The Villian Who Broke The Story

For several seconds after Kael’s answer, nobody in the room said anything.

The silence was almost uncomfortable.

Kael looked from one person to another, waiting for somebody to react.

Nothing.

He scratched the side of his head.

”Was that answer really that bad?”

George slowly lowered the papers in his hands.

”No.”

Kael nodded.

”Good.”

”It was worse.”

Kael’s expression dropped.

”Ah.”

A quiet laugh came from one of the beast-kin.

The girl covered her mouth almost immediately, but her brother didn’t bother hiding his amusement.

Cairo sighed.

”This is going to be a long year.”

Kael smiled.

”So, I take it I’m officially part of the committee now?”

”Unfortunately.”

”Great.”

Cairo rubbed his forehead.

”Before you get too excited, you’re still a student. Being my Protégé doesn’t mean you can ignore your classes whenever you feel like it.”

Kael’s smile became slightly awkward.

”About that...”

”I don’t want to hear it.”

Kael shut his mouth.

The room returned to its usual rhythm.

Papers moved.

The magical recording device continued humming.

Someone turned a page.

Lynx had already returned to his seat and appeared to be halfway asleep again.

Kael looked around.

Now that the interrogation was over, he finally had the opportunity to properly look at the people he’d be working with.

There were five members in total, including Cairo.

Cairo was obviously the head.

Lynx was the strange Dark Elf who seemed to spend more time sleeping than working.

Then there were the two beast-kin twins.

The girl had long brown hair tied behind her head, with a pair of fox-like ears sticking through it. Her golden eyes were sharp and alert, constantly moving around the room as if she were always looking for something.

Her brother looked almost identical at first glance, though his hair was shorter and his ears were slightly darker.

He had a larger build than his sister and carried a pair of curved daggers around his waist.

Cairo pointed toward them.

”Since you complained about the introduction earlier, let’s do this properly.”

The girl stood first.

”My name is Mira.”

She pointed at her brother.

”That’s Miko.”

Miko raised two fingers.

”Don’t confuse us.”

Kael stared at them.

”You literally have almost the same face.”

Mira’s eye twitched.

”We’re twins.”

”That explains it.”

”It really doesn’t.”

Kael nodded thoughtfully.

”Fair.”

Miko laughed.

”He’s weird.”

”You’ve known me for less than five minutes.”

”And I’ve already reached my conclusion.”

Kael looked impressed.

”That’s efficient.”

Mira sighed.

”Don’t encourage him.”

Cairo pointed toward the Dark Elf.

”You already know Lynx.”

Lynx opened one eye.

”Unfortunately.”

Kael grinned.

”You seem happy to see me.”

”I was happier before you arrived.”

”That’s hurtful.”

Lynx closed his eye again.

Kael turned toward the last member.

A young man sat near the window.

He had dark hair, a sturdy frame, and a small metal plate attached to the shoulder of his uniform. Unlike the others, he looked almost painfully serious.

He closed the book in his hands and stood.

”George.”

Kael waited.

George looked at him.

”That’s it?”

”That’s it.”

Kael nodded.

”I respect the efficiency.”

George sat back down.

Cairo looked at Kael.

”George is an Earth Mage. He’s responsible for most of the committee’s defensive formations and several of our investigation tools.”

Kael looked toward the piles of papers around the room.

”So he’s the responsible one.”

George frowned.

”I’m surrounded by idiots.”

Miko pointed toward Lynx.

”He’s not wrong.”

Lynx didn’t respond.

Kael laughed.

For some reason, the group was beginning to make sense.

They were all completely different.

Cairo was serious and calculating.

George seemed like the type who would rather solve a problem than discuss it.

Mira was observant.

Miko was much more relaxed.

And Lynx...

Kael glanced at the sleeping Dark Elf.

He wasn’t sure what Lynx was.

But he was definitely strange.

Cairo walked toward one of the tables and picked up a folded piece of black fabric.

”Enough introductions.”

He tossed it toward Kael.

Kael caught it.

He unfolded the fabric.

It was a black jacket.

The academy’s emblem was stitched onto the chest, but beside it was another symbol.

A silver insignia representing the Disciplinary Committee.

Kael examined it.

”This is our uniform?”

”Your committee attire.”

Kael put it against himself.

”Looks pretty good.”

Miko smirked.

”You’ll look better once you stop looking like a student who wandered into the wrong room.”

Kael looked down at his academy uniform.

”That’s fair.”

Cairo picked up something else.

A small metal emblem floated toward Kael.

He caught it between two fingers.

The insignia was heavier than it looked.

It contained the academy’s crest surrounded by a thin silver ring.

Kael turned it over.

His expression became slightly more serious.

”This is the committee emblem?”

”Yes.”

