The Villian Who Broke The Story

The Disciplinary Committee’s headquarters had become strangely familiar to Kael over the past week.

He pushed the door open and walked inside with Charlotte following behind him.

Cairo was the first person to notice them.

His eyes moved from Kael to Charlotte, then back to Kael.

He immediately looked tired.

"What is this planning to do this time around."

Kael placed a hand against his chest.

"That’s a terrible way to welcome your newest potential recruit."

Charlotte stopped behind him.

"Potential?"

Kael turned around.

"You haven’t officially joined yet."

"You dragged me here without asking me first."

"Ignore the minor details."

Charlotte stared at the back of his head visibly annoyed but at the same time immediately gave it’s not like she could stop Kael if she wanted.

Cairo rubbed his temple.

"Kael, what exactly have you brought me?"

"My friend."

"That doesn’t answer my question Kael."

"Well he seems angry."Kael thought with a mischievous smile.

"My friend who needs a place in the academy."

Charlotte raised a finger.

"I can speak for myself."

Kael glanced back at her.

"Go ahead."

Charlotte opened her mouth, paused, then lowered her hand.

"...I don’t actually know what I’m supposed to say." She said a bit shy.

Kael nodded with a smirk.

"See? You’re already adapting."

Cairo sighed.

The other members of the committee had begun paying attention.

Lynx was lying across one of the couches with his eyes half closed struggling between sleeping and not sleeping.

The two beast-kin twins sat at the table, one cleaning his weapon while the other was sorting through several documents.

George was surrounded by papers.

Jace was leaning against the wall with his arms crossed.

Charlotte looked around the room.

"So these are the people I’m apparently supposed to work with?"

Cairo nodded.

"Eventually."

Kael walked over to one of the empty chairs and sat down.

"Well, since you’re all going to be colleagues, you might as well get acquainted."

One of the beast-kin twins looked at Charlotte.

"I’m Tarek."

His twin looked up.

"And I’m Talia."

Charlotte blinked.

"You really are twins."

Talia frowned.

"That’s usually what happens when you’re twins and can’t you see the resemblance."

Kael snorted.

Charlotte covered her mouth.

George glanced up from his documents.

"I’m George."

Jace gave her a short nod.

"Jace you don’t really need to know more about your upperclassmen."

Charlotte nodded politely.

Then she looked toward the couch.

Lynx was already asleep.

She stared at him.

"Is he always like that?"

Kael answered immediately.

"Yes and you can take this opportunity to paint his face it’s tradition."

Cairo corrected him "No we don’t do that it’s only something the upperclassmen can do." He said with a smile.

"Unfortunately."

Lynx opened one eye.

"I heard that."

"Ohh you’re awake," Cairo said.

Lynx closed his eye again.

"And I finally figured out the reason I always wake up with paint on my face."

Charlotte stared.

She slowly looked toward Kael.

"Are you sure this is the Disciplinary Committee?"

Kael shrugged.

"Nobody said it was normal."

That earned a small laugh from Talia.

Even Cairo’s expression softened.

The atmosphere was noticeably different from what Charlotte had expected.

She had imagined a strict group of students constantly discussing rules and punishing offenders.

Instead, they seemed like a collection of completely different people who had somehow been placed in the same room.

Cairo eventually stood.

"Enough fooling around. Charlotte, you said you were interested in joining?"

Charlotte nodded.

"I didn’t exactly say that."

Kael pointed toward her.

"She said yes."

"I did not."

"You followed me here."

"Because you wouldn’t stop walking."

"Same thing."

Charlotte looked at Cairo.

"I suppose I am interested."

Cairo studied her.

"Then there’s one thing you should know. Joining the Disciplinary Committee isn’t simply about wearing the uniform. You’ll eventually be expected to take missions, investigate incidents, and deal with students who don’t particularly care about academy rules."

Charlotte nodded.

"I understand."

Cairo looked toward Kael.

"And you’ll be working alongside him."

Charlotte’s face tightened.

"I know."

Kael smiled.

"She sounds excited."

"I’m reconsidering."

"Too late."

Cairo sighed again.

Then a voice came from behind them.

"She’ll be fine."

Everyone turned.

Lynx had finally sat up.

He rubbed his eyes.

Charlotte looked at him.

"Why?"

Lynx stared at her for several seconds.

"Because you look more responsible than him."

Kael pointed at himself.

"Why am I catching strays?"

"Because you deserve them."

Talia laughed.

Cairo shook his head.

"Enough."

He reached into a drawer and removed a small black emblem.

"This belongs to you if you’re serious."

Charlotte stared at it.

The emblem carried the insignia of the Disciplinary Committee.

