CHAPTER 88: RUMORS TAKE SHAPE

Chapter 88: Rumors Take Shape

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The academy morning felt heavier than usual. Normally the walk from the dormitory to the main halls carried the familiar sounds of chatter and routine, but today there was a different tone to it. Groups of first-year students clustered together in corners, voices lowered but urgent, words slipping quickly from one mouth to the next.

Arios stepped into the corridor with Lucy and Liza trailing beside him. He noticed it immediately. Heads turned, whispers started up when Amelia’s name was mentioned, and then eyes darted away as soon as he looked in their direction.

Lucy frowned, hugging her notebook to her chest. "It’s worse than yesterday. People aren’t even trying to hide it anymore."

Liza’s eyes moved lazily over the crowd, but her tone was sharp. "That’s because the rumor isn’t a rumor anymore. It’s being treated like fact."

"What do you mean?" Lucy asked quickly.

"I overheard it in the common hall this morning. Someone’s already filed an official complaint." Liza leaned against the wall as they walked. "Regulus accused Amelia of sexually assaulting him. He did it in front of the disciplinary board."

Lucy’s steps halted. "What—?! That’s insane! That’s... that’s completely insane!"

Arios didn’t stop walking. His expression didn’t change, but his eyes flicked toward the group of upper-year students gathered nearby. They glanced at him, smirked, and then turned their backs, clearly whispering again.

Arios knew that his frequent visit to Amelia’s office has also tangled him into this mess.

Lucy rushed to catch up. "Why isn’t anyone stopping this? Why aren’t her fellow instructors defending her?"

"Because Amelia doesn’t defend herself," Liza answered simply. "You’ve seen how she acts around students. Cold and distant, even strict. It works against her now. People don’t sympathize with someone who doesn’t try to explain or soften her image."

Lucy bit her lip. "That’s not fair. She’s just doing her job. She doesn’t deserve this."

Fairness didn’t matter in the academy. The atmosphere was proof of it. Once a rumor had enough momentum, it became stronger than the truth.

The three of them reached the lecture wing. Students were gathered at the stairwell, openly discussing the situation now.

"I heard he went to the board right after it happened."

"Of course he did. Can you imagine? A teacher touching a student like that?"

"Regulus looked so shaken when he talked about it. It’s disgusting if it’s true."

"I always knew she was too cold. Probably hiding something all along."

The words were loud enough for everyone to hear. They weren’t whispers anymore.

Then Amelia appeared at the far end of the hall. Her boots echoed against the stone floor, her uniform crisp, her armor pieces polished as always. She walked with the same straight posture she always carried, but the air around her was different. Students went silent as she passed, only to erupt in whispers as soon as her back was turned.

Her expression was unreadable. No hesitation, no visible anger, no visible fear. She walked past them all as though nothing had changed. That cold front was her shield—but it was also what made her look guilty in the eyes of those who already doubted her.

Lucy’s fists clenched. "Why doesn’t she say something? Anything?"

"Because she thinks her silence makes her look strong," Liza muttered. "But it makes her look guilty instead."

Arios’s eyes followed Amelia until she disappeared into the instructor’s office wing. He didn’t say anything, but his jaw tightened slightly, he knew he had to put an end to this.

****

When they entered Class 1-D homeroom, the atmosphere was already tense. Students sat in clusters, some whispering in defense of Amelia, others trading doubts.

Javier was seated near the window, arms folded, looking irritated. "It’s all garbage. Regulus is a snake. He’s making it up. I’ll bet my whole points on it."

A girl across from him shook her head. "You’re biased. She’s strict, sure, but... maybe he’s not lying. Why would he put his reputation on the line for a lie?"

Javier slammed his hand on the desk. "Because he’s Regulus. He doesn’t care about reputation— he only cares about winning. To him this one kind of game, playing with peoples lives."

Another boy muttered, "Still. It’s weird how she hasn’t openly denied any the allegations. Maybe there was something there."

"Don’t say that!" Lucy snapped suddenly. She marched into the middle of the hall, glaring at them. "Amelia would never do something like that! You don’t even know her!"

The boy shrank back slightly, but he didn’t retract his words.

Liza strolled in behind Lucy, tossing her bag onto her desk. "Honestly, Lucy, stop wasting your energy on idiots. People believe what they want to believe."

Lucy turned on her. "So what, we just let them slander her?"

"Yes," Liza said bluntly. "Because it doesn’t matter what we say. If Amelia doesn’t defend herself, our words won’t change anything."

The class split further. Some sided with Lucy’s fiery defense. Others muttered agreement with the doubts. The room buzzed with uneasy energy.

The bell rang, signaling that alchemy class would begin soon. Students reluctantly grabbed their bags and supplies, still whispering as they moved. The rumors didn’t stop; they simply shifted from the homeroom to the hallways as they made their way toward the alchemy wing.

"Do you think she’ll show up to teach today?"

"She has to. If she doesn’t, it’ll make her look worse."

"I heard she might get suspended."

"Suspended? For one complaint? No way... unless the board believes Regulus."

By the time they entered the alchemy lab, the atmosphere was suffocating. The room smelled faintly of herbs and metal from the many experiments. The long tables were lined with glassware and tools. But nobody paid attention to the class setup. All eyes were on the door.

Lucy sat down hard, slamming her bag on the table. "I swear, if anyone says one more thing—"

Liza leaned on her hand, smirking faintly. "Relax. You’ll burn yourself out before class even starts."

Arios took his seat, his gaze still fixed on the door. His was wandering if Amelia would really show up for the class, he was wondering how strong is she.

It all comes down to what she does, Arios thought. But Regulus won’t go out of this easily.

As the minutes ticked by, the murmurs grew louder.

"She’s late. Maybe she’s avoiding us."

"Maybe the board already suspended her."

"No, I saw her earlier. She was heading this way."

"Do you think Regulus will come to this class too, to confront her?"

Lucy clenched her fists under the table. Her face was red with frustration. "How can they talk like this so casually? Like it’s entertainment?"

Liza shrugged. "That’s what rumors are, they’re are just entertainment disguised as judgment."

Then the door opened.

Amelia stepped into the room.

Her armor caught the light, her posture unbroken, her eyes forward. She carried the same aura she always did—calm, cold, unshaken. But the effect was different now. Every whisper in the room turned into sharper suspicion, every glance a little more hostile.

The silence that followed was brief. Then the whispers returned, louder than before.

"There she is..."

"She really showed up."

"Unbelievable..."

Amelia walked to the front of the room, set her notes on the desk, and began arranging the tools without saying a word. Her silence should have made her look strong. Instead, it made her look isolated.

Lucy’s heart ached watching her. Liza’s smirk faded into something unreadable. Arios leaned back in his chair, his expression flat, but his eyes never left Amelia.

Class hadn’t even started yet, but the tension was already at its peak.