”Does it have any magical function?”

George answered this time.

”It identifies your authority as a member of the committee. It also allows you to access certain areas of the academy restricted to ordinary students.”

Kael’s eyes brightened.

”Restricted areas?”

Cairo immediately pointed at him.

”Don’t get any ideas.”

Kael’s expression became innocent.

”I wasn’t thinking anything.”

”You were.”

”I wasn’t.”

”You absolutely were.”

Mira laughed quietly.

Miko shook his head.

”I think we’re going to regret letting him in.”

Kael attached the emblem to his uniform.

The silver badge clicked into place.

For some reason, seeing it there felt different.

It wasn’t just another academy achievement.

It was a position.

A responsibility.

And, more importantly, an opportunity.

Kael had wanted access to the Disciplinary Committee for reasons beyond simply joining another student organization.

There were things happening within the academy.

The Velvet Gang.

Sean’s death.

The strange incident during the tournament.

The symbol that had appeared on his body.

The people who seemed to know more about him than they should.

Being inside the committee meant he could investigate without constantly having to explain why he was asking questions.

Cairo watched him quietly.

”You seem pleased.”

Kael looked up.

”I am.”

”Why?”

Kael shrugged.

”I like knowing what’s going on.”

Cairo studied him.

That answer wasn’t entirely convincing.

But it wasn’t a lie either.

”Then remember this. The committee isn’t a place for you to satisfy your curiosity. People depend on us.”

Kael nodded.

”I understand.”

Cairo’s expression softened slightly.

”Good.”

For once, Kael didn’t make a joke.

The others noticed.

Mira looked at him differently.

Perhaps she had expected another ridiculous answer.

George returned to his paperwork.

Miko leaned back in his chair.

Lynx remained asleep.

The atmosphere slowly returned to normal.

Kael stayed for another hour.

He learned how the committee operated.

They handled student disputes, investigated suspicious incidents, monitored dangerous areas, and occasionally assisted teachers with matters that couldn’t be left to ordinary students.

Kael quickly discovered something else.

The committee had access to an absurd amount of information.

Reports.

Dueling records.

Dungeon records.

Student profiles.

Incident reports.

The academy’s internal archives.

He had to resist the urge to start reading everything.

Cairo noticed.

”Don’t.”

Kael looked away from a stack of files.

”I didn’t say anything.”

”You were looking at them.”

”I was appreciating the organization.”

”Kael.”

”Fine.”

Miko snorted.

”He really does have no shame.”

Kael pointed toward him.

”You’ll learn to appreciate it.”

”I doubt it.”

Eventually, Cairo dismissed him.

”You should go back to your dormitory.”

Kael stood.

”Already?”

”You’ve been here for hours.”

”I thought being a Protégé meant I was supposed to stay here all day.”

”Being a Protégé means learning how the committee works, not abandoning your education.”

Kael sighed.

”Fine.”

He adjusted the new jacket around his shoulders.

The black attire fit surprisingly well.

He checked the silver emblem one last time.

It looked strange on him.

Not bad.

Just unfamiliar.

Kael reached the doorway.

Mira waved.

”See you tomorrow.”

Miko gave him a lazy salute.

”Try attending class.”

George didn’t look up.

”Don’t skip your lectures.”

Lynx opened one eye.

”Don’t wake me.”

Kael smiled.

”Don’t worry. I’ll try my best to disappoint all of you equally.”

Miko laughed.

Cairo shook his head.

”Just leave.”

Kael stepped outside.

The door closed behind him.

For a moment, he stood in the hallway.

He looked down at the silver emblem.

His first day as a member of the Disciplinary Committee.

Not exactly what he’d expected.

But it could work.

Kael started walking toward his dormitory.

The academy corridors were quieter now.

Most students had already returned to their rooms.

He passed several students who noticed the new emblem on his uniform.

Their expressions changed.

Some whispered.

Others simply moved aside.

Kael hadn’t expected the emblem to carry that much weight.

He scratched his cheek.

”This is going to be annoying.”

He continued walking.

Then he heard a familiar voice behind him.

”Kael?”

He stopped.

That voice was unmistakable.

Kael slowly turned around.

Charlotte stood several steps behind him.

She looked at the emblem first.

Then at the black jacket.

Then back at Kael.

Her eyebrows rose.

”You joined the Disciplinary Committee?”

Kael smiled.

”Apparently.”

Charlotte stared at him.

”How did you even manage that?”

Kael shrugged.

”Long story.”

Charlotte walked closer, clearly curious.

”Well, I have time.”

Kael sighed.

He had a feeling his walk back to the dormitory was about to take much longer than expected.

Charlotte looked at the committee emblem again.

”So, what exactly happened?”

Kael smiled.

”Where do I even start?”