Murder at the Academy
Murder at the Academy
—Behind this door await five of my finest students. All of them are children of the highest aristocracy in our Empire. And one of them, as much as it pains me to say it... is a murderer.
The elderly director fiddles with the frame of his glasses, falling silent for a moment. A shadow flits across his wrinkled face.
—Forgive me for summoning you in the middle of the day, for pulling you away from your work so urgently, but please understand, this matter cannot wait... Kai Marukuda was a ward of the well-known Count Marukuda. He was an adopted son, but he was inscribed in the County's Family Book and was thus an official member of the lineage... I became very worried when I learned that this diligent freshman had not attended his classes. At first, I thought it was a trifle, and decided to find out where he was merely out of respect for his adoptive father, but when it became clear that no one knew his whereabouts... — Kant sighs heavily, his voice trembling — I found Kai only with the help of a magical artifact, with a hole in his heart from a thin blade. In a secret room, accessible only through the Student Council office. The Student Council office is always locked to outsiders, and there were no signs of forced entry on the doors or windows, which means the body of the poor boy... was hidden by one of those I have gathered for you in this room.
Elycius Kant pushes the door open sharply and commands the five young people to introduce themselves. A very sturdy, blond young man steps forward first.
—Ruan Omel. Fourth year, Knightly Studies. Thank you for your prompt arrival! — The youth strikes his chest with his fist in a bravado gesture.
—Ginny Gloriann. Vice President of the Student Council. Third year, Faculty of Public Administration. — A young woman adjusts her glasses, clutching folders to her chest as if they were a shield capable of protecting her from anything.
A dark-haired youth sitting on the table stands up, leaning forward to peer into your face with interest.
—I have been the keeper of our wonderful Academy's library for three years now, darling. A pleasure to meet you. Linney Paris.
—Pay no mind to this familiar little bookworm; everyone in the Alchemy Faculty is like this, especially his third-year group... — A somber, gaunt girl huffs, tugging Linney by the shoulder. — I am Rosa Albigötz. Faculty of Divine Logos, second year.
The last of the five Student Council members rises from her chair, walking slowly toward you. She stops almost flush against you, pinning you with her gaze.
—Genecea Marukuda. Ruan's classmate and the Student Council Treasurer. And also—the cousin of the murdered Kai Marukuda... And you, I presume, are the detective our dear Director summoned? And what, pray tell, is the great investigator's name? Are you an aristocrat? Or by what right do you come to accuse any of us?