Chapter 130: Punishment

June was aware that the power to tamper with someone's emotions is possible. There was probably no better than her to know it. She was a mind mage. Emotion manipulations, compulsion, mind reading all these were her powers, not that she had used any of them in the last twenty years on anyone else but herself.

Yet, when Warden told her that someone was tampering with his emotions, she could only blurt out, "What?"

Warden did not reply, as even standing straight became a challenge under the pressure. While June's eyes moved towards the unfamiliar people in the room, she could not help but turn to the demure, frail figure behind Torin Walt.

Is he the culprit? She questioned and let her mental awareness flow in the room.

Immediately, she caught on to something a wisp of mental energy, the primal kind that used to riot: rage, fury, and all raw emotions. It was so thin that it disappeared into that demure figure before she could even latch on to it.

June proceeded to think quickly about what to do about this Ranker. She considered jamming his mind with a sharp mental attack, giving him an experience of the same medicine. He was a silver ranker too, so she wouldn't have to worry about impairing his mental faculties all too much.

However, before she could even master her attack, she found Warden's figure flying out to crash into the walls. The defensive formations of the wall, lit in golden shimmer immediately, protecting the wall from its destruction. But it provided no protection to the guy who crashed into it.

"I have allowed you to explain yourself," Elder Pavlov said. "However, I failed to assume people like you'd appreciate such favour. You might have the gift, potential to become something great, but you are nothing but a rabid beast imprisoned by its own hunger for violence. Do you think every problem needs to be solved with violence? No. I won't give you another chance to explain yourself."

Warden looked like he wanted to say something, gritting his jaws with everything as his eyes fired purple shimmering light. However, under the full pressure of a peak gold ranker, he was unable to move away even an inch, much less talk.

"Elder," June said urgently. "This is not right. There is tampering with—"

"Silence!" Elder Pavlov spat at her, freezing her in her spot. "We have been kind to you for our noble background, but you cannot force our hand after this. I have given you a fair chance. You can't ask for anything more after the sheer disrespect to the authority."

June bit her lips. She looked around the office, trying to make a connection with the only person who might be able to save them from this disastrous staged court. To her surprise, Elder Vess let her make the telepathic link while showing no surprise on her face.

"Elder Vess," she said through the telepathic link. "That short guy behind Torin Walt incited Warden's emotions for him to be disrespectful. In all fairness, we cannot—"

Elder Vess sighed. "Are you sure of that?" Saying that, her eyes wandered up to the demure figure, studying him perceptibly. "Oh, yes," June said.

"Unfortunately, you can do nothing to prove that," Elder Vess said. "The House Walt is vicious against any kind of foe. Idiots, they have come prepared, I assumed. Coupled with the fact that they have some standing with our academy, I fear I cannot help much with this open court, but—"

"If Warden kept his mouth shut, I would be able to make sure Elder Pavlov did not become strict with his punishment. But now, poor Warden has to face the self-centred, righteous vindication of the authority."

"Take your credits," Warden said, as June went on to ask for Torin Walt's badge to transfer the credit.

"I'll take that," the frail man said, bringing out an arcane society badge. "I promise I'll keep the young master on his best behaviour from now on. You don't have to worry about anything."

Warden narrowed his eyes at the frail-looking man. "What is your name?"

The frail man tossed the badge after taking the ten thousand credits. "Name? I don't have one," he said with a sadistic laugh. "Though they tend to call me Ghost."

Warden nodded slowly. "I'll take your word for it, Ghost," he said. "Because I'll kill you and your noble ass young master, consequences be damned. I promise you that"

"Scary," Ghost said, visibly shuddering and swallowing his breath. He seemed to be taking pleasure in the blatant threat for a moment, not even thinking about his young master. But then, in the next moment, his posture became all serious as he turned to Torin Walt. "Come on, Young Master. I cannot let you die of your foolishness now."

"Shut up, what do you think you are? I'll—" Torin Walt burst into an uproar, but Ghost put only a hand on his shoulder to silence him. He literally pulled Torin Walt with him, who did his best to struggle but to no avail.

Warden watched them go, the rage still present in his eyes.

"I'm sorry," June said, biting her lips.

"It's not your fault," Warden's face softened somewhat as his gaze lingered on the blood on her lips.

"Still, I'm a mind mage, if I could have just—"

Warden shook his head. "You're fair, June. Just. Too pure to understand what kind of schemes people come up with in their darkened heart."

June closed her eyes, wondering why she had to be consoled by the fellow who had been wronged. It should have been her to give him that. But she failed. She just—

"Hey, June, can you help me with something?"

She opened her eyes and nodded.

"I'll need some more credits and your help to prepare tomorrow."