The Tamer Monarch
Chapter 51: Meeting

Chapter 51: Meeting

The silence lingered between them, stretching taut with uncertainty. Each passing second gnawed at Athar’s courage, and he felt the ground beneath his hopes start to crack.

But then Angelica gently placed her hand back on his shoulder.

She leaned in slightly, closing the distance between them.

"It does not matter, Athar," she said softly.

His eyes widened. The tension that had coiled like iron in his chest loosened all at once. His shoulders sagged, and a quiet, overwhelming sense of comfort swept through him. His breath hitched. The minute hope he had was turning into reality.

"You did nothing wrong," she added, her voice steady. "Standing up against those who push and exploit you takes more courage than most people will ever understand."

"And you do not need to worry," she continued. "Go to your room. Focus on your training. Focus on what matters."

She smiled gently.

"This issue would not bother you again," she said. "Your master will handle it."

"Yes, Master," was all Athar could whisper.

Then he turned and bolted down the corridor. His eyes had turned moist, and he did not want her to see them.

He was not sure if it was relief or something deeper, but the emotion overwhelmed him. This was the first time in his life someone had stood up for him. The first time someone had looked at him not as a tool, not as a pawn, not as a liability but as someone worth protecting.

That feeling, that feeling of knowing someone had his back it was new. And it was everything.

Two days passed in the blink of an eye, and Athar was no longer burdened by worry.

He had completely let go of his tension and devoted himself fully to mastering mana sense and advancing his cultivation technique. For the first time in his life, he felt truly at peace.

And with that calm state of mind came astonishing progress. He was now likely only a day or two away from forming a stable connection with natural mana.

Athar was practicing diligently in one of the training rooms, immersed in sensing the faint threads of ambient mana, unaware of the storm brewing elsewhere.

At the same time, in Block A of the academy, a quiet tension hummed through the corridors.

It was the scheduled time for the weekly instructors’ meeting, and over two dozen teachers had gathered in a high ceiling chamber around a long rectangular table.

The room buzzed with subdued conversation of the teachers’ having conversation among themselves.

At the head of the table sat the headmaster, presiding over the assembly with a composed yet imposing presence.

Edward, the headmaster, lightly struck the wooden table with his palm silencing the entire room.

"I believe it is time we begin the meeting," Edward said.

As tradition dictated, the first half-hour was spent discussing standard matters. Student progress, syllabus completion, infrastructure concerns, and the recently concluded camp and student performance therein. Only after those routine issues were addressed did more serious topics come to the fore.

"Quint," Edward said, shifting the tone of the meeting, "is there any progress on the investigation regarding the injury of one of our students?"

Quint, the academy’s disciplinary head, instinctively exchanged a glance with Vale an exchange that did not go unnoticed by Edward or the other teachers.

"Headmaster," Quint began, "I have made some progress, but I will need a couple more days before I can come to any substantial conclusion."

"I believe it is better to keep my findings under wraps until then," he added with a measured tone.

"I see," Edward murmured. His face betrayed no emotion, but the atmosphere in the room thickened. Everyone present could sense something was off. And if Vale was involved... there was only one conclusion. That the extortion business was involved. And no one wanted to meddle in their business.

A cold, sharp voice sliced through the silence.

"What is the reason you want to keep things under wrap?" It was Angelica.

All eyes turned. It was rare for Angelica to speak during these meetings rarer still for her to question protocol.

Edward had indeed asked her to assist with the investigation, but she had taken no part in it. She had left for the camp, and upon returning, had not shown the slightest interest. Quint, for his part, had preferred it that way, free of interference in his style of work.

Quint frowned.

"Miss Angelica," he said, voice tight with disapproval, "I am the Disciplinary Head. Certain matters require a certain method. The headmaster entrusted me with this responsibility, and since you have remained uninvolved for the last ten days, I do not see why you have suddenly taken an interest."

"Are you sure you’re handling this as a teacher of this academy... and not as someone else’s bootlicker?" Her voice rang out again, calm, but cutting like ice.

The word dropped like a hammer.

’Bootlicker.’ The silence in the room shattered. Teachers stiffened. Whispers rose like wind through dry leaves.

Though Angelica had directed her words at Quint, her eyes were dead fixed on Vale. And now, the dots began to connect, her accusation was aimed squarely at him.

Vale felt the burn of attention shift. His fists clenched. So, the boy had told her everything.

He had considered that possibility, but he had not cared. Not that he cared now. To him, Angelica was not something that he would take seriously.

With a snarl, Vale slammed his fist on the table. The sound cracked through the room.

"Stay out of things that do not concern you, Angelica," he snapped. His face was flushed with fury. The disrespect she had shown he would not stand for it.

But Angelica remained impassive. Calm. Composed.

She leaned forward slightly.

"You threatened my student," she said softly. "You forced him to go with you on the pretence of submitting a quota. You accused him of murder. You ignored the fact that he is my personal disciple. And you tell me to stay out of this business?"

Gasps spread across the room. Teachers turned to one another, whispering. Some sat frozen. Vale’s eyes narrowed.

"You are overstepping, Angelica," he growled. "You do not have the qualifications to question me."

"If Athar is guilty of murdering Dervin, no one will be able to save him. The Boss would not allow it."

The air stilled. That name, Boss, sent a chill through the chamber. Every teacher had heard and knew about that man.

His deeds were well known and he was a famous figure. But no one spoke of him. Not openly. He was a phantom that loomed over the academy, a shadow in plain sight that everyone pretended not to see.

And now Vale had invoked him. Even Edward who had been watching everything unfolding calmly stiffened.

"Even the academy does not dare oppose him," Vale sneered. "What makes you think you can interfere?"

"Qualifications?" she said. "You question who I am to interfere in what he wants to do?"

Her voice, quiet yet razor-sharp, cut through the tension like a blade. Her gaze did not waver. Her words were slow. Measured. Dangerous.

And in the next breath, the truth was coming.

.

.

.

[Thank you for reading. Rate, Review and Comment on my novel. Also send the power stones]

Search the lightnovelworld.cc website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.