Deadend

Truth was the lies everyone shared to find happiness. Each book and recited lecture whispered this message to anyone that was willing to listen. Unfortunately, it fell on deaf ears. And Headmaster Casselthron was wishing that one more had been listening to such faint callings. Then perhaps, he would not need to be having this meeting.

Graying to white beard with a tall cylindrical cap sat upon his head. Gold tassels draped down from the edges as his only hair. Heavy wrinkles nearly pushed closed his eyes as he hunched over his finely crafted oak chair. It showed as much age in the polished cracks as he did.

Seated across the desk in contemplative silence was Sophia Therodis. She wore the Eulire Academy uniform, a long sleeved jacket and skirt in dark greens with trims of orange, matching the palette of the royal colors, if more muted. A simple long straight haircut with fatigued eyes that hadn’t known good sleep in months, though in reality years.

A long dragged out sigh slipped out like it was being squeezed by a pair of hands after an escaping snake. His telling hiss of air forced through his decaying teeth made his opinion even more clear before even a word came out. Not that words were needed with how the wrinkles in his face doubled and threatened to triple with the passing of each line. It was only in surprisingly honest faith that Eigreth didn’t stop after the second paragraph and opening argument.

After being the tenth set of eyes to attempt to read the proposal and nearly through the first page, Sophia counted that as an achievement in itself. She expected the Headmaster to have a higher tolerance for disruptive papers, but even she understood an open mind only stretched so far. The mind didn’t have a free open field to just spread everywhere, for however much she wished it. Even from her professors that pushed for brave ideas. A mind was locked inside a jar, the bone palace of their body. Limits, boundaries were sadly a thing for everyone. And they drew in closer than she wished.

Two pages was enough grace that even he allowed it, as he dropped them back to the crowded desk. Pinching the bridge of his nose, she needed no guesses to his feelings. For as sacrilegious as her paper was she didn’t believe he would expel her as much as some of the professors wanted. ‘Now he yells at me. That there’s nothing wrong with the translation. I guess I shouldn’t have expected any different from the Headmaster.’

Her visits to his office became increasingly frequent this year as she made her research topic clear. ‘I held back that I was researching Thistel for as long as I could. But it was hard to avoid now with everyone reading my proposal. I just wished there was someone more open minded in the Academy. I just need one supporter.’ The path she expected now was that she had to cease her current research and find a more suitable avenue for her time.

The old Headmaster leaned back in his chair as the wood complained to take care. It held, but certainly gave a warning to not make emotional outbursts. With some relief, he didn’t press it more. “Miss Therodis, I wish your enthusiasm could be spent on more productive areas.”

“I enjoy Sulish linguistics, sir.”

His hand spread the papers out to expose the count, fifteen before references. “Yes, if only all our students applied them as vigorously to their interests as you, I might still have a couple hairs on my head still.”

‘If you had a backbone, you might not be worrying about how bald you were. Ust, hui, feur, wueh…’ The rhythmic pattern that she chanted within her thoughts gave her stable footing. Sophia thankfully caught her tongue. “Thank you, sir.”

“This isn’t a subject for praise, Miss Therodis! Writing baseless theories isn’t what your professors teach.”

“I’ve spent two years researching this, Headmaster!”

“And you’ve wasted your time in becoming our most accomplished Sulish expert to destroy the foundation of our society!”

Sophia gripped her hands. It had finally reached the point he stopped reading. No one made it that far. Far enough for her to explain her reason. ‘It’s only dangerous if you’re unwilling to change your viewpoints. Maybe blind faith in the Goddess makes you an idiot! Ust, hui, feur, weuh, bauve, noigh, ath…’ The shaking eased a little, but not enough. She had to continue just to stop herself from muttering. “I didn’t make that claim.”

“I should hope not! The Church would be begging for your head! But it's thinly veiled that you’re practically spelling it out.”

“Sir, I’m only suggesting we reconsider the interpretation! You know how flexible Sulish is. As unwanted as what I wrote might be, rationally you have to consider the possibility.”

“Based on what? Countless clergy and scholars have agreed to the reading of the Balstar Oracle. Nevare Thistel’s research provides clear interpretations of the Oracle. It’s beyond question, Miss Therodis.”

“Thistel’s research is faulty.”

The old man bolted up with surprising swiftness. The old chair clattered over groaning in scraps against the stone floor. His wrinkles tripled from the stress. The Headmaster hadn’t made it that far into her findings. The shock on his face barely managed to form a word. And what words were managing to come out she couldn’t even understand. They were not Sulish or any other language she studied.

Standing around, he looked at her and then at the ground almost like he was trying to figure out where he was. ‘He didn’t see that part. That might have been for the best. I may have gotten expelled immediately. Ust. Hui. Feur…’ Insulting the King probably would have been only action faster for her. Not that she would have such a chance.

