A Small Reckoning

Squad 1 stood at attention after giving their full field report. They had written it on the way back and gone over every detail meticulously making sure that it had no mistakes. 'The headmaster sat behind his desk with their teacher, Mrs. White sitting on the side of the desk crossing her arms at them. The headmaster was a man with silver gray hair. It was obvious he was both in good shape but in his later years. He looks at Allison for a few moments before taking his glasses off and sighs. "Young Allison while your determination as ever is something to be commended, you did not have clearance for use of a level 6 spell. You understand how dangerous that is yes?" Allison rolled her eyes unable to stop herself even to the face of the headmaster. "Yes, I understand how dangerous using a level 6 spell is. I also understand that you sent us on a mission that should have been trivial for us. But instead we found that it was perhaps the most dangerous mission we have ever been sent on. I had very few options sir, what is the point of knowing a last resort attack if when you're in trouble you're still not supposed to use it?" The headmaster sighs at her response not really finding issue with the logic. "I understand that the circumstances that you found yourself in were dire. However, using a level 6 or higher spell is considered a war crime. That is how utterly destructive something like that can be." Allison cut off the headmaster before he could continue. "It is a war crime only under the treaty of the Five. In the treaty of the five it comes with the disclaimer that it only applies to those who have signed the treaty of the five. Specifically, so that when fighting against monsters like the swarm or ruthless enemies like the aristocracy we have full range to use whatever means we have at our disposal!" Allison looked as though she had more to her protests however a piercing look from a headmaster who was losing his patience cut her off allowing him to speak again. "More importantly those under the authority of the Battle Mages, Officer class academy. More to the point to my direct authority and the indirect higher authority of the high council. Are forbidden without consent of an official whose authority ranks as class 4 or higher, to use such a spell. Argue the necessity of it as you like. But your actions where illegal. I would be well with in my right mind to hand you over to the disciplinary comity." The head master then looks up at Mrs. White who has just been listening with her arms crossed, her face not conveying any of her thoughts. "Which would at least give Elanor a companion to sit with. Seriously Mrs. White how could you be so irresponsible as to not accompany your squad. Was the honor of giving you the highest position aside from my own position and additionally the chance to train the most prominent future heroes of mankind not enough to hold your interest? If that is a case I highly question whether or not, we should keep you on the staff." The head master then turns his increasingly tired glare to Nathan and Maya. Upon just the look Nathan seems to shrink on be on the verge of tears. Maya just looked back at the headmaster with a blank expression. "Not that you two are entirely without fault. Which is both to my surprise and disappointment. Though I have had to speak with young Allison on multiple occasions you two are usually the picture of professionalism." Nathan could not look the headmaster in the eyes as he was scolded which caused the headmaster to let out a tired sigh. "When you realized the extent of the danger you should have pulled back... Which if the events went exactly as you said then I suppose you both have made only minor infractions. Namely Nathan you do understand that the plasma rail cannon on your ship is designed to rip apart space stations and battle class ships, right? If your shot directly down into the hive had hit either of your teammates imagine the sort of damage it would have done to them. But as that is your only infraction, and it did save your team mates I will let that matter rest." Nathan let out a deep relieved sigh before slowly relaxing back into his stance at attention. "Now young Maya. You haven't made a single infraction personally, but I am still somewhat disappointed that you went along with the idea that your teacher wouldn't accompany you. But as your authority is only class 6 and her authority is class 4 I will not punish you for not over stepping your bounds by questioning authority." To this Maya nods "Of course sir." The headmaster nods back before looking to Mrs. White then to Allison and then back. "Alright Mrs. White you will report to my office tomorrow at five in the morning for a small punishment hearing of your peers. Young Allison you will attend at eleven tomorrow morning a hearing before the disciplinary committee. You can gather all the evidence and records you need before then as well as gather those who you would have speak on your behalf. You are all dismissed.

