes on him just like Lady Grandmaster. I bet he'll fail like every other filthy commoner who gave up and ran away from here — hiding their faces."
Shaun's teeth clenched. Sakura looked ready to strike her. Even Edward stepped forward in outrage. But Lady Maya…smiled. A slow, dangerous smile.
"Oh? A bet, Katherine?" Maya said softly.
Katherine staggered — shocked that Maya wasn't furious.
"What… are you implying?"
Maya stood — her aura flaring just enough to silence the entire room.
"You said — you bet that this boy will never reach his dream. Very well. Let's make this interesting. Let's play this game your way." The room froze.
"If Shaun clears his Progression Test and attains Scholar Rank, entering the Scholar Batch…" Her eyes glowed with challenge, "You will apologize to Shaun, publicly. And you will acknowledge that Commoners and Nobles stand as equals here."
Katherine was stunned — then her lips curled into a wicked grin.
"Oh, you want stakes?" she said, voice dripping with spite, "Fine. But if you lose, you'll press your nose to the floor and admit that commoners are stains on this academy."
Sakura narrowed her eyes, but Maya remained calm. Katherine's wicked smile widened.
"No. That stake sounds too inadequate for the titles we hold. Fine, then — I'll raise them."
She pointed to herself arrogantly: "If I lose — I will resign as an Instructor of Silver Heaven Academy—but if you lose… You will step down from your position as Grandmaster… And leave this academy for good." Her finger stabbed toward Maya. Gasps erupted around the room and then.
"WHAT!?" The chamber exploded with protests.
"Katherine, what the hell are you spitting about!? Maya — NO, you don't have to—!!" Sakura yelled.
"Katherine, that's enough! Do you even understand what you're saying? This is madness!" Edward shouted.
"Lady Katherine, Lady Maya, we don't need to be so hyper about this—" Lily tried to intervene. But Katherine shut her down with a raised palm.
"Don't you dare interfere, Lily. This is between me and Lady Grandmaster."
"So — what do you say? Do you trust your beloved commoner enough to wager your title? Do you accept my bet?"
Even Akshay frowned — the first crack in his composure. But Maya raised one calm hand to silence. She stepped forward — eye to eye with Katherine. Sharp. Unshaken. Sovereign.
"Very well. I accept your wager," Her words struck like a judge's verdict.
Shaun's heart dropped. Nina gasped. Noa's eyes widened ever so slightly. Katherine's grin faltered — she had never expected acceptance. But Maya turned, her voice thundering through the chamber:
"From this moment… The fate of Silver Heaven Academy rests upon this boy's growth."
**********