He was almost turning as red as the handkerchief he used to remove some sweat. He frantically started looking around his office. His hand was shaking like a leaf. At his age it might have fallen off if he wasn't careful.

Eigreth paused behind himself. He started to bend over to reach his chair, but the shaking only got worse. He couldn’t reach it. It lay unmoving, almost annoyed with being thrown.

Sophia jumped from her chair and hurried around the desk. She knelt down, easing up the chair with care. She gave him a warm smile to ease the stress that he seemed to be coming down with. “Sorry, Headmaster.”

With a hand braced to the desk, he lowered himself back to his chair with care. Every part of him still rattled, but his mind forgot it all in the presence of Miss Therodis. “Thank you.” He started to absentmindedly clean up the papers on reflex, seeing the mess. By the time she made it back to her seat, he snapped back to reality. “No! You can’t smile your way through insulting the foremost expert on Balstar Eniwich!” He began to rise again with his mind remembering why the heat burned in his body.

“Sir, your chair will fall over again.”

“Oh, right. No! Stop distracting me! Claiming Thistel’s research is faulty. Do you have proof for such an outrageous claim?” He already started to flip through the pages looking for anything that might provide some sense of calm to the madness that she was spreading.

“His understanding of Balstar’s speech was incomplete. He’s making assumptions to fill in the parts that he couldn’t understand. You granted me access last year to Thistel’s personal notes that the Academy had for my research. If you read them, it’s clear that he never was able to finish. He died before his work could be finished and we’ve all been taking it as a completed work, Headmaster.”

“It’s the struggle of Sulish. Nothing that he wrote has created a discrepancy.”

‘He’s a coward. Like everyone. They’re afraid of the Church because it might ruin precious faith.’ Ust. Hui. Feur. Sophia tried to pace herself. She could feel everything stretching to the limits. “Not finding errors isn’t proof of accuracy.”

“Then what changes to Thistel’s work do you purpose?”

“I don’t know, I need more time–”

“Then give up this line of research. There are better unexplored areas of Sulish literature you can use your experience on.”

“Such as maybe finding you a backbone.”

The Headmaster blinked as his eyes managed to almost fully open in his surprise. “That is highly inappropriate, Miss Therodis.”

A hand immediately went over her mouth. Her body balled up still standing, all that could be seen was light brown hair and boots. “I slipped again…”

Coughing roughly, he leaned against the desk almost going pale. It took a moment for him to recover and carefully stand up from the chair. He approached the young student. “You’re under a lot of stress right now, Miss Therodis. Let’s end this here and pray that no one beyond these walls reads your paper. Not even I can protect you. You’re a bright student, find something less dangerous to direct your energies toward.” She began to unfold with the shaking easing from his calming words.

‘I know he’s just scared. And trying to protect me. But nothing will change.’ The Church wouldn’t even let her borrow the books they had. They were too sacred. She knew the dangers and still went ahead with it. ‘I wished he would understand my view.’

She reached over for the paper only for him to drag it all towards his chest. “I’ll be sealing this away.”

“That’s my research, sir!”

“And it’s not an appropriate topic for your thesis.”

As much as she wanted to further protest, there was nothing that she could do. This was his form of kindness. ‘I still remember my notes and vaguely what I wrote. But I can’t use any of it. Who would even listen if not the Headmaster? I guess knowing Sulish is a valuable enough skill to have. Maybe I just work quietly while doing safer work. I still need work, something that will be approved.’ The Academy controlled all of the libraries and grants. He was her last attempt at a backer.

Sophia nodded slowly before taking both hands together against her waist and bowing. He mirrored the gesture allowing her to depart without further word.

Of all the choices, it wasn’t the worst. ‘I’m going to be stuck here for another year or two. I don’t even know what I’d want to research. Thistel was interesting because of there’s so many gaps. Retreading someone’s work isn’t that fun, even if that’s what I’m supposed to do.’ A covered path laid before her. It would take a lot of work to clear it away.

Sophia made for the door and exhaled fully for the first time since entering. It had been a mostly normal day until she got the call. Her hand squeezed on the handle feeling the fever and headache returning. She had hoped to head home a little early to recover from her cold. ‘Feeling sick seems like a good enough excuse. Maybe sleep will give me some new ideas.’

She however couldn’t leave as two large shadows drew over her as the door came open. Her eyes immediately went wide seeing the falcon clutching a dragon’s head emblem of the Eucris Royal Family on the tabards of two knights. Immediately she started muttering, fighting her hand shaking. ‘Knights! I should run. Or hide. I didn’t do anything. Ust, hui, feur, wueh…’

“Are you Sophia Therodis of the Eulire Academy?”

