before he was crowned king

A round ebony wood table was placed in the center of the bright hall, surrounded by aged faces.These faces are all known to the students of the Imperial Academy of Magic. On the surface, their identities are old-fashioned and strict subject professors, but in fact, all of them are extremely powerful magicians.

The conference hall of the college was as silent as a midnight cemetery. The olive flower murals on the dome stretched to all sides, and the sunlight passed through the huge cross windows, illuminating the wrinkled faces of these "old bones".

A total of nine people participated in the meeting, and the age of all of them added up to two thousand years old.This group of people forgotten by the times gathered together because of the extremely bad magic damage incident in the college, and they had to discuss a reasonable solution.

"The meeting begins." The principal shook the silver bell at his hand. "First of all, I would like to thank everyone for taking the time out of their busy schedules to come here. I think everyone already knows that the Falcon Hall in our college caught fire three days ago. A student was injured and unconscious. Regarding this incident, I would like to hear from you—”

"There is no doubt that this is a murder!" Professor Nick interrupted the principal directly, and he slapped the valuable ebony table, "I don't know what else to discuss, for such a crazy woman He should be sent to the gallows immediately for execution."

"Professor Nick, please calm down." Dean Dunbar, wrapped in a white robe, held a copy of "Bright Old Testament" in his hand, "God told the world, 'torture itself is an evil', we can't take away any human life, not to mention that the 'mad woman' you speak of is a magister as rare as you."

"Damn it, don't confuse me with that kind of lunatic." Professor Nick's expression was full of disgust, as if he had eaten a disgusting fly, "People who wantonly use high-risk magic in the academy don't deserve the title of magister at all. Don't talk to me about calm, I'm calm enough, this lunatic isn't burning houses down, she almost killed my students. If it was 50 years ago, I wouldn't be sitting here listening to your crap. I have already personally sent her to see the God of Light."

"Nick, pay attention to your words, you also know that you are not 50 years ago." Professor Udy pressed Professor Nick's shoulder and whispered, and smiled stiffly at Dean Dunbar.

"Okay, okay, I have heard the opinions of both of you." The principal raised his hand to smooth things over, "Winger, please tell me about your research report, I think this combination of files can help us better understand The truth of the whole thing."

"My students and I surveyed the scene, and now the entire building has been reduced to ashes. The fire magic elements in the wreckage are very active, which can prove that the cause of the fire was the abuse of seventh-level fire magic. We recovered Looking at the pavilion of the Falcon Club, it can be deduced that the place where the magic erupted is on the north side of the third floor, which is a living room."

"A bunch of nonsense." Professor Nick snorted coldly, "Even if you think with your toes, you can tell who the culprit is."

"Indeed, I'm just explaining what I inferred." Wenger pushed his glasses, "Next, I'll say something that you can't think of with your toes."

"Mary Victoria, the only female magister in the empire, lost her husband and her son five years ago, and later adopted an adopted son, who also died of illness a year ago."

"What do you want to explain? This crazy woman is very pitiful, and her experience is sympathetic?" Professor Nick said bluntly, "I have no interest in her personal experience."

"Let Wenger finish, Nick," said the principal.

Wen Geer sorted out his emotions and continued: "Mary Victoria suffered ups and downs in her life and lost her husband and children. During the investigation, we have been wondering why she used magic this time. She and the student of Sean Miller It has nothing to do with it, logically, it is impossible to do such an extreme behavior. But later, we found out that 'Sean' was also the name of her dead adopted son."

"Just because of the same name?" Professor Udyr frowned.

"Of course, ordinary people wouldn't kill someone just because of a name, so we began to doubt her mental state when she cast the spell. Facts have proved that our guess was right. It can be said that Mary Victoria is indeed crazy. We asked her maid Janice, usually Mary Victoria has a serious manic problem. She needs to light incense before going to bed. Among them, her favorite incense is 'Radelle'. I don't think I need to introduce too much about this incense. Yes, it includes daguna pollen. It is loved by the rich and famous precisely because of its hallucinogenic effects."

"What did I say, she is a complete lunatic." Professor Nick rolled his eyes.

