Lies & Labyrinths

It was the second time that the auditorium was packed since Lilith had arrived. It was the first time that she herself was a part of the assembly, instead of the center of attention. The Vice Headmaster strode out to the center of the stage, holding up the metal box that projected his voice to the room, and spoke in the most commanding tone she had ever heard him give.

“Students, faculty… I come to you today to put to rest the rumors that have been circulating, by providing the utmost truth: Our school, long a bastion of safety for the brightest minds this side of The Veil, has been compromised. Not once, but seemingly, thrice.”

Murmurs began. Lilith glanced to her left, where Emily sat. They knew about the second. But three visits by The Knave?

“On Monday, it was reported that a teleport stone in the Gardens suffered an unfortunate malfunction in which many of you may recall a large explosion. We believe now that this was most likely sabotage, and a heretofore unknown way of breaching the security of the school. A day later, this figure made their official appearance, stealing a plethora of artifacts from the library’s display cases at its entrance. They escaped shortly after, but not before announcing their name.

Today, they have reappeared, and after a close call with two of our underclass students, it seems that they have been far busier than we anticipated. Cards from tarrow and playing decks have been located about the school, all knaves of spades, all left in place of objects that had been stolen. They ranged from paperweights to components from the Materials Lab. At this time we do not have a motive for the brazen theft of these objects. This figure has not been recorded on any of our aetherometers, and yet seems perfectly capable of besting some of the greatest magi of our time.”

All eyes fell to the staff up front, at Arleigh, Inam and Klymviner. All three had gone toe-to-toe with the figure and had promptly failed in subduing, let alone delaying the Knave. Arleigh seemed embarrassed. Inam seemed resolved. Klymviner seemed furious.

“For the safety of our students, we have elected to return the academy back to the Veilweaver’s Isle, and disable all teleporters in and out until after the Weaving. Classes are effectively canceled the rest of the week as we perform a thorough sweep of the school for any further missing items, any devices that might have assisted in espionage, or any accomplices that may be lurking within the school.”

Lilith sunk deeper into her chair at that last one. She had been the one to help The Knave get the paperweight from Arleigh, and she had been the one to open the door for The Knave. The coincidences were too strong; The Knave simply hadn’t existed until Lilith had stepped through the teleporter. At this point, all she could do was pray that expulsion would be the worst they would do to her if they put two and two together.

“After the end of the assembly, you are all to be dismissed back to your respective rooms. Do not delay in returning back. In one hour from now, any student that is found outside of their room will be subject to severe consequences. All homework is canceled as well-”

The Vice Headmaster didn’t get another syllable out as a chorus of cheers echoed through the room.

“SIIIILEEEEENCE!” boomed the voice of the Vice Headmaster, a wave of despair washing over the students that shushed everyone at once.

“As...I...was… saying…” The Vice Headmaster’s voice changed back to a normal tone. “Homework is cancelled. Students are expected to be studying in preparation for The Weaving. We have not missed this auspicious occasion in ten thousand years, and we will not begin on account of this thief. You should not fret, children. We will unmask this thief in due time. Please be forthcoming with teachers. If you see something, say something. That is all. Return to your rooms post-haste.”

“I thought that would never end.” Emily whispered as they stood, waiting for the other students in the row to clear out and give them room towards the aisle.

“I hate how he does that. How does he do that?”

“I dunno. It always makes me feel weird.” Emily said, watching as the Vice Headmaster reached the steps to the stage. He seemed… weaker, all of a sudden."

Arleigh approached the man, helping him down.

“Does he look older?”

“Hrm?” Emily glanced.“Maybe? He definitely has seemed to lose his energy as the year has gone on. But so did the last Vice Headmaster, now that I think about it.”

“Who was the Vice Headmaster before him? And where’s the Headmaster?”

“I… I don’t hardly recall. Huh. I know there was one. But he spoke just like the current one when upset. Same dreadful feeling and all.I can’t even recall his name. And I can't recall ever meeting the Headmaster.” Emily seemed upset by the lack of memory, but she did her best to repress it, stepping out into the aisle.

That had been the thing that Lilith recalled the most about the assembly. Not the warnings of the Knave, but the confusion that the Vice Headmaster and his predecessors caused.

It was quite boring being locked in one’s room, even when that room was in a magical school floating a mile above the world. Lilith spent her time with the silver dagger, practicing tossing it and calling it back while working on using her ghost hand. It was all she had, and she doubted that it would be enough for The Weaving.

The stupid Weaving. She wasn’t even sure what it really was. It was all the adults cared about. It was all the students cared about. It was the bed of anxiety she had laid on every night since she had arrived, and it was the first thing that her mind went to when she awoke. But now she was alone with her thoughts and that meant all she could do was worry and think of it.

The teachers had been ’round after dinner, saving their investigations for Delta last. Undoubtedly the Alphas had been searched first for their safety, and the Betas checked for bugs. But by the Deltas, they were looking for conspirators. It was to be expected, she supposed. Lilith slid the dagger back against her wrist and willed it into the coiled form of her faux bracelet as Arleigh and Mcdougal entered, one clutching an aetherometer and the other a heavy stick.

