Shattered Sanity

Riven grew increasingly uncomfortable beneath the gazes of the three elders gathered before him, as the faint purple glow emanating from the Truth Orb continued to remind him that he could no longer avoid discussing the one thing he had deliberately kept to himself.

For several seconds, he struggled to find the right words, while Principal Boseman waited patiently and Vice Principal Chadwick appeared to be growing increasingly irritated by his hesitation.

”There has been something, sir. Something that’s been gnawing at my heart for a while now, although I don’t know whether it’s relevant to this investigation or not. But since the Truth Orb seems to think that I’m hiding something, I suppose I should share it with you.”

Riven muttered, as his voice trembled slightly while he struggled to maintain eye contact with the Principal.

Boseman nodded encouragingly, gesturing for him to continue, while Chadwick folded his arms across his chest and waited for whatever confession the boy was preparing to make.

”I’ve been having.... Well, I’ve experienced a couple of blackouts recently during training, sir. Whenever I push myself harder than I usually do, there are occasions when I seem to lose consciousness for a short period of time, although I don’t exactly collapse or fall unconscious in the traditional sense.”

Riven explained, as he carefully considered how to describe something he himself had never fully understood.

”It’s more like one moment I’m standing somewhere, doing something, and the next moment I suddenly find myself somewhere else without remembering how I got there. Everything that happened between those two moments is completely blank inside my memory, almost as if someone erased that portion of my consciousness.”

The expressions of the three elders gradually became more curious as Riven finished explaining, although none of them immediately interrupted him.

Boseman, in particular, appeared considerably less alarmed than Riven had expected, as he leaned forward slightly and offered the boy a reassuring smile.

”Well, son, that’s not necessarily something you need to be frightened of. Such experiences aren’t entirely uncommon among Ascendants who push themselves beyond their usual limits during training, especially when they become deeply immersed in what they’re doing.”

Boseman explained, as he noticed Riven listening attentively.

”There’s a phenomenon we sometimes refer to as entering a flow state, where your body begins performing actions almost instinctively while your conscious awareness becomes considerably less involved. In certain cases, that can leave a person with an incomplete recollection of what they were doing, although the extent of those gaps can vary.”

Riven nodded slowly, feeling somewhat relieved that the Principal had offered an explanation without immediately treating his condition as something abnormal.

”That’s what I thought as well, sir. Which is why I never considered these episodes particularly dangerous, especially since they usually happened while I was training and pushing myself harder than I normally could.”

Riven replied, as his expression gradually became more serious.

”However, during one of my recent training sessions, something unusual happened. I believe I accidentally entered that flow state again, and when I regained my awareness, I realized that I had managed to channel considerably more Storm Aether through my body than I was normally capable of controlling.”

Boseman’s eyebrows rose slightly.

”How much more?” he asked, as his earlier reassurance gave way to genuine curiosity.

”I’m not entirely certain, sir, because I don’t remember performing the techniques themselves. However, when I regained consciousness, parts of the training ground around me had been damaged, and judging by the amount of Aether I seemed to have released, I believe my strength might have temporarily surpassed the limits of the Ember Rank.”

Riven explained, as he glanced towards the Truth Orb before continuing.

”Perhaps I managed to reach the Spark Rank for a brief moment, although that’s only my own estimation. The damage itself wasn’t particularly extraordinary, and it certainly wasn’t anything that an ordinary Spark Rank Ascendant couldn’t have caused, which is why I never thought it was important enough to report.”

He lowered his gaze slightly.

”But considering what happened at Northwatch today, I thought it was something you should know, sir.”

As Riven finished speaking, the Truth Orb gradually lost its purple coloration, returning to the same transparent appearance it had maintained throughout the earlier portions of his testimony.

Boseman noticed the change immediately, although before he could offer his opinion, Chadwick stepped forward with an expression that suggested he had finally heard something worth pursuing.

”So you admit that you’ve been experiencing unexplained blackouts during which your body continues performing actions that you have absolutely no recollection of afterward?”

Chadwick asked, as he placed one hand against the edge of the Principal’s desk.

”And during at least one of these episodes, you apparently unleashed enough destructive power to damage the training grounds without even realizing what you were doing?”

