"The lady from the replay framed him," Anita said, her voice steady but calm, standing tall despite the tension in the air.
The entire room froze.
Everyone turned to look at her, the small white-haired girl whose words now challenged everything that had just been said. Her glasses caught the light, hiding her eyes, but her voice didn’t waver.
Across the room, Nellyx’s expression shifted. Her sharp eyes narrowed, lips curling into a smirk of disbelief.
"That’s not possible," she said, pointing to Kieran. "Because this young man here also killed her."
Her words dropped like a stone in a still lake. The weight behind them was heavy—accusatory and sharp.
Kieran didn’t flinch, but he felt the weight of every stare turning back to him.
"I ran a full diagnostic of the school grounds," Nellyx continued, her tone clipped and precise. "I triple-checked everything to make sure I didn’t miss a thing."
She took a slow step forward, her coat swaying behind her like a cape, her boots making a light thud on the ground. She turned her sharp eyes on Kieran again.
"Miss Jane left the Awakening Hall immediately after the ceremony. Seconds later, this boy followed her. Am I wrong?"
Everyone turned to Kieran.
He nodded once. "That’s true."
Nellyx smiled faintly, confidence blooming in her voice. "It was during that tiny window—less than a minute—that he killed her and disposed of the body. And somehow, he also managed to erase the academy’s security footage."
She paused for effect, then added, "Quite the multitasker, isn’t he?"
Kieran let out a dry, bitter laugh. "And you really think that’s possible?"
Before Nellyx could respond, a soft voice cut through the room like a blade.
It was Oma. Though she spoke gently, there was something chilling underneath her tone. Her hand rested near the dagger on her waist—too close for comfort.
Kieran met her eyes, his voice low and firm. "So I’m just supposed to shut up and take the blame for something I didn’t do?"
Oma stepped forward, her fingers twitching toward the dagger, but Nellyx lifted her hand quickly.
"Oma," she said firmly, "calm down. Not yet. Let’s wait until he’s actually caught."
Even Kieran understood the message—she wasn’t letting him off the hook. Not yet. But they hadn’t made their move either, which meant he still had time.
Nellyx turned back to Anita. "You had something more to say?"
Anita gave a small nod and stepped forward again, pushing her glasses up the bridge of her nose.
"I do. But before I continue... do you have any more information about Miss Jane? Aside from her job title."
Nellyx answered without hesitation. "She was the school nurse. She handled health-related matters and taught a few minor medical courses."
"That’s it?" Anita asked, her voice calm, but the question hung heavy.
Nellyx hesitated. Her lips pressed together in thought. Then she made a subtle hand motion, and Oma stepped closer.
They whispered for a moment—brief, hushed words. Kieran stood still, watching with cautious eyes.
After a few seconds, Oma stepped back, and Nellyx faced Anita again.
"No official background check was ever done. We only confirmed her abilities before she was hired."
"Only her abilities?" Anita echoed, her voice softer now.
Nellyx nodded once, though her eyes now carried the weight of uncertainty.
Anita turned to Jacob. He gave her a small nod.
Without hesitation, Anita walked toward Nellyx. Oma instinctively stepped forward to block her—but Nellyx raised a hand.
Her eyes flicked briefly toward Jacob. Her expression was unreadable, but her thoughts were clear. ’They came here alone. He’s not stupid enough to try anything.’
Anita stopped in front of Nellyx, pausing for just a second before placing her hand gently on the woman’s head.
"I can try to explain what I’ve seen," she said quietly. "But it’ll be easier if I show you."
Nellyx gave her a long, searching look—then slowly closed her eyes.
Almost immediately, a soft blue glow pulsed around her. Thin streams of blue light curled around her body like threads of silk, glowing gently in the dim light. Her white hair floated slightly, swaying with the subtle energy she was releasing.
Kieran watched silently. This was the second time he had seen Anita use her ability. And once again, something about it felt... wrong.
’This energy... it’s not like mine,’ he thought, eyes narrowing.
’Alexa, what’s going on? Why does her energy feel off?’
Her voice echoed in his mind like a whisper in a cave.
"They use mana, Kieran. It’s the energy of the world, something anyone can gather. But your power—it’s called Aetheris. It’s divine. Sacred. Humans can’t access it... not unless they’ve been touched by divinity."
Kieran blinked slowly, the answer settling in his heart like a heavy stone.
Anita’s glow grew stronger.
Then she whispered, "{Transfer}."
A zap of energy rushed through Nellyx’s head. Her eyes flew open, but she didn’t move.
Images, thoughts, sounds—everything poured into her mind at once.
One with Kieran trailing behind Jane. The other—showing Jane’s body shifting and transforming. Her skin rippling, hair turning darker, face changing completely.
She was a shapeshifter.
Or had someone working with her.
The evidence was too clear to ignore.
Slowly, Nellyx opened her eyes, breath shaky. Anita’s hand dropped away as the girl stumbled backward, clearly drained.
"She couldn’t have done everything you said," Anita said softly. "Not in that little time. Kieran couldn’t be in two places at once."
Nellyx pressed her fingers to her temples. Her head throbbed, but not from the transfer—it was the weight of her mistake that caused the ache.
She looked up just as Anita collapsed.
But Jacob was faster. He stepped in and caught her before she hit the floor.
"Mana depletion," he said gently. "She pushed herself too far."
He laid her gently on the couch, brushing a strand of hair from her forehead.
Nellyx watched, her face calm, but her hands trembled slightly at her sides.
"She’s still young," she muttered. "Her mana pool is too small for extended use."
Jacob smiled faintly. "She’s done well. Let her rest."
Nellyx turned toward Kieran, her gaze cool and unreadable.
"I saw what she shared with me. Her ability is impressive. It’s believable, even. But..."
She let her words hang in the air.
"It’s not enough to wipe away every doubt."
Kieran tensed, heart pounding. He thought she was about to order his arrest.
But Nellyx calmly reached for her water, took a small sip, and placed the glass back down.
"Still," she said finally, "I’ll let you go. For now."
The tension in the room seemed to loosen slightly—but it didn’t disappear.
She leaned forward, folding her hands on the desk.
"But before you leave..."
Her eyes met his, sharp and deliberate.
"...Let’s make a deal."