Conspiracy

"Did you get the ceremony set up?"

"Despite Piccelli's sluggishness, I managed to have it down early."

"Good."

"Now, where's my end of the deal?"

"Patience, Simos. You'll get what you want soon enough."

***

March 14th, Imperial Year 879
Cartethene Academy Courtyard

The fountains of wine and the beautiful atmosphere faded into the background as I stepped down from the podium.

That...was much tamer speech than I'd expected to come out of me. Something about giving a speech in front of a group that includes not only your friends and peers, but also gruff adults (such as one's parents) really drains the courage to try anything innovative. At least his majesty was not here yet. I wonder if that would have killed even more of my initiative.

...though, I suppose that stings in its own way. At least my classmates looked excited.

Phoebe did too.

"Thank you, for that, Jason." Alex stepped forwards, congratulating me. He stepped up onto the podium now, putting down a pile of papers onto the wooden block as I walked back to my seat, in between Calli and Rayne. "Clearly, our class has been through quite a bit these past few years. We have seen many upperclassmen go, many underclassmen enter, and the class more or less stay the same..." There was a chuckle from the crowd. More than my 'funny' speech ever did. "...making friends, acquaintances, and even lovers along the way. Our grade has stuck with one another through thick and thin, and I think I am proud to say that now, each and every one of us are ready to enter the adult world."

"Quite a rehearsed speech you have there Alex." Calli muttered, somewhat contemptuously.

That's...rude. I thought Alex and Calli were friends?

"With all that said, I am proud to tell you everyone, that today is no ordinary graduation. As well as the centennial of the rise of my family, House Aureol, to the throne of our great kingdom of Galeria, today also marks the visitation of his Majesty, king of Galeria, to the academy!" Alex looked out to the door as several soldiers poured in, blowing their royal horns as the sound of hooves could be heard in the distance.

Despite my position in the crowd, I straightened my back as a carriage approached from far away. As the gilded cart drew closer and closer, I noticed the guards quickly lining up to present a path to the stage.

The carriage stopped just behind the crowd of spectators. As the staff rolled a silk carpet out in front of the carriage, out stepped an elderly man and his grandson. As everyone knelt before the man, our eyes briefly met before his attention moved to the rest of the crowd, as if he had never seen me.

Father Piccelli stood up from his chair, and walked over to the king, unbowed. He faced the King with a gracious bow, one befitting of the priesthood.

"By the grace of his majesty, the golden king of the sun throne of the lion and the eagle, Lord of Galeria, and defender of south Andoria, the royal court of Hector III stands before you Archbishop! Do you, as Dean of the Academy, allow for the King to oversee the graduation, and subsequent holy blessing?"

"Yes, your majesty. May the blessings of the saints be upon you."

***

That's strange, I thought Phoebe wanted to talk to me during the graduation. Or did she mean at a later time? The graduation is pretty long after all.

The crowds of nobles milled about during the interlude we were given. From a group somewhere, I saw Hannah talking to one of her friends in my grade, crying over the graduation.

And there were my parents, approaching her. Apparently, they had not found me yet.

I quickly disappeared into the building, as for some reason, I felt compelled to avoid them for the time being. The building itself was mostly filled with servants and the odd staff member directing them, trying to get the banquet furniture out and ready, but save for the odd wanderer like me, there were not many students in the building. I had seen Phoebe wander into the building earlier, so I assumed she would be here.

There was a flash of blonde hair that disappeared down into the hallway. I gave chase.

"Phoebe?"

I looked outside the window as I walked, peering downstairs where crowds of people were standing. The hallway I now stood in was almost entirely empty, with nary a servant around. Only if I were down there. After all, they say, a party is no party if Jason is not involved...

I shook my head and continued onwards. As much as I wanted to enjoy the graduation festival, I had to at least talk to Phoebe first.

The hallway led me closer to where the crypt that Father Piccelli had led me and the rest of the class down the other day. I moved in, trying to parse out where Phoebe exactly was. She did intend to talk to me, right? Down the flight of stairs, and into the-

"Mr. Thame?"