”Yes, sir. But as I explained, the damage wasn’t particularly serious, and I don’t believe that I did anything dangerous during those episodes.”

Riven replied, as he began feeling increasingly uncomfortable beneath the Vice Principal’s questioning.

”Don’t believe?”

Chadwick repeated, as his expression darkened.

”That’s a rather interesting choice of words, Dawnriver. Because from what you’ve just told us, you have absolutely no idea what you were doing during those periods. For all you know, you could have been attacking someone standing right beside you, and you wouldn’t remember a single moment of it afterward.”

Riven opened his mouth to respond, although Chadwick continued before he could find the words.

”And now you’re telling us that you might have experienced another one of these mysterious blackouts at Northwatch, precisely during the period when several students were brutally murdered?”

Chadwick’s voice grew considerably sterner.

”Do you understand how dangerous that sounds, boy? You’re describing a condition where you apparently lose control of your actions while simultaneously becoming stronger than you normally are. For all we know, you could have been the one responsible for killing those students, including the very friends who accompanied you into that forest.”

Riven unconsciously flinched.

The accusation struck him considerably harder than he had expected, as his shoulders stiffened and his eyes gradually lowered towards the desk.

Because somewhere within the uncomfortable thoughts he had been trying to suppress ever since regaining consciousness at Northwatch, a similar possibility had already begun troubling him.

’Could I really have done something like that?’

Riven wondered, as the image of Mary’s mutilated body returned to his mind with such clarity that he felt his stomach tighten painfully.

He had never considered himself capable of hurting Mary, regardless of what condition he was in, yet the realization that he genuinely possessed no memories of what happened during his blackout made it difficult to dismiss the accusation as completely ridiculous.

However, before Chadwick could continue pressing him, Boseman raised his hand.

”That’s enough, Chadwick. You’re getting ahead of yourself again.”

Boseman said firmly, as the Vice Principal reluctantly stopped speaking.

”The boy has admitted to experiencing unusual lapses in consciousness during training, and while that certainly warrants further investigation, you’re making an extraordinary accusation based upon a condition we haven’t even properly examined.”

Chadwick frowned.

”With respect, sir, the circumstances are rather concerning.”

”I’m well aware of the circumstances.”

Boseman replied, as his expression remained calm despite the firmness of his voice.

”And I’m also aware of what we discovered at Northwatch. The devastation caused there required an extraordinary degree of Storm Aether control, with several of the lingering traces indicating techniques that belonged to the Inferno Grade or higher.”

He turned towards Riven.

”Even if your estimation is correct and you somehow managed to briefly reach the Spark Rank during one of these episodes, that still places you considerably below the level of power required to produce what we witnessed today.”

Riven slowly raised his gaze.

”So don’t worry yourself unnecessarily, boy. I don’t believe you’ve given us sufficient reason to conclude that you were responsible for what happened, although I do appreciate your honesty in bringing these episodes to our attention.”

Boseman assured him, as his expression softened once again.

”Once we’ve gotten to the bottom of this unfortunate incident, perhaps I can personally examine these blackouts you’ve been experiencing and help you understand what’s causing them. Until then, however, there is one final matter we need to address before I can allow you to return to House Argent.”

Riven nodded cautiously.

”What is it, sir?”

Boseman glanced towards Sir Roderick, who had remained unusually quiet throughout the discussion, before returning his attention towards the boy.

”Your weapon, Dawnriver. I’d like you to leave Sky-Cleaver with us for a while so that Sir Roderick can conduct a proper examination of its blade.”

Riven blinked in confusion.

”My halberd, sir?”

”Yes. You see, during our preliminary investigation of the bodies recovered from Northwatch, Sir Roderick examined the wounds inflicted upon several of the victims and concluded that they were most likely caused by a halberd.”

Boseman explained, as Riven’s expression gradually became more attentive.

”Now, I’m certainly not suggesting that you were responsible for those injuries simply because you happen to carry the same type of weapon. However, considering that you were present at the scene and that your halberd was lying within reach of several other students before your blackout, we need to establish whether Sky-Cleaver could have been the weapon used.”

Riven remained silent as he considered the explanation.

”Sir Roderick believes that the shape of a forged blade contains certain characteristics that can be compared against the wounds it produces, and with a proper examination, he may be able to determine whether your weapon was involved in the incident.”