“Y-yes?” She nodded quickly like her life depended on it. ‘They do want me. I need to get out now! Ust, hui…’ The two knights fully barred her path forward. A student researcher against two trained knights to kill, they weren’t even odds.

“Then you will come with us.”

“Where?”

“To see King Eucris.”

Sophia looked back towards the office to the Headmaster. The door to his room already closed, refusing her help. She quickly started repeating the numbers in her head trying to calm down. “Ust. Hui. Feur. What have I done? Am I under arrest?” The numbers didn’t help her. She could only wince as the guards just stared unflinching at her.

No explanation, just orders.

‘Could I steal their sword? No Sophia, that's a stupid plan. I haven’t done anything to be executed. But why would the King want to see if not to kill me? I’m not important. I need to escape.’ Her eyes darted around as she was escorted out of the Academy. The presence of two royal knights in her company did nothing to improve her infamy amongst the student body and faculty. She couldn’t even brave a word. What could possibly have been said to change the accusing eyes pointed at her? No one would help her.

The few students that caught sight of her remained at a distance or turned away. ‘None of them are going to step forward. I’m the crazy Sulish girl that makes the professors angry. Everyone probably would be at ease without me around. Who’s going to stand up to the royal knights?’ No one would do that. She wouldn’t do that. She couldn’t do that.

But she didn’t know what the King wanted. ‘The Headmaster said he was going to seal it. But several professors have seen it. And probably a few students if they were listening. And the students might have talked to others. Everyone knows, don't they? Ust. Hui. Feur. But it was only this week. There’s no nobles in my classes, I think. How would the King know?’

By the time they made it out to the courtyard of the Academy, a voice from across the garden called out to her. The knights didn’t stop and she felt that even with the familiar voice that she couldn’t pause for them. “Sophy!” She could only look and keep pace with them seeing the wild red hair of Cathie charging through hedges and bush toppling students in the process.

The knights had remarkable control, not even responding to the chaos. They must not have considered it a threat. It was a building filled with individuals that lifted books and wrote into the late hours of the night to keep terrible sleeping habits. Not quite the danger to highly trained soldiers.

“Sophy!”

Once Cathie reached Sophia one of the knights turned to stand between them, effortlessly prepared. He only presented a burning stare that shouted at Cathie with no words needed. Even her bold passion came to a frozen halt before them. Sophia sighed silently with relief that she had at least that much in awareness. “Sophy! What’s going on? What did you do this time?”

“This time? I haven’t done anything before this to be arrested!”

“So you are arrested!”

“Why are you assuming I’m arrested!”

“Because you did?”

“Maybe, I don’t know. They haven’t said a word.”

Without a further word, Cathie jumped up in front of the knight, a head taller than her as though that helped to get her a better answer. “Is she in trouble?” Silence. And then Cathie glared back at the staring knight. Mute heat flared between them. Sophia didn’t know which had greater training or endurance a knight or Cathie’s untamed country energies.

No one else in the Academy could even keep up with her. Sophia barely did and it only seemed that she liked Sophia’s company because everyone already ignored her. The two oddities of the school drew the other in. At least that would be Cathie’s answer, probably. It was never something that she asked, just accepted. Much like anything to do with Cathie, it was just how things were. Like it had been set in stone since the founding of the world. And such logic couldn’t be argued, even if it didn’t make a lot of sense.

Sophia leaned around the knight already getting a feeling they wanted to move. They were polite, not stubbornly steadfast. “Cathie. I’ll find out. I don’t want you to get into trouble trying something.”

“But you haven’t done anything wrong, right?”

“No.”

“Then this is wrong!”

Sophia glanced around to the knights. Silence. They really weren’t going to be of help. “I’ve just been asked to see the King. Nothing more right now.”

“Mr. Renald?!” That lack of respect drew both of the knights attention. They surrounded Cathie. Silence may not last much longer.

Ust. Hui. Feur. Immediately stepping between them, Sophia turned to her friend. “King Renald Eucris, Cathie. Please, I’ll be fine. Could you make sure Professor Holt hasn’t taken back the books I borrowed? I haven’t finished with them.” Taking up her friend’s hand, she pleaded further with her to let her go. ‘We both don’t need to be killed. I don’t think I’ll be killed. I hope. Ust. Hui.’

The knights and royal family weren’t known to be cruel, but insulting the King wasn’t allowed either. A measure of rules needed to be followed.

“Fine. But you need to tell me what happens. Everyone’s already talking.” Finally, Cathie took a step back and clasped her hands over her arms against her waist in a bow. That gesture was enough, it seemed, to ease the tension.

They marched out of the Academy and to her execution. Or a pleasant tea party. Sophia didn’t see a middle ground. She just tried to keep from shaking too much, while she followed. ‘Ust. Hui. Feur. I’m doomed…’