I hopped back. Father Simos blocked the way, the usual frown upon his face.

"Father Simos, I believe that-"

"What are you doing here? The crypt is closed for today, Mr. Thame."

"I'm looking for Phoebe, she came down this way-"

"There is no such individual here, Mr. Thame."

"Phoebe! She must have entered the c-"

"If Miss Cordelia had entered the crypt, I would have seen her. I assure you, I have not."

Then was that a ghost or what? I looked around the hallway leading to the crypt. Starting from where I had seen her, there were no alternate ways out or even any windows she could have jumped out of.

Furthermore, the crypt door was slightly ajar. The giant locking mechanism had been undone.

The suspicious behavior I had been ignoring from him the past few days came rushing back into my head.

"Move aside, Father Simos. I must investigate."

"Turn around and leave, Mr. Thame. It is graduation day. Revel in the celebration, as you usually do." Father Simos gave me an uncharacteristically warm smile. "It is a good day for you, is it not?"

No. Not without Phoebe.

I drew my blade.

"Jason, what are you doing?" The bishop looked at me, shocked. Frankly, I couldn't blame him - I was shocked too.

"Move aside, Simos."

What the hell am I doing?

"Mr. Thame, are you...threatening a member of the Church?"

"Perhaps I am."

Simos bit his lip and muttered a curse, before scampering off.

"You'll pay for this, Jason Baseli. Mark my words, you will pay."

***

"Phoebe?"

The crystals on the ceiling that had let in natural light the last time I visited were dark. Expected, given it was evening, but it meant that it was nearly pitch dark.

"J-Jason?" A timid voice came out from the darkness.

Phoebe's voice.

"Phoebe, what are you doing here? You...wanted to talk to me at the graduation, right? Let's-"

"Get out of here Jason. Please."

"Phoebe, please. Let's return to the-"

"Just listen to me!" Phoebe cried out. "Leave. Now! ...please..."

I ignored her pleas and walked forward, when a small glow illuminated the crypt. Phoebe shone with a gentle glow, and I would have been taken aback by her beauty if not for what I saw behind her.

"You should listen to your friend, Jason." A tall, lanky man with white hair stepped up and grabbed Phoebe's neck. "You don't belong here."

I pointed my blade at him. Blast, I'm unarmored and only have my dueling sword!

"What...what are you?"

"I'm her father. You should leave us, boy. We have private matters to attend to."

"...no." I redoubled my stance, and pointed the blade at him once more. "I...what are you doing here?"

"I'm here for the graduation of course!" The man twisted his face in disgust. "Move along, and forget everything you saw here."

"Father." Phoebe looked back at her father, shaking her head. "Don't..."

"Weakling."

"L-let her go!" I tentatively took a step forward, just as a giant shard of raw mana shot up from the ground, nearly impaling me. "Gah..." I stepped back. The man sighed.

"I don't need to deal with this. Phoebe, let's get going." He yanked her by the collar, and began to drag her towards the end of the hallway, where a strange golden light began to glow.

Teleportation magecraft. It takes a significant amount of mana to conduct, and must have been prepared in advance.

More mana shards. It's forming a barrier.

8 meters away. If I could just leap over the barrier...

"Hey! Get back here!" I slammed my sword against the mana shards, but it was no use.

"Jason, please, just leave, okay?" Phoebe was dragged further away from me, and onto the teleportation circle. "Jason, there's a bomb! You have to get to the king and the archbisshhhhhhh-" Phoebe's words were cut off as Aeneas shoved his hand in her mouth.

"Silence you bitch!" The barrier of mana shards grew spikier and began to expand outwards.

"Phoebe! Phoebe!" I shouted impotently, trying to get past the shards. In anger, I swung my sword at them once more, only to have it bounce off.

"Jason you have to-ngg!!!" And with that, Phoebe and her father disappeared from the golden circle.

And then, there was silence.

...there's a bomb.