She accepted it carefully.

For a moment, she didn’t speak.

Then she smiled.

"I’ll do my best."

Kael leaned back.

"Congratulations."

Charlotte looked at him.

"You’re surprisingly supportive."

"Don’t get used to it."

She rolled her eyes.

Elsewhere

The principal’s office was quiet.

Stella stood beside the large window, looking down at the academy grounds.

The principal sat behind his desk, reviewing several documents.

Eventually, he placed them aside.

"Stella."

She turned.

"Yes?"

"How is Kael doing?"

Stella immediately sighed.

"That’s a loaded question."

The principal smiled.

"Why?"

"Because he’s Kael."

The principal chuckled.

"Fair enough."

Stella walked toward the desk.

"He’s stronger than he was before the tournament. Much stronger, actually. But he’s still lazy."

"Still?"

"Absolutely."

The principal smiled.

"I suppose some things never change."

Stella folded her arms.

"You seem unusually interested in him."

The principal leaned back.

"He’s one of the most unusual students we’ve had in years."

"You’ve said that about several students."

"Not like him."

Stella became quiet.

The principal looked at her.

"You’ve been watching him longer than most of the teachers."

"Because you asked me to."

"I asked you to keep an eye on him. I didn’t ask you to become his babysitter."

Stella frowned.

"He’s not exactly easy to supervise."

"I know."

There was a brief silence.

Then Stella sighed.

"Father, you’re worrying too much."

The principal smiled.

There it was.

The relationship neither of them openly discussed around the academy.

Stella was his daughter.

Not simply a teacher he trusted.

Not simply one of the academy’s instructors.

His daughter.

"Maybe I am," the principal admitted.

Stella sat down opposite him.

"What exactly are you worried about?"

"Kael has changed too quickly."

"He has."

"His growth doesn’t follow any ordinary pattern."

Stella nodded.

"I know."

"And now he’s been noticed by Xavier."

That made Stella’s expression serious.

"That’s what concerns me too."

The principal looked toward the window.

"Xavier doesn’t take disciples casually."

"I know."

"And if Xavier is interested in Kael..."

Stella finished the thought.

"...then something about Kael has caught his attention."

Neither spoke for a while.

Finally, Stella stood.

"I’ll keep watching him."

The principal smiled.

"I know you will."

She reached the door.

Then stopped.

"Father?"

"Hm?"

"Don’t interfere too much."

The principal raised an eyebrow.

"Why?"

"Because Kael hates being controlled."

A faint smile appeared on her face.

"And honestly, I want to see what he does when nobody is holding his hand."

The principal laughed.

"That sounds like something my daughter would say."

Stella left.

The principal looked back toward the academy.

"Kael Draven..."

By late afternoon, Kael and Charlotte had finished their discussion with the Student Council President.

Charlotte had officially been accepted as Lynx’s protégé.

It was an arrangement that surprised Kael.

He had expected someone else to take interest in her.

Instead, Lynx had apparently agreed almost immediately.

The student council had also formally acknowledged Charlotte’s connection to the Disciplinary Committee.

As they walked back through the academy grounds, Charlotte seemed quieter than usual.

Kael noticed.

"What’s wrong?"

"Nothing."

"That’s a lie."

She glanced at him.

"You notice too much."

"I’ve been told."

Charlotte looked ahead.

Then she remembered something.

"Oh, right."

Kael looked at her.

"What?"

"The semester party."

Kael stopped walking.

"What party?"

Charlotte stared at him.

"You’re joking."

"No."

"It’s the end of the first semester."

"I know."

"Then you should know there’s a party."

"I didn’t."

Charlotte sighed.

"Of course you didn’t."

Kael resumed walking.

"So when is it?"

"At the end of the week."

"Do I have to attend?"

Charlotte looked at him.

"Yes."

"Why?"

"Because you’re a student."

"That’s a terrible reason."

"It’s also the only reason you need."

Kael thought about it.

There would probably be food.

That was enough to make the idea slightly more appealing.

"Will there be food?"

Charlotte stared at him.

"Of course."

"Then I’ll consider it."

"That’s not an answer."

"It is the best answer you’re getting."

Charlotte shook her head.

"You’re impossible."

Kael smiled.

"That’s what everyone says."

They continued toward the dormitories.

For once, there were no monsters.

No tournaments.

No duels.

No mysterious assassins.

Just the end of a semester.

Kael looked up at the evening sky.

For a brief moment, everything felt peaceful.

Then he remembered Xavier.

His smile disappeared.

"Never mind."

Charlotte glanced at him.

"What?"

"Nothing."

And the two continued walking as the academy lights slowly came alive behind them.