Boseman continued, as he gestured towards the Chief Weaponsmith.

”If Sky-Cleaver doesn’t match the evidence recovered from Northwatch, then we’ll have another strong reason to dismiss the possibility of your involvement. Combined with your testimony under the Truth Orb, that should go a considerable distance towards establishing your innocence.”

Riven nodded slowly, although Boseman had not finished explaining.

”However, I also want you to understand what happens if the examination produces a match.”

The Principal’s expression became considerably more serious.

”Even in that situation, it wouldn’t automatically mean that you committed those murders. You’ve already testified that your weapon fell from your hand during the fight against Gary, which means there is a possibility that someone else could have picked it up and used it while you were unconscious.”

Riven listened carefully, as the explanation offered him some reassurance.

”Nevertheless, if Sir Roderick establishes that Sky-Cleaver was indeed the weapon used to kill those students, then the circumstances surrounding your blackout become considerably more concerning, and I won’t have the authority to simply dismiss the matter based upon my personal assessment of your character.”

Boseman explained, as he rested his hands upon the desk.

”In that case, I’ll have no choice but to place you under temporary detention for the safety of everyone involved, at least until a proper Imperial investigation can determine exactly what happened at Northwatch.”

Riven felt his stomach tighten.

”Detention, sir?”

”Imprisonment would not go well with your honor son, so yes, detention.

I’m afraid that’s the procedure we must follow when dealing with a matter of this severity, especially when the deaths of several students from prominent noble families are involved.”

Boseman replied, as he noticed the concern spreading across Riven’s face.

”But I don’t want you to misunderstand my intentions. At present, I have no reason to believe that you possess the ability to produce the devastation we witnessed, and your willingness to cooperate with this investigation has certainly worked in your favour.”

He offered Riven another reassuring smile.

”So for now, leave your weapon with us and return to House Argent. Sir Roderick will conduct his examination, and once we have his findings, we’ll decide what further action, if any, needs to be taken.”

Riven remained silent for a moment, as his gaze shifted towards the elderly weaponsmith standing behind the Principal.

Sir Roderick had been quietly listening throughout the discussion, occasionally stroking his long grey beard while studying Riven with an expression that was difficult to interpret.

However, when their eyes met, the old man offered him a small nod.

”Y-Yes, young master. I’ll take good care of your weapon, I assure you.”

Roderick said, as he straightened his posture slightly.

”It shouldn’t take too long for me to complete the examination once I’ve had a proper opportunity to study the blade.”

Riven nodded before reaching towards his waist, where Sky-Cleaver remained secured in its retracted form.

The ancient weapon had accompanied him throughout his time at the Academy, and although he had become accustomed to carrying it almost everywhere, he had never imagined that one day its blade might become evidence in an investigation concerning the murder of his own friends.

Nevertheless, he had nothing to hide regarding the weapon itself.

At least, nothing that he was consciously aware of.

”Of course, sir. I understand why you need to examine it, and I have no objections.”

Riven replied, as he carefully removed Sky-Cleaver from his waist before placing the retracted halberd upon the Principal’s desk.

The Truth Orb remained completely clear as he spoke.

Boseman nodded approvingly.

”Thank you for your cooperation, Dawnriver. You’ve been through quite enough for one day, so I suggest you return to House Argent and get some proper rest. We’ll contact you once Sir Roderick has finished his examination.”

”Thank you, sir.”

Riven replied, as he slowly rose from his chair.

For a brief moment, his gaze lingered upon Sky-Cleaver lying between himself and the Principal, although he eventually lowered his head respectfully before turning towards the door.

He had answered every question to the best of his ability, and while the possibility of being detained frightened him, he couldn’t imagine how an examination of his weapon could possibly implicate him in something he had no memory of doing.

After all, he had been lying helpless beneath Gary when his consciousness disappeared, and the idea that he could somehow have overwhelmed so many powerful opponents remained just as absurd to him as it appeared to Boseman.

Yet as he stepped out of the Principal’s office and quietly closed the door behind himself, an uncomfortable sensation continued lingering within his chest.

A sensation that warned him that there might be more to this investigation than he believed for now.