CHAPTER 32: DANGEROUS SITUATION (2)

"No way, that doesn’t make any sense!" Draco protested instantly, his voice sharp with disbelief.

It was true that the Headmaster of Luminaris Academy was among the most capable men alive. Power-wise, he might not be able to overwhelm Draco in a direct fight, but when it came to knowledge of magic, there was probably no one else in the entire kingdom who could compare. Despite Beast Tamer being his main class, decades of running Luminaris Academy had sharpened his magic to a terrifying degree. Many even said his mastery rivaled the Grand Mages themselves.

And yet... to accuse him of such a crime?

The very thought was outrageous!

After all, Draco knew Elmandir, not as some distant ally, but as a brother closer than even blood. They had grown up together, trained together, bled together, even crawled through the valley of death together in endless battles with the demonic forces. Through trials and victories alike, their bond had never wavered. He was the last person Draco could ever imagine betraying him.

And when it comes to Emilia... Elmandir had always been there for her since the day she was born. He had always treated her like family, like his own niece. There was no way—no possible way—he would ever raise a hand against her.

Not to mention... during the summoning itself, Elmandir had been the one who helped Emilia, even warning Draco about Mimi’s special skill. If not for his intervention, Emilia would have been in grave danger back then. If Elmandir had truly wished her harm, he would not have needed to lift a finger. He could have simply stood by and watched, and Emilia would already be gone.

"Do you... perhaps... have any other evidence?" Draco muttered at last. His eyes narrowed, searching Siamelumis’s face as if trying to find some flaw in her words. "You can’t possibly lay such a crime on Elmandir without solid proof... right?"

"Please, Lord Siamelumis..." Ariana spoke up softly. "I don’t think Elmandir was the one either. I know him very well. He’s not the kind of person to do something like this..."

"Well, I am not saying with absolute certainty that Elmandir did it," Siamelumis replied calmly. "I am only saying... it is a possibility."

"O-okay..." Draco exhaled, forcing himself to settle down a little.

"However..." Siamelumis’s voice grew sharper. "since you demand evidence... let me remind you of something. Think back, Draco. Remember what Elmandir did when you leapt into the summoning circle in your rage... after you noticed the spot that had been tampered with Albinite Shard Dust."

"Huh?" Draco blinked, his brow furrowing. "What he did... when I teleported into the circle?"

"Yes," Siamelumis pressed. "He tried to stop you, didn’t he?"

"Hm... yes. He did try to stop me..." Draco’s voice slowed as he recalled. "But I pushed him away... and even injured his hand..."

A silence fell over the barrier.

Then, almost at the same time, both Draco and Ariana’s eyes widened. They turned toward each other, gasping as the realization struck.

"Oh no..." Draco muttered under his breath.

"Come to think of it... that is suspicious..." Ariana whispered, her face pale.

Because in normal circumstances—even in the heat of his rage—Draco knew it was nearly impossible that a simple shove would have created such a violent blast, one strong enough to wound Elmandir.

But such a thing was possible under one condition: the presence of Albinite Shard Dust.

With its mana-disruptive nature, even the faintest trace of the dust could cause violent reactions—explosions, sparks, or worse—when touched by magic. If Elmandir had indeed tampered with the summoning circle using those shards, then the dust might have clung to his hand. And when Draco’s flames struck him, the particles could have ignited, unleashing that explosion.

"Of course," Siamelumis added calmly. "It could also have been nothing more than your own fury making you struck harder than you realized in the heat of the moment."

"Yeah..." Draco admitted with a long sigh. His shoulders slumped, though his expression only grew heavier. "That moment happened so fast, I can barely remember it clearly... But..." He clenched his fists. "You’re right, Lord Siamelumis. Elmandir does seem suspicious after all."