***

Allison laid on the couch in her teams shared room as Nathan was in his bed early meaning to get up in time to talk to Mrs. White before her hearing and Maya sat in the chair to Allison's right. Allison stared at the ceiling deep in thought sense she had gotten scolded, but her eyes slowly fell to Maya who seemed completely unshaken she read. "Hey, Maya, you'll talk at my thing tomorrow right?" Maya looks over at Allison with a smirk "Of course I will. "Allison smiles at that as she looks up at the ceiling again. "I did almost die you know?" Maya looks down at Allison suddenly seeming concerned. "Well I mean we always alm-" Allison cuts her off. "No Maya I don't mean that I took a good hit. Or that a human like me or you should not be fighting monsters the size of mountains. Or that I was scared. Or anything like that. I mean I honestly used every single drop of magic I had. And that if you hadn't come to get me, I would have sunk with the hive unable to do anything about it. I actually almost died." Maya sighs heavily before getting up and sitting on Allison's stomach and placing her hand on their cheek. "Yeah that's our job Ally. But I was there to save you. Next time you will be there to save me. That's how it works." Allison looks up at Maya with a small smile before rolling her eyes. "Alright mom I'm sorry. I'm gonna sleep on the couch tonight okay?" Maya nods before getting up to go off to her bedroom. Maya turns off the light before saying in a soft voice "Goodnight Ally."

***

Elanor White stopped in the hallway as she saw her student Nathan approach her. It was 4:30 in the morning a half a hour before he hearing. Nathan looked up at her looking both tired and clearly concerned. "Mrs. White are you okay? Did you sleep well?" Elanor smiled at the boy before ruffling his hair. "Yeah I'm fine kiddo. Should have listened to you as always and opted to go with you on the mission. It's no biggie." Nathan smiled a little bit but looked down still clearly worried. Elanor let out a sigh. "Nate would you like to come with me?" Nathan looked up suddenly excited "Can I?" Elanor shrugged and started off toward the headmaster's office again with Nathan happily following behind her.

