No Way Back

The air in the headmaster's office felt colder than usual. Or maybe it was just them.

My family, or rather, Original Tristan Family.

The headmaster offered polite condolences, said something about the investigation still ongoing, about how they were reviewing all possibilities. No suspects yet. No conclusions drawn. All very official.

When he stepped out of the room to give us "privacy," the silence settled deeper.

They sat across from me, perfectly composed. Duke Aldric Altrhrone, my father, carried the same impassive expression he wore at every formal event. Like Damien's death meant no more than a misplaced document. Next to him, Lady Evelyn smiled with the kind of sweetness, like usual.

"Tristan"

She said, her voice smooth and quiet.

"You've grown."

I didn't answer. There was nothing to say to that, honestly it's feel weird since it's not that long sinceI left home.

Beatrice was the only one who looked mourning. She sat with her hands clenched in her lap, eyes flicking between us all like she was trying to piece together a puzzle without the picture on the box. There was a faint tremble in her lower lip, but she didn't let it show. Not fully.

"We were informed of Damien's unfortunate passing"

Aldric said, finally breaking the silence. His voice held no emotion, no grief.

"A shame"

That was it, a shame, like really? His own son died and that his respons?

I felt something twist in my stomach.

"A shame?"

I echoed, before I could stop myself.

"That's all?"

He looked at me like I'd asked about the weather.

"He was a disappointment. His end merely confirms it"

Honestly I don't care about him, I'm not like or hate him either honestly since he literal random npc, but seeing their response, Damien's own family doesn't seem to care about their son's death? It's really annoying.

Beatrice flinched. Evelyn reached over and touched her hand gently—too gently.

"We're all grieving in our own way dear"

She said, and then turned to me with a practiced tilt of her head.

"Though I imagine this must be especially hard for you, Tristan. After everything"

"And why is it? I'm not even close to him, and just so you know, we have huge fight that turn turn out to be a battle of life and death, heh, if not for help from the other probably I'm the who die here"

No answer, no surprised here.

The room was quiet for a moment, save for the ticking of the ornate clock on the wall. I sat stiffly on one side of the long table, facing the people I hadn't seen in years.

"I didn't expect you to still be here"

Evelyn said smoothly.

"With everything that's happened"

I didn't take the bait.

"Why wouldn't I be?"

She tilted her head, expression serene.

"Well, with how people are talking… You know how quickly rumors spread in places like this"

I ignored her.

Aldric didn't say a word. He hadn't since he walked in. He just sat there, arms crossed, expression carved from stone. Damien had died, and he looked like he was thinking about paperwork.

"You don't seem surprised father"

I said.

His gaze finally met mine. Cold. Detached.

"Surprise accomplishes nothing"

Beatrice flinched at his tone. I didn't.

"Damien was your son"

I said flatly.

"So are you, dear"

Evelyn cut in gently, voice like poisoned honey.

"And look how far you've come"

I clenched my fists under the table.

Beatrice finally spoke.

"Can't we… talk about this properly? Damien is gone. Don't you care?"

No one answered her.

I let out a long sigh at the reaction of this hopeless family, left alone Beatrice since she the only one who actually have heart, as expected from one of protagonist party.

"Do what you want, it's not my problem anyway"

And then i left the room.

Beatrice caught up with me just outside the reception room. I'd barely made it ten steps down the corridor when I heard her call my name.

"Brother, wait"

I stopped. Slowly turned.

She stood a few feet away, her hands balled at her sides, eyes searching mine.

"Can we talk?"

She asked. Her voice was quieter now. Almost small.

I nodded.

We found a small balcony overlooking the eastern courtyard—empty, quiet, with only the soft rustle of wind brushing past the ivy-covered stone. She leaned against the railing, arms folded. I stayed a few steps back, uncertain.

"I don't know what's going on"

She said.

"No one's telling me anything."

I stayed silent. Let her talk.

"Father hasn't said a word about him. Not even when we were still at home. Mother keeps changing the subject. Acting like it's... an inconvenience"

She glanced at me.

"And now we're here, in the Academy, and people are whispering things about you."

I exhaled slowly.

"Let them whisper."

"I don't want to believe them."

That made me look up.

"I don't think you're a murderer"

She said, meeting my eyes.

"But you do know something. Don't you?"

I didn't answer.

Not because I wanted to lie. But because I wasn't sure what counted as the truth anymore.

"Brother Damien was a lot of things"

She continued, voice tighter now.

"Cruel isn't it? He was still my brother. And he didn't deserve to die like that. No one does."

"…I know."

Beatrice looked down at the courtyard below, her knuckles white against the stone.

"You hated him, didn't you?"

"I didn't kill him"

"That's not what I asked"

Silence stretched between us like a wire pulled taut.

"…I hated what he did to me, not just him, but everyone in the family"

I said quietly.

"But I didn't want him dead."

Beatrice nodded. Then, after a long pause, she said.

"I think I believe you."

A moment passed.

"I want to help"

She added.

Now, that one surprised me.

"I don't know if there's anything you can do"

I replied.

Her lips twitched—not quite a smile.

