Far from the academy grounds.
Inside a vast circular courtroom built of white marble and ancient runic stone, the highest authorities of humanity had gathered.
The Council of Humanity.
Seven figures sat high above on an elevated platform that overlooked the chamber like gods passing judgment.
At the center stood one woman.
Aurelia Von Astra.
Her silver hair flowed down her back like liquid moonlight, her posture calm and composed despite the weight of the room's attention.
Beside her stood her assistant, Lyra, holding several sealed documents.
Above them, seated at the center of the council, was the presiding judge.
Berus Nova.
One of humanity's strongest warriors.
An SS− rank executioner of the council.
His golden hair reflected the courtroom light while his piercing blue eyes remained fixed on Aurelia.
In his hand rested a judgment staff, an artifact used only during high council trials.
His voice echoed through the chamber.
"Aurelia Von Astra."
"Your academy promised safety to every student enrolled within its walls."
His eyes narrowed slightly.
"Yet a student has died."
"What do you wish to say in your defense?"
On the opposite side of the chamber stood another man.
Ron Umbra.
The head of House Umbra.
His face showed little grief.
In truth—
He didn't care that his useless son had died.
If anything, Ron believed this incident might allow him to gain favor with the council…
And perhaps weaken the influence of the woman he despised most.
Aurelia Von Astra.
Aurelia slowly raised her gaze toward the council.
Her silver eyes swept across the chamber.
Several nobles shifted uncomfortably under that calm stare.
Then she spoke.
"The student in question…"
Her voice was clear and steady.
"Jake Umbra."
"Academy Rank: 732."
Lyra stepped forward and placed several documents on the projection table.
Magical light illuminated the files for the council to see.
"The student Jake Umbra," Aurelia continued, "was accused of providing another student with a Chaos Stone."
The chamber stirred immediately.
Chaos Stones were forbidden within every kingdom.
Lyra activated the first file.
A full report of Alex's testimony appeared.
"Providing a Chaos Stone to another individual is a crime punishable by death under the laws of the Astrael Accord."
Another document appeared.
This time—
The judges' expressions darkened.
Evidence.
Transactions.
Hidden dealings.
The dark practices of House Umbra began appearing one by one.
Human trafficking.
Illegal magic experimentation.
Smuggling of corrupted artifacts.
Several council members turned their gaze toward Ron Umbra.
Not with sympathy.
But with disgust.
Ron's confident expression stiffened slightly.
Berus Nova tapped his judgment staff against the floor.
"Enough."
Silence returned instantly.
He looked at Aurelia again.
"Even so."
"A student has died inside your academy."
"What is your explanation?"
Aurelia did not hesitate.
"I have none."
The chamber stirred again.
"I will not deny that Jake Umbra died within my academy."
"But…"
Lyra quietly placed one final file on the projection table.
A single image appeared.
The corpse hanging from the clock tower.
And beside it—
Words written in blood.
Tick Tock
— Jester
The moment the council saw the name—
The entire chamber fell silent.
Berus Nova's eyes narrowed.
"…Jester."
Aurelia's silver gaze hardened slightly.
"Yes."
Her voice echoed calmly across the courtroom.
"Saviant has returned."
"And they have begun moving."
No one spoke.
Because every person in that room understood what that meant.
The fragile peace of the world…
Had just begun to crack.
Berus Nova remained silent for several seconds.
His sharp blue eyes studied the blood-written message displayed before the council.
Jester.
A name no one in that room wished to hear again.
Finally—
Berus lifted his judgment staff slightly.
"Very well."
His voice echoed across the chamber.
"Aurelia Von Astra."
"You are free to go."
The courtroom stirred slightly.
The council members seemed satisfied with the explanation.
But someone else wasn't.
Ron Umbra stepped forward suddenly.
"This is absurd!"
His voice echoed angrily through the chamber.
"My son was murdered inside her academy!"
"And you're just going to let her walk away?!"
His finger pointed directly at Aurelia.
"She should be held responsible for this! That woman—"
The words stopped.
Mid sentence.
CRACK.
For a split second, the courtroom went completely silent.
Then—
Ron Umbra's body suddenly exploded.
Blood sprayed across the marble floor.
Flesh and bone scattered like shattered glass.
The nobles watching from the sides recoiled in horror.
But the council…
Didn't react.
Instead—
Their gazes slowly turned toward one man.
Berus Nova.
The SS− executioner stood exactly where he had been before.
His expression unchanged.
His judgment staff rested calmly against the floor.
"…This court," Berus said coldly,
"does not tolerate false accusations or pointless noise."
His gaze swept across the chamber.
"Control yourselves."
No one spoke again.
Because everyone in that room understood something.
Berus Nova was a man who believed in absolute judgment.
And he had no patience for nonsense.
Aurelia didn't react to the scene.
Instead she turned calmly and walked out of the courtroom.
Moments later—
High above the skies of Eldoria Nexus Academy, a silver figure descended from the clouds.
Aurelia floated in the air above the massive campus.
Below her stretched the enormous academy grounds.
Thousands of students.
Training halls.
Dormitories.
The towering clock tower at the center.
Her silver eyes scanned the academy.
Then she raised one hand.
Mana gathered instantly.
The air trembled.
Aurelia began chanting quietly.
"Astra Veyron… Celestial Ward…"
Her voice carried across the sky like a hymn.
"…Grand Spatial Barrier."
BOOM.
An enormous wave of silver mana spread outward from her body.
Like a dome of light—
A massive barrier formed around the entire academy.
It shimmered briefly before becoming invisible.
The entire academy was now sealed.
Then Aurelia spoke again.
This time—
Her voice echoed across every hallway, every dorm room, every training ground.
Every cadet and professor heard it clearly inside their minds.
"Attention."
"This is Headmistress Aurelia Von Astra."
The academy suddenly fell silent.
"As of this moment…"
"The academy is placed under full lockdown."
Students froze.
Professors stopped mid conversation.
No one dared interrupt.
"Every student dormitory will be inspected."
"Every personal item will be investigated."
"Anyone found possessing forbidden artifacts…"
Her voice grew colder.
"…will be punished accordingly."