"According to Professor Wenger's report, does that indicate a possibility that Mary Victoria's attack was not intentional." Dean Dunbar touched the cross on his chest, "Maybe she didn't intend to hurt anyone, You just can't control your behavior."

"I want to take hallucinogens, not the reason for Mary Victoria to get rid of the crime." Seeing that Professor Nick was about to kick the table, Professor Udyr said quickly, "Dean Dunbar, if this is how to pardon a person Crime, it is too fair to the person who is hurt. No one should pay for the loss of control of others."

"Of course she has to bear her own responsibilities." Dean Dunbar reiterated his attitude, "I just think the price of death is too heavy. From the results, we lost a building, and no one lost their lives because of it." .”

"Did no one lose their lives?" Professor Nick stood up abruptly, poking Dean Dunbar's round nose with his fingers, "My student was able to save his life because of a miracle! He happened to be hit by a powerful magic impact He was ejected into the lake. If it wasn't for that lake, every inch of his bones would be shattered into slag. Even if he managed to save his life, he would have to lie paralyzed on the bed for the rest of his life. At that time, who would be responsible for his bright future in alchemy? , can you do it? Dunbar Boots. You idiot who can't even distinguish the holy water from the Holy See from your own saliva!"

"You—" Dean Dunbar blushed at the words.

"Enough, be quiet." The principal shook the silver bell in his hand again, "Nick, I understand your anger. I would be saddened and angry by any student in this incident, because in my opinion, they are all My child. This incident is undoubtedly extremely bad. It broke the tranquility of our college and at the same time polluted the pure land we have been guarding. We will not easily forgive this culprit, but as Dean Dunbar said Yes, we are just a group of old men who are about to fall into the ground, and we are not qualified to hold the right to kill a person. All we can do is to make our own demands, try our best to protect our own rights, and then leave the rest to the laws of the empire. "

Professor Nick's face was deep and fierce, Udyr forced him to sit back on his seat, and sighed: "Principal, please allow me to say a few more words."

The principal nodded.

Professor Udyr coughed lightly, with a serious expression on his face: "I don't want to argue about the outcome of this matter, everyone has their own judgment on this matter. But I know that some people may be concerned about Mary Victoria's status as a magister, so here I have to remind you of one thing. I think you all remember the first class that the academy gave to the students."

"We tell the students that 'magic is like an abyss, you need to be always on guard, always cautious, and always in awe.'. This is the basic quality that a magician should possess, and it should be kept in mind at any time. All present Most people have probably experienced that world where magic is abused everywhere.” Professor Udyr said, “What I want to say is very simple, if a person gives up the awe of magic in his heart, then from this moment, he is not worthy called a magician."

"That's what I want to say."

"Okay, I want to discuss this far. Everyone should have an idea in their hearts, so let's skip directly to the stage of expressing our opinions." The principal took out an iron patterned box, "The final number of votes determines the appeal of our college. Attitude, one person one vote, we have already drawn up other compensation clauses. As for the price Mary Victoria needs to pay, I have a bottom line in my heart. And now I want to know the bottom line of each of you, support the death penalty fork, and veto the death penalty circle .”

The principal watched the other eight marked wooden plaques being stuffed into the box. After everyone left the conference room, he did not immediately verify the final result. Instead, he walked to the holy mural and tapped the The raised olive pattern on the wall reads, "Come out, the professors are gone."

The small door hidden behind the mural opened, and the black-haired young man walked out with his head drooping, looking listless.Professor Nick who had a meeting here just now must have never expected that the son of the crazy woman he talked about was also listening in this room.

"Sit down, Alex. Would you like some black tea?" The headmaster patted the young man on the shoulder, and he motioned for him to sit down, also silently comforting him, "Or red wine?"

Erics stood there, he was not in the mood to joke at all: "Why do you want me to listen to this?"

"The main thing this meeting is talking about is your mother Mary Victoria, who will be handed over to the Royal Army by us in a few days, and then we will count the losses and appeal her to the Imperial Court. I think you should know their attitude. "The headmaster held his glass and sat back to his seat, "Actually, I also want to ask you what you think."

"What do you think... Do you want your mother to be sentenced to death?" Erics said in a low voice with his expression hidden under the black broken hair, "Don't you think such a question is too cruel?"