"Then let me be the judge of that"

...

The next morning, the Academy felt colder.

Not the weather. The atmosphere.

Conversations dropped to whispers when I passed by. Faces turned away just a little too late to avoid suspicion. Even the professors seemed uneasy, like they knew something was brewing beneath the surface—but no one wanted to be the first to stir the pot.

And above it all, the weight of Damien's death lingered like a stain that wouldn't wash out.

No classes today, of course. The Academy had already made the announcement yesterday—two days of suspension while the investigation ran its course.

They said it was "out of respect."

But everyone knew the truth.

Someone had broken into the Academy. Someone had murdered a prisoner in a locked cell. That kind of thing didn't just happen—not here.

And now, that someone might still be walking the halls.

I was on my way to the library with Beatrice, not to read, but to think. To breathe.

And that's when I saw her.

"Elena?"

She stood at the top of the stairs, sunlight spilling over her like some kind of divine entrance. Her crimson coat fluttered faintly with her movement, and she looked—unsurprisingly—composed, elegant, and entirely unsurprised to see me.

"Tristan"

She said, walking down the steps.

"You look worse than usual"

"You always know how to flatter a guy"

She smiled faintly.

"You know, I just arrived. Father called me back to the capital last week. Political things. Boring, mostly-"

"Elena"

I cut her words, but before I can continue, she cut my words too.

She tilted her head.

"You're about to ask me if I heard about Damien"

"I did"

She said.

"The moment it reached the royal court. A noble family's heir dying in custody inside the Academy? It was news before it reached the gates"

She paused, eyeing me carefully.

"And I also heard there's talk you were sneaking around the lower levels that night."

Of course she had.

"And i think you're not the one who broke in aren't you?"

She said with a smile, brushing invisible dust off her glove.

"If you had, you wouldn't have been this sloppy about it"

"…Thanks, I guess?"

She smiled again, but it didn't reach her eyes.

"Still, it's a surprise to see you with your little sister here"

Beatrice gave her a sidelong glance.

"Is that a problem?"

Elena smiled.

"Not no, not at all~""

She stepped closer, the click of her boots sharp against the stone. Then she leaned against a nearby pillar, arms crossed, eyes settling on me with practiced ease.

"Word travels fast"

She said, her tone light but her gaze anything but.

"Even faster when your father's the King. Took less than a day for news to reach the capital—Damien Altrhrone, dead inside the Academy."

Beatrice flinched beside me. Just barely. But I felt the shift.

Elena caught it, of course.

"And now you look like you haven't slept in days"

"i don't know what are you trying to say"

She raised a hand, stopping me.

"Oh my, relax~, If I thought you were the killer, I wouldn't be standing here chatting you know"

Beatrice narrowed her eyes.

"You sound awfully sure."

Elena gave her a glance.

"That's because I am"

Her words were too casual to be kind. But there was a sharpness in her calm—a calculation behind every sentence.

"He was silenced"

She went on.

"Which means he had something to say"

My throat tightened.

Elena turned her gaze back to me.

"And if the real killer gets ahead of the story, they'll have everyone convinced it was you. We don't have time to play guessing games."

With that, she turned to go—then paused mid-step.

"Oh, and Tristan"

She said without turning around.

"Don't do anything stupid before I get back."

Beatrice stayed silent for a long moment after Elena left.

"Do you trust her?"

Beatrice asked, not looking at me.

"Elena?"

I hesitated.

"…Enough to know she's not my enemy."

Beatrice gave a humorless chuckle.

"That's not the same as being your ally."

"No"

I admitted.

"It's not"

...

The next day.

Someone knocked my door, and when i opened it i saw Beatrice with confused look.

"They made a decision"

She said, her voice low.

"This morning. I overheard two instructors."

My stomach dropped.

"And?"

When she about to answer, footsteps echoed from the far side of the corridor—firm, purposeful.

2 professors and 5 guards come to boy dorm, or rather my room, their eyes locked onto me.

"Tristan Altrhrone"

One of the professor said coldly.

"By order of the Council, you are to be taken into custody for interrogation. A warrant has been issued—effective immediately."

Beatrice stepped forward, voice sharp.

"You can't, he didn't do anything wrong!"

"We found your mana signatur in the scene"

He cut in.

"People not possibly to have the same mana signatures so please come with us"

My breath caught in my throat.

Damn it, so they finally found it.

Beatrice turned sharply toward me.

"What?"

I didn't answer. My mind was already racing.

"I didn't—"

I started, but he raised his hand.

"You can explain it in containment"

He said, stepping forward.

"Don't make this harder than it has to be"

Behind him, the other instructors shifted, tension thick in the air. Wands loosened. Spells ready.

They were prepared to bring me down if I resisted.

I looked to Beatrice.

Her mouth opened like she wanted to say something—but nothing came out.

And that was all I needed to see.

I took one breath.

Then the air cracked around me as I activated my skill.

Realizing I was about to do something, all of the professors and the guards who came tried to stop me.

"Wait—!"

Too late.

And then I disappear, move to another nearby place that has a shadow.