Chapter 25: Rules of Moonveil (I)

Elara:

I followed Professor Fenrith through the academy corridors in complete silence.

The further we walked, the more the anger inside me grew instead of fading. Every image from today replayed over and over inside my head - the morning encounter with Reign, the classroom, the laughter, my notebook bursting into flames while everyone found it amusing, Liliana surrounding that terrified human girl with magic as though she were nothing more than an object.

And through every single incident, the professors had done... nothing.

By the time we reached his office, I was already barely holding myself together.

Professor Fenrith opened the door, walked inside, and calmly placed a few books onto his desk before pulling out his chair. He had barely lowered himself into the seat when I was already standing on the opposite side of the desk.

"Why?"

The word came out far louder than I intended. He slowly looked up at me, but his expression remained exactly as calm as it always was. Which somehow only made me angrier.

"Why didn’t you say anything?" I demanded. "You were there. You saw everything. Liliana was bullying that girl right in front of you. You stopped her from using magic on me, but you didn’t say a single word about what she’d been doing to that human student."

He remained silent.

"What kind of academy is this?" My voice continued rising despite my best efforts to control it. "Students walk around threatening people. They set other students’ things on fire during class. They surround terrified girls with magic just because they are bored. And the teachers..." I stared directly at him. "...do absolutely nothing."

Still... nothing. There wasn’t even the slightest change in his expression. No irritation. No guilt. No sympathy. Nothing. I was beginning to hate how calm this man always was.

Did nothing ever affect him?

I’d honestly prefer him to become angry. Or disagree with me. Or tell me to leave. Anything except looking at me with the same composed expression while the world around him burned.

After allowing my words to settle, Professor Fenrith finally spoke, his voice was as calm as ever. "You still have many things to learn about Moonveil Academy. And one of those things..." He folded his hands together atop the desk. "...is that neither the incident during my class this morning, nor the one outside just now... violated academy rules."

For a second, I genuinely thought I’d misheard him.

"What?"

He continued as though he’d merely stated today’s weather. "Students are permitted to use their elemental abilities and magical proficiencies. They are encouraged to refine control through practical application, as long as they do not intentionally cause physical harm."

I stared.

He went on.

"Mr. Ravenshade’s fire illusion this morning never possessed the capacity to burn you."

"It appeared real." I countered.

"It felt real. But it could not physically injure you." He paused for a moment before continuing, "Similarly, Miss Everhart’s illusion techniques were never intended to physically wound the groundling student. Therefore, neither action broke academy regulations."

For several seconds, I couldn’t even process what I’d just heard. Then the disbelief gave way to outrage.

"What exactly do you mean..." I leaned both hands against his desk. "...by ’not physically harm’?" My voice echoed through the office. "What about mentally? What about emotionally? Do those not count here?"

He remained silent.

"So because nobody ends up bleeding, everything else is acceptable?" I shook my head in disbelief. "That girl was terrified. She was shaking. She looked like she was about to collapse." I pointed toward the door. "And all of you just... accept it?"

My breathing had become uneven.

"Why are human students even admitted here?" I demanded. "So your supernatural students can use them as target practice? So they can spend years being mocked and humiliated? What exactly is the point?"

By now, I was practically shouting. The office felt suffocatingly quiet once I finished.

Professor Fenrith allowed the silence to linger before answering. "These human students receive highly selective scholarships to attend Moonveil Academy. And upon graduation, they return to the human world to eventually become politicians, scientists, corporate leaders, military officials, and business executives. They carry with them knowledge unavailable anywhere else. And they also build relationships with influential supernatural families."

I frowned. "What does that have to do with anything?"

"They are informed before enrollment." His eyes met mine. "They are told exactly what kind of society they are entering. They understand the hierarchy. They understand they will be considered weak and a target. They understand the academy’s culture."

He paused briefly before adding, "And despite knowing all of that, they still choose to attend."

My lips parted.

"If they truly believed the price outweighed the reward, they could simply decline the scholarship. But they don’t. And those who enroll... continue through all four years."

His gaze remained steady. "In the long history of this academy, barely a few students have ever withdrawn. And that too not because of some... bullying. Never. So if the students themselves submit no formal complaints... on what grounds should the academy intervene?"

Every argument I’d prepared suddenly disappeared. Because...

What could I even say?

If those students knowingly accepted everything before arriving, if they willingly remained despite enduring it... then...

Where exactly did I fit into the situation?

The office became quiet again. For the first time since entering, I had no immediate response. I looked down at the floor, still trying to process everything Professor Fenrith had told me.

After another long moment, he spoke again. "You should also exercise greater caution."

I didn’t need clarification. I already knew. "You are talking about Reign Valemont."

Professor Fenrith inclined his head slightly as he corrected, "Among others." He then rose from his chair and walked toward the large window overlooking the academy grounds.

"The five noble families occupy the highest position within Starfall’s hierarchy." He spoke without turning around. "Their authority reaches every corner of our society. And the current heirs - Reign Valemont, Esmeray Ashbourne, Kairo Greymark, and Alaric Ravenshade - they stand at the very top of Moonveil Academy’s hierarchy."

He paused for a moment as if to let that settle in.

"They are not merely talented students. They are the future Regents. The future rulers of Starfall."

I remained silent.

He continued, "Miss Liliana Everhart does not belong to one of the Five Noble Families. However, the Everhart family has served the rulers for generations. They remain among Starfall’s most influential old houses."

He finally looked back at me. "My advice would be to avoid unnecessary confrontations with peop-"

"Professor." I interrupted him.

He stopped speaking.

I slowly raised my head. "There is something I’d like to ask."

He nodded once.

"As the sole surviving heir of House Argentis and the Crown Princess of Starfall..." I held his gaze. "Am I... or am I not... at the very top of the hierarchy you just described, whether within the academy or outside it?"

For the first time since I’d met him, Professor Fenrith looked genuinely caught off guard. His lips parted slightly while a faint crease appeared between his brows. Several seconds passed before he finally answered.

"...Yes."

A single nod accompanied the word.

"You are."

I gave a small nod of my own and straightened. "Then, it’s everyone else who should be careful while crossing me. Not the other way around."

Silence settled between us once more.

Without waiting for a response, I stepped back from his desk. "I’m no longer in the mood for a special class today. I’ll see you tomorrow."

I turned toward the office door, and before Professor Fenrith could say another word, I opened the door and walked out, leaving both the office - and today’s lesson - unfinished behind me.