As Elanor enters the room she sees the headmaster and the four other teachers of class 1. They all look like they are about to explode on her with a barrage of scolding's, but they all suddenly bite their tongue when they see Nathan. The headmaster looks at Nathan then up to Mrs. White. "Explain if you would Mrs. White why young Nathan is here." Mrs. White nods before answering "He was a nervous wreck worrying over me. He met me in the hallway a half hour ago and I couldn't set his mind at ease so I brought him with me hoping that if he was here he would be able to calm down a little." The headmaster looks at Nathan for a few seconds thinking before another of the teachers, A man named Mr. Cen who leads class 1 squad 4 spoke up interrupting the headmasters train of thought. "It is unprofessional to bring a student to try and get an easier sentence after doing something this stupid. But with you it's basically par for the course by now isn't it." He steps forward meaningfully intending to intimidate the smaller Mrs. White but she just glances at him with her good eye not bothering to turn her head away from the headmaster. "You have a position that we have all trained for, for countless years but because you just happened to be in class 1 squad 1 back when you still had potential you bunny hopped all of us just to then act like your position was nothing more than a toy you only occasionally deem fit to play with!" The room blanches at Mr. Cen's sudden outburst as he is usually considered one of the more levelheaded of the teachers. Except for of course the headmaster and Elanor are not phased at all. In fact, Elanor simply begins speaking as soon as he finishes. "It was an impromptu mission approved by someone other than myself for my team to go on with no planning. Additionally, it was ranked as so non-threatening that they considered sending the bottom team of the class below us. Frankly, my students cannot be compared to all of yours. They are in a class all their own. As far as aptitude scores Allison's is exactly equal to the student that prior to this year held the number 1 spot in the history of the school. Not to mention both Maya's and Nathan's aptitude scores are even higher. The fact that despite the mission they ended up facing, you know the one that we had zero information on. Yeah it ended up being as incredibly dangerous as it was and yet they still succeeded. Which on top of being excellent real world experience to continue the training of our brightest" She let the last word hold for a few seconds longer than she did the others as she looked Mr. Cen directly in the eyes. "By far, the brightest students. Meaning that not only did it end up with a positive outcome but that my actions where fine based on the information that I was presented. The only mistake made was one with our information department." With that Mrs. White took out a microphone she had in her coat pocket, held it in her arm outstretched and let it drop with a self-satisfied smirk. Mr. Cen went completely red and blood vessels in his eyes became visible. He started to open his mouth to speak but the headmaster spoke first. "Your words are very arrogant Elanor and it belittles the other students of our academy. It appears you have no remorse for breaking protocol whatsoever. I have no choice but to punish you severely." Mr. Cen smiled at that as Mrs. White slowly stood up straight only just now taking this meeting seriously. "I have a proposition to make then." The headmaster lets out an annoyed sigh not knowing how Mrs. White planned to get out of trouble. "I'll prove two things to you. A I will prove that I was right to have thought nothing of sending them on the mission that was described by further showing how competent they are. B I will prove that I take my job incredibly serious. I would die in a second if I thought it would somehow benefit my students. Your teaching methods aren't the only sort that works." The headmaster looked at her thinking as the other teachers all looked to him with pleading looks that without words said very clearly "Please don't listen to her." The head master slowly smiled as he looked at her. "What did you have in mind that would prove these two things Mrs. White?" She smiles back at him as she puts an arm around Nathan's shoulders and pulls him closer to her. "Me and my squad of students whom I have trained sense they have been accepted into the academy will take on a mission that you deemed too dangerous to even attempt every time someone brings it up to you." She looks down at Nathan with a smile, but Nathan looks up with wide eyes and an inaudible whimper. She just looks back up to the headmaster. "Quick history lesson for those of us in this room who might not know what I'm talking about. About six or so years ago the high council found a peculiar alter floating in an asteroid field. A very violent Asteroid field to be exact, in said asteroid field the Alter is on a massive floating hunk of metal that is black and in the shape of a box." Mrs. White had to stop as the look of realization went through the faces of the teachers to laugh. "My oh my you guys look worried." Before she could continue the headmaster stood up and spoke over her in a loud voice that went through the halls of the entire school. "You are playing this like it's a game! You would fail and get your students killed on a mission that not even those of have gone through this academies training have been able to accomplish! You dig yourself deeper into a hole with every word you speak." Mrs. White looks down feeling a little defeated but continues to speak. "I'm sure we would succeed." She looks the headmaster in the eyes with a piercing glare. The auras coming from the headmaster and the top teacher was even beginning to make the other teachers afraid. Let alone poor Nathan who was on the verge of tears in Mrs. White's grip. "Headmaster If I fail in this mission, I am willing to accept execution as my punishment. If one of my students does not make it back, I will face execution for that offense. If one of my students gets an injury that will put them out of service for more than a month, I will accept execution. If I fail and I am unable to bring back all three of my students safely I will accept the fate of the Hollowing." The teachers where all listening just surprised at her seriousness until she said her last statement. Mr. Cen was the first to speak up. "You would put the hollowing on the line to get out of a petty demotion? Are you insane woman!?!" She just smiles looking over him. "In the alter that looks like a giant metal box made of black metal is a crystal that has more magical energy than the entire student body and the teachers of this academy combined. I will bring it back and give you all the credit dear headmaster." The headmaster looks into her eyes for a few moments thinking before nodding and sitting back down. "Very well. I will forgive you if you succeed but if you fail you will be facing execution. Also, you must get consent forms from your students beforehand." Mrs. White nods as she leads Nathan out. She stops in the door for a moment before speaking over her shoulder. "Oh, and Allison isn't going to her hearing either. We won't be here in two hours." Before the headmaster could protest Mrs. White was already walking to the room of her students intent on her mission.