Shattered Sanity

(Northwatch Grounds, Sir Roderick’s POV)

”Careful with that one. I don’t want the wound disturbed before I’ve had a chance to examine it properly.”

Sir Roderick instructed, as two Academy guards carefully removed the protective covering from one of the bodies lying near the northern edge of Northwatch Grounds.

Having returned to the massacre site alongside Principal Boseman and Vice Principal Chadwick, the elderly weaponsmith appeared unusually energetic, having already spent several minutes examining Sky-Cleaver beneath the afternoon sunlight before finally turning his attention towards the deceased students.

”Now then, let’s see what we have here....”

Roderick muttered, as he lowered himself beside the corpse and carefully positioned Sky-Cleaver beside the body, bringing the curved blade towards the deep wound running diagonally across the student’s torso.

Rather than immediately comparing their dimensions, however, the old man began behaving rather strangely, tilting his head from one side to another while repeatedly adjusting the angle of the halberd against the injured flesh.

At one point, he even closed his eyes and gently pressed the blade into the existing wound, feeling how the metal settled against the severed tissue before withdrawing it and running his fingertips along its cutting edge.

Chadwick watched the process with an increasingly impatient expression, occasionally glancing towards Boseman as though he believed the conclusion should already have been obvious, although the Principal remained patient, having known the elderly weaponsmith long enough to trust his peculiar methods.

”Hmm... Interesting. Very interesting indeed.”

Roderick muttered, as he carefully examined a particular section of the blade before returning his attention towards the wound.

”Have you discovered something, Roderick?”

Boseman asked, as the old man retrieved a small magnifying lens from his pocket and began examining the exposed tissue more closely.

”P-Possibly, Principal. Although I’d rather examine another body before saying anything with certainty.”

Roderick replied, as he slowly rose to his feet and approached another deceased student lying several paces away.

For the next several minutes, the weaponsmith repeated the same procedure, carefully positioning Sky-Cleaver against the injuries while occasionally running his fingers along the blade and comparing its curvature with the impressions left upon the victims.

However, when he reached the fifth corpse, his movements suddenly slowed, as he discovered something that prompted him to examine the same section of the weapon several times.

”Ah! There it is!”

Roderick exclaimed, as he leaned closer towards the body and gestured for Boseman and Chadwick to approach.

”Look here through the magnifying glass, sir. Do you notice this small indentation along the edge of the wound?”

Boseman lowered himself slightly, examining the area Roderick was indicating before shaking his head.

”I’m afraid I don’t see anything particularly unusual.”

”O–of course, of course. It’s rather difficult to notice unless you know precisely what you’re looking for.”

Roderick replied, as he carefully rotated Sky-Cleaver and pointed towards a tiny imperfection along its cutting edge.

”You see, there’s a small chip right here, barely noticeable unless you examine the blade very closely. Ordinarily, such an imperfection wouldn’t affect its performance, particularly when dealing with a weapon of this quality.”

He paused briefly before guiding Boseman’s attention back towards the corpse. ℯℯ𝘭.

”However, whenever this particular section passes through flesh, the chipped portion leaves a minute irregularity along the wound, almost like a tiny notch interrupting an otherwise perfectly smooth cut.”

Boseman examined the injury again, gradually noticing the faint indentation Roderick had indicated.

”And you’re saying that indentation corresponds with the chip on Sky-Cleaver?”

”Precisely, sir. But that’s only the beginning.”

Roderick replied excitedly, as he moved his finger slightly further along the blade.

”Now look at this section. Notice how the curvature becomes unusually smooth near the lower edge? Whoever forged this weapon appears to have polished this particular area more extensively than the surrounding metal, creating a slight deviation from its original curvature.”

Chadwick’s expression brightened considerably, as a faint grin spread across his face.

”So what you’re saying, Sir Roderick, is that even if another blade were made from the same mould, it couldn’t have produced this cut?”

Chadwick asked, as his gaze briefly shifted towards Boseman.

”And if that’s the case, wouldn’t it establish Riven Dawnriver’s guilt beyond reasonable doubt?”

The eagerness in his voice was difficult to miss, although Roderick appeared more interested in explaining his findings than entertaining the Vice Principal’s conclusions.

”A very reasonable question, Vice Principal. Although identifying the weapon and identifying the person who wielded it are two entirely different matters.”