"I'm very sorry, my child." The headmaster sighed, "I know you're in a lot of pain right now."

Erics remained silent. His current mood was very complicated, and the word pain could not be summed up.And rather than facing the cruel truth, deep down in his heart he wanted to escape from everything.

"I think you heard it just now. The number of votes in this iron box will determine the attitude of the college in the end." The principal patted the table lightly, "And now, because of your status, I would like to give you a special vote Right, you can draw a circle or a cross on the small wooden board in front of you."

"Can I give up?" Alex asked softly.

"Of course, kid, I don't want to force you." The principal crossed his fingers and slowly said, "If you are sure you want to give up."

Alex looked at the iron box on the table. After a while, he walked down to the seat prepared for him by the principal, opened the seat and sat down.

"Don't worry, this is true anonymous voting, all the little planks are from the same wood, I won't know your choice," said the headmaster, "and I won't tell anyone that you voted .”

"So no one will know what you drew on this board."

Alex held the pen tightly, he didn't realize that his hand was shaking violently.His choice this time may not matter, or it may directly determine his mother's life or death.

In fact, he has nothing to hesitate. When he chooses to sit down and accept the principal's proposal, the choice in his heart should be very obvious.

Mary Victoria.That was his mother.Even if everyone thought she was a lunatic and thought she should pay the price of death, he couldn't draw a cross on the wooden board in front of him.

However, he couldn't figure it out.He couldn't understand the reason why his mother put him into conflicts again and again.

He wants to know why.

He wondered if his mother had thought about his feelings as a son for a moment when she was doing these things.

He thought there should be none.

Alex silently threw the board in his hand into the iron box.

"Do you want to know the current result?" The principal beckoned, and the iron box flew under his palm as if it had grown wings.

"No, if I can, I want to leave here now." Erics stood up, his voice trembling slightly.

"Well, it's true that we are not in a hurry to announce the results. In fact, the voting has not yet ended. There are nine people from the college, including you, there are ten votes in total, and there will be situations where the two parties hold the same votes." The principal patted Clapping the iron box in his hand, "So there is still one person missing."

"Then...why do you need me..." Alex couldn't understand the principal's approach.

"Because there is one more person who needs to make a statement, and his vote is very important." The principal said softly, "I think he should be waking up now."

Sean slowly opened his eyes, seeing a blur of gray and white.He didn't know where he was, and the surrounding was very quiet, except for the rustle of the pen tip rubbing against the paper.

He turned his stiff neck, only to realize that someone had been sitting beside him.The man was holding a book in his left hand, and was carefully recording something in the book with his right hand. He leaned against the window with his straight back, accompanied by the warm light, looking peaceful and beautiful.

"Xion, are you awake?" The man caught his gaze, closed the book with a snap, and leaned over to him.

"Mars?" Sean saw the face clearly, and his vision gradually became clearer.He was lying in a strange room, the sun was shining through the ivory gauze curtain, besides the quilt, there was also a ripe apple on his body.

"Irene put it on your bed. She and Lambert visited you yesterday, but you were not awake at that time." Mars picked up the apple, "Do you want to eat it?"

"Yeah." Sean could only utter simple syllables, in fact, he didn't think he could eat anything, his throat was burning and hurting.

"Before eating, drink some water." Mars brought over the warm water that he had prepared earlier, "You have been in a coma for three whole days, and I only dare to feed you a little sugar water during this period."

"Thank you." Sean wanted to raise his hand to take it, but Mars had already leaned the teacup against his lips.

"Drink." Mars said softly, "Your body can't move around, and there are fine cracks in the bones of your shoulders, hands, and feet. Although Raphael has treated you, you still need to take care of yourself." rest."

"Raphael..." Sean was slightly taken aback.

"My younger brother, he has been studying in the Holy See of Light since he was ten years old." Mars put down the teacup, "He is very talented in divine perception. I heard that the Pope is very optimistic about him, and he has a good chance to become a new Son. How do you feel now?"

"Fine, just can't move," Sean said.

