Commotional Aftermath

A morning sun shines over the academy, with students and staff going about their business. While students chat and some talk about the events that have happened the past few days, the teachers and higher ups are in Azrael’s office. His office, being turned into a non-stop verbal battlefield of despair being used by a student.

“How did despair even get into our school?!” A female cyclops teacher yells.

“How come the gargoyles couldn’t hold the student down at all?!” Her assistant shouts.

“What are we going to tell the parents of the students?!” A male lamia asks.

“What about the student who used despair, what are we going to tell his parents that their kid tried to murder another student?!” Added by a female slime teacher.

“How about the students that got attacked by him in the first place? Will they be alright?” Mrs. Irigami asks.

Endless amounts of questions kept being asked straight to Dean Azrael. Visibly upset, he ends their verbal barrage.

“Everyone, quiet!”

With that shouted, all the staff members stood still, physically disturbed.

“Look, I already talked with the principal, our guards and local authorities on how to handle this matter. The Overseers of Magic are going to handle this personally.”

Everyone begins mumbling amongst themselves hearing the news.

“The Overseers are coming? Aren’t they the ones that can mark anyone?” Curiously asked by a Harpy male.

“Yes. That answers Mrs. Kobayashi’s question earlier as well. The human student will be marked for life and expelled; we even notified his parents too.”

A few teachers gasp at the update.

“As for Mr. Oto’s question, we plan to tell every parent of what has happened, but we’ll keep names anonymous to not bring negative attention to anyone that got involved like the students or anyone related to them.”

Azrael gets up and reaches for some blank papers behind him floating in a translucent green field.

“Here, everyone please take one piece of paper. Use the multiply spell to make how many copies of students you oversee for your first classes today. The moment a student touches them, all blank pages will be transported to their parent's homes and the writing will appear for them to read.”

Everyone is impressed by Azrael’s ingenuity. Mr Oto steps forward.

“You are a fantastic and smart man, Azrael.” Oto says.

Azrael nods and sits back down.

“As for the question on how a student used despair on our grounds, we don’t know. It shouldn’t even be possible considering we use hope for the entranceway, and our guards physically have it.”

“Sir, is it possible someone on school grounds influenced the student to use despair or somehow has breached through?” A male centaur teacher asks.

Azrael contemplates for a few seconds as the teachers wait for a response.

“I don’t even know. The students, parents, and the Elite Hope Guardians look at us with high standards in regard to safety against despair.”

“And we will keep it that way for everyone’s safety.” A loud voice exclaims.

The crowd turns around to see a gateway open to Azarel’s office. A tall intimidating figure wearing a long crimson cloak, matching wizards hat, and sporting a long black beard enters. Everyone is stunned and moves aside, letting him walk past them.

“Principal Merlin, I was instructing the staff on how we handle this going forward. You see sir…”

“I know what you are planning and that’s alright. We need to ensure all parents are notified and that the situation is taken care of. The building will take care of the parents of students who don’t have class in the first period or are sick.”

Merlin aims his pure translucent blue wand towards the ceiling, releasing a majority of hope through the building itself. Students walking or waiting for class to start feel a warm and soothing sensation throughout their bodies.

“There, this will help us identify if any other students are getting their hope from any malicious means.”

“What do you mean sir?” Azrael questions.

“That young man that attacked Taro and the others gained his hope through a malicious source. He was happy that he was better than others and when one did greater than expected, he lost it and went through despair.” Merlin says with a strong demeanor.

“How come no one found out about this sooner? Doesn’t the school make sure students' source of hope comes from something uplifting?” Mr. Oto asks.

“I’m even perplexed by this. I’m discussing with the Elite Hope Guardians to see if any other students got corrupted or getting lured into despair.”

The crowd looks at one another and mumbles about Merlin’s news.

“I am instructing everyone here to keep your mouths quiet about this. The last thing we need is panic here or any other criminals trying to attack our school. Also, I will be updating the papers you’re all holding.”

Merlin points to one of the papers and a blueish mist spread out and goes into the paper. Azrael looks surprised with the action.

“Azrael, I updated the writing so it’s calmer and won’t be tampered with. I’m going to be talking with the gargoyles about their inability to handle a student.”

“Yes sir.” Azrael responds.

“Everyone, go back to your posts and classrooms. The students are probably wondering where all of you are right now.”

The teachers bow, as they go to the wall where Merlin entered. A doorway suddenly appears.

“You’ll all be transported to your respective areas.” Merlin smiles.

However, Mrs. Irigami stops and goes back to Merlin and Azrael.

“Sirs, what about the students that got attacked? One of them was a girl I helped treat for her wand.” Irigami says.

“They’re fine. I’ll be talking with them very soon. Say, what did you treat her wand for?” Merlin says to Irigami.

“She had a crack in her wand; I helped close it up.”

Merlin looks impressed.

“I see. Did you use anything to amplify her hope?”

Mrs. Irigami becomes confused by the question.

“No sir, I just used wood chips and sap. Honest.”

Merlin and Azrael appear to be confused by her comment.

“Okay, you may go now. Thank you Mrs. Irigami.” Merlin nods towards her.

Mrs. Irigami exits the room with the doorway closing behind her. Merlin and Azrael breathe as the situation has taken a lot on their minds.

“I don’t know how that one student had enough hope to destroy all of the despair in the attacker. It shouldn't have been possible.” Azrael says to Merlin.

“Did you see anything weird with Lila the past few days Azrael.”

“Only she and another student caused the loudest commotion with that troll for midterms. Also, she carved eyes on her wand.”

Merlin immediately looks at Azrael after hearing his comment.

“What do you mean eyes?” A confused Merlin asks.

“According to her, it’s for encouragement from friends. That’s what powers her hope.”

“I see. I’ll be talking with her and her friends today about this. Carry on Azrael.”

Merlin walks to the wall and a doorway appears for him immediately to enter. While Azrael rubs his face, students and staff start their day. Teachers cast a multiplication spell on their blank pages. Handing them to their students and they all turn into beams of light that shoot into the sky once touched by all students.

Beams of light soon point from the rooftop spires, with students wondering what is happening. Merlin walks down the halls as students move aside and let him walk. He sees the signs that immediately say to the female dorm rooms and walks down the halls to question one particular student.