Roderick explained, as he carefully positioned the blade alongside the wound once again.

”Two weapons forged using the same mould might possess nearly identical dimensions, and their cutting edges could produce remarkably similar injuries. However, these particular imperfections are different.”

He pointed towards the chipped section.

”This chip developed independently of the original mould, while the excessive smoothing along this portion resulted from the individual finishing process.

So even if another weaponsmith produced an identical halberd using the same mould, the likelihood of reproducing these exact imperfections in precisely the same positions would be extraordinarily small.”

Roderick continued explaining, as he carefully aligned Sky-Cleaver’s cutting edge against the wound.

”But extraordinarily small does not mean impossible....

If this were the only evidence, then I would merely say that it’s more likely than not that this is our murder weapon.

However, it’s not the only evidence we have....”

Roderick said, pointing once again towards the chip, as Boseman began understanding why the elderly weaponsmith had insisted upon examining several different bodies.

”I’ve discovered the same pattern upon the other victims, with these imperfections appearing at consistent positions along wounds inflicted from entirely different angles.”

Roderick explained, as he slowly withdrew the weapon.

”One matching imperfection might be a coincidence, sir. Even two could theoretically be explained by similar craftsmanship. However, when several independent irregularities correspond across multiple wounds, the possibility of another weapon producing precisely the same pattern becomes practically nonexistent.

I’ve spent more than forty years examining weapons and the injuries they produce, and I can assure you that these markings are as distinctive as the imperfections found upon a person’s fingerprints.”

He lowered Sky-Cleaver slightly, as the excitement that had accompanied his examination gradually disappeared.

”Without a shadow of a doubt, gentlemen, this very blade was used to kill these students.”

For several seconds, neither Boseman nor Chadwick spoke, although their reactions to the conclusion could hardly have been more different.

While Boseman’s expression gradually darkened, Chadwick appeared almost satisfied, as though the discovery had confirmed something he had been waiting to hear ever since Riven first entered the Principal’s office.

”So the boy’s weapon really was responsible....”

Chadwick muttered, as a faint smile tugged at the corner of his lips.

”I must say, sir, his earlier testimony appears considerably less convincing now, doesn’t it?”

Boseman offered no immediate response, as his attention remained fixed upon the halberd resting in Roderick’s hands.

The Principal had hoped that the examination might eliminate Riven from suspicion, as the possibility of a Dawnriver heir being implicated in such a massacre threatened to unleash a political storm upon the Academy.

However, reality had proved considerably less accommodating.

”Oh, Minerva....”

Boseman muttered, as he slowly raised his gaze towards the afternoon sky.

”This just became considerably messier than it should have.”

Chadwick immediately stepped closer, appearing almost impatient to act upon the discovery before any further discussion could delay matters.

”Sir, with your permission, I’ll issue the order for Riven Dawnriver’s immediate detention and inform the Imperial authorities of our findings.”

Chadwick declared, as his expression became considerably sterner.

”The official report concerning these deaths must be dispatched regardless, and now that we’ve established the connection between his weapon and the murders, I see no reason why Riven Dawnriver shouldn’t be explicitly identified as the principal suspect.”

He paused briefly before continuing.

”In fact, considering the number of noble families involved, I believe it would be irresponsible of us to downplay the evidence against him. The Imperial authorities should know precisely whose weapon was responsible for these deaths.”

Boseman remained silent for several moments, as his attention returned towards the bodies lying across Northwatch Grounds.

”Very well, Chadwick. Proceed with the detention order, although I want it made absolutely clear that Dawnriver is to be treated respectfully until the Imperial investigators arrive.”

Boseman instructed, as he glanced towards Sky-Cleaver once again.

”And make certain the report distinguishes between what we’ve established and what remains uncertain. We know his weapon was used, but we still don’t know who wielded it.”

Chadwick’s expression tightened slightly, clearly dissatisfied with the Principal’s continued reluctance to draw a more decisive conclusion.

”Of course, sir. Although I imagine the Imperial investigators will find that distinction considerably less reassuring than you do.”

Chadwick replied, as he offered a respectful nod before turning towards the guards stationed nearby.

Boseman sighed, as his gaze returned towards the deceased students.

For although the investigation had finally established which weapon had been responsible for the massacre, the discovery had only deepened the mystery surrounding the person who had wielded it.