"It's better than never being able to move. Don't make so many demands. It's a miracle that you survived." Mars took out a delicate dagger and cut the apple into half and half crescents. Know what it was like when you were first rescued."

"What?"

"The whole body is cold, there is no blood, and there is no response to calling your name." Mars whispered, "It's like leaving me forever."

Sean lowered his eyes slightly: "Sorry."

"Why do you have to apologize?" Mars asked with a smile.

Sean shook his head. Mars thought he didn't know, but he couldn't explain the reason for the apology.

"Why do you feel that you are different after you wake up?" Mars raised his eyebrows slightly, "It's like a puppet with strings in a performance."

"Puppet?" Sean was a little puzzled.

"Open your mouth." Mars handed over the sliced ​​apple.

Sean hesitated for a moment, and finally took a bite of the apple flesh.

"Well, it's like this, I say an action, and you do it." Mars raised his chin, "Don't you think it's similar?"

Shane smiled silently.

"Where is this?" Shane glanced around the room.

"I'm in the resting place of the college. There were a lot of morning classes in the first and second grades, so I didn't go back to the dormitory and lived here." Mars shrugged, "Because I can sleep a little longer."

"Sorry for taking up your room." Sean said softly, "I'll—"

Sean's voice stopped abruptly, and an apple was stuffed into his mouth.

"I don't agree." Mars refused directly, with a tone that could not be refuted. "Until you fully recover, you cannot leave this room."

Sean swallowed the apple with difficulty: "Did I get grounded by you?"

"Ah, you can understand it that way." Mars wiped the dagger in his hand, "Anyway, you can't leave my sight."

"You...have you been here with me all this time?" Sean asked this unreasonable prince.

Mars stopped wiping the dagger, and turned his head to look back at Sean: "Guess what?"

"I think you have a lot of things that you haven't dealt with." Sean looked around the room. Since he served Mars, he knew the other's living habits like the back of his hand. He didn't see any Mars in this room. used things.

Just like it's afternoon now, if Mars really lived here for the past few days, there should be some desserts and a cup of pure black tea with jasmine orange slices brought by this time.

"So?" Mars seemed to be waiting for his answer.

"I guess you came here for afternoon tea." Sean closed his eyes slightly. He was a little tired, but he still stated his judgment truthfully.

The room suddenly became very quiet, because Mars didn't speak immediately.

"Sheehan."

"Yes." Sean opened his eyes.

"You are really as smart as ever." Mars sighed, "Are you sleepy now?"

"Sorry, Your Highness." Sean couldn't help but close his eyes. His body was still very weak, and his blurred consciousness was beyond his control.

"It's okay, sleep if you want." Mars helped Sean lie flat, and tucked the quilt again before leaving.

He looked at the man lying on the bed, his eyes wandered, and finally fell on the corner of the man's cold lips involuntarily.

"Sweet dream." He lifted himself up, and the door of the room opened and closed.

"What are you doing here?" Mars put his arm on the round-headed fancy railing, coldly looking down at the man standing under the stairs.

"Your Highness Mars, I heard that he is here." Alex lowered his head, "How is his body?"

"very good."

"So is he awake?" Alex asked softly.

"It has nothing to do with you." Mars said lightly, "If you wake up, or if you don't wake up, I won't let you see him."

"I don't expect to see him." Alex pursed his lips tightly. "I just... wonder how Sean is doing? I'm worried about him."

"I've been by his side for the past three days, and I didn't even dare to close my eyes." Mars lowered his eyes slightly, "To be honest, I don't have the energy to talk to you anymore, Alex Kabe Germany."

"You should really come and see him three days ago." Mars walked down the stairs step by step, "If you came over then, I might let you in. Because that might be the last time."

Alex's hand gripped the wooden railing tightly.

"Now you don't need to come to see him because of ridiculous guilt." Mars stepped down another flight of stairs and walked past Alex, "He was not killed by your mother, I said, he's good."

"I'm not doing it to assuage the guilt, I'm really..."

With a bang, before Erics could finish speaking, Mars grabbed the hem of his clothes and slammed him against the railing of the stairs.

"Listen clearly, before I vent my anger on your mother on you." Mars' eyes flashed coldly, like the calm sea before a storm, "Get out immediately."