Hours passed.
Rin and Taro sat quietly in their cold, dimly lit cells, waiting—hoping—for something.
Taro finally broke the silence.
"What do you think the academy will do to us? Think they even know we're here?"
Rin leaned back, eyes on the ceiling.
"Didn't those student watches have trackers? I bet they already know."
"Yeah…" Taro nodded slowly.
The distant clink of metal grew louder, each echo dragging like a countdown.
Right then, a set of footsteps echoed through the corridor. A knight appeared, keys in hand.
"You two. Come with me."
The heavy doors creaked open. They were cuffed again, led down long stone halls where every step echoed like a drumbeat. Torches flickered against damp stone, casting warped shadows on the walls.
Finally, they reached a room with a single table and two chairs.
The door closed behind them with a thud.
A moment later, a man emerged from the shadows. He wore sleek black armor and a sharp expression.
His voice was calm—but behind it was a coiled pressure, like a sword waiting to swing.
"Hello. My name is Victor," he said calmly, taking a seat across from them. "I'll be the one questioning you today."
Rin and Taro exchanged a quick glance, then turned back to him, tense.
Victor gestured toward Rin.
"Name?"
"...Rin Takashima."
Then to Taro.
"Taro Okabe," he said, guilt thick in his voice.
Victor crossed one leg over the other, folding his arms.
"Do you two know what you did today?"
Silence.
He raised an eyebrow.
"You committed four crimes."
He held up fingers as he counted.
"One: Stealing and threatening a homeless citizen.
Two: Lying to a magic knight—specifically, a commander.
Three: Fleeing from said commander.
And four…"
He leaned forward, voice cold.
"Unauthorized use of magic and attacking a magic knight."
He paused, letting it sink in. The air grew still, like it was waiting for someone to break.
"So, what do you think should happen to you?"
Rin opened his mouth. "We didn't even—"
BANG.
Victor slammed the table hard enough to rattle the room.
Taro stiffened. Rin's jaw clenched, but he forced himself to stay still.
"Silence," he snapped.
"You only speak when I ask you to."
Rin and Taro froze. The temperature in the room seemed to drop ten degrees.
Victor stood up slowly, pushing in his chair.
"We'll talk about your punishment later."
He turned away.
"Dismissed."
Two knights entered, grabbed them by the arms, and escorted them back to their cells.
The silence of their return was heavier than the cuffs around their wrists.
As they were locked in again, Rin sighed.
"We are soooooo fucked."
Taro actually chuckled, leaning against the wall.
"We didn't even last a week at the academy. And we're already here."
Rin smiled faintly. "Yeah. Let's sleep for now. Gather energy. We need to think of a way out of this shit."
Taro nodded.
"Alright. See you tomorrow, man."
...
To be continued...