“What’s the stick for?” Lilith asked as they entered.

“’Ro’ec’ion.” McDougal said through pointed teeth.

“Protection.” Arleigh said. “Some devices can be triggered by proximity. That’s a staff of wyrmwood. Negates most magic. Useful for detecting such things.”

Lilith tried to suppress a gulp, thinking of the dagger as the professor turned on the machine. It gave a rather loud crackle and heavy whine the moment the switch was flipped. Arleigh blinked, turning it off and then back on.

“Don’t tell me the blasted thing is broke.”

“Ruhts hle fro’em?” McDougal said through his nigh incomprehensible speech impediment.

“The problem, old chap, is this device is showing more aether in this room than in all of the school.” He flipped it off, then back on, waving it directly in front of Lilith. The machine made that same crackle and loud whine. Arleigh sighed, flipping it off. “My fault for using it too much, I’ll have to have Klymviner take a look at it. That girl has less aether on her on a good day than the worst magus on a bad day.” Arleigh turned to McDougal, which gave Lilith enough time to glare daggers into the back of the rude man.

“Go ahead and check the room regardless.”

The half-orc nodded, shuffling in and prodding corners of the room, hitting the ceiling, poking beneath the bed and under the table before nodding. Arleigh seemed to find it good enough, turning back to look at Lilith.

“Hmm?” Lilith blinked, batting her eyelashes as she put on her most convincing innocent face as she stopped making faces at her sworn adversary.

“Have you seen anything suspicious since you arrived?”

“You mean besides the apparent collection of spell scrolls to be s-”

“NO-” Arleigh cleared his throat, eyes momentarily threatening to bulge out of their sockets. “No, not the scrolls. Anything else? Things out of place, things missing?”

Lilith shook her head.

“And the Knave, you’re certain that they said they’d be back next Friday?”

“Positive.”

“Very well. That’s all we’ll be needing.” The pair turned to leave, finding Klymviner in the door. Arleigh blinked, adjusting his spectacles. “Oh, Bella. I didn’t realize you were doing checks as well.”

“Y-Yes, well, more hands make less work. I thought I’d go over a few things with Lilith myself.”

“Very well.” The pair brushed past, leaving Lilith and Klymviner alone. The woman closed the door, back turned as she listened to the footsteps and the subsequent knock of the next dorm room down the hall. Klymviner seemed to hunch over, and when she turned, her entire shape had shifted instead to the familiar visage and demeanor of Emily.

“How’d I do?” Emily asked, rubbing her arm nervously.

“Wow, you even fooled me. Maybe a little more confidence next time?”

“Yeah, good idea.” Emily grinned, taking a seat on the bed. “Sorry, but I got antsy. I didn’t want to be alone by that gate any longer, especially not while The Knave is still loose.”

“Well, this place isn’t much but I could probably try to sweep up some loose leaves outside if that’s more your fancy?” Lilith grinned, and Emily playfully hit her shoulder.

“Funny. Very funny. No, beds are just fine.”

“How are you holding up?” Lilith’s tone changed to a more serious one, sitting up.

“I’m doing a bit better. Still nervous. Still processing everything. The Knave, they’re kind of scary, huh?”

“I suppose.” Lilith shrugged. “They haven’t actually hurt anyone. Not that I’ve seen at least.”

“They attacked my uncles.”

“Did they? I mean, it seemed like they got them spooked enough to bring the map to the school. I think they just outsmarted them.” Lilith thought, but didn’t add, that it seemed easy enough for even herself to do.

“Maybe…” Emily tapped her finger against her lip, staring off as she thought.

“So, who do we think they are?”

“A former student for sure.”

“One whose name didn’t appear on the roster when they arrived.”

“That is tricky.” Lilith admitted. “And one who wasn’t using magic.”

“What? I heard that they disarmed Klymviner, Arleigh and Inam.”

“Well, you weren’t there, but Inam fainted. And yes, they did disarm Arleigh, but…”

“But?”

Lilith closed her eyes, recalling the night. There had been a loud explosion, and a smell, one that she had smelled before. One that smelled like fireworks.

“There was blasting powder.”

“Like a cannon?”

“A small one… and their gauntlet, after they fired their ‘spell’, I saw smoke appearing from a hole in the hand area. Like a barrel.”

“What are you saying, that they have a tiny cannon up their arm?”

“Something like that, I s’ppose. And they used it twice. Once to disarm Arleigh, then once to shoot the ceiling.”

“They’re still finding pieces in the Library. So they didn’t use magic?”

“None that I saw.”

“So we can rule out any Alpha.”

“Why’s that?”

“Alphas spend most of their time in The Veil after graduation, it’s s’pposed to be a great honor.”

“Mm.” Lilith nodded. “And Betas?”

“They usually end up being teachers or staff, and the rest end up as magi.”

“Then a former Delta.”

“Most likely.”

“One skilled enough to break back into a floating school?”

“Most certainly.”

“One that knew exactly where everyone would be for the most opportune heist in ten thousand years?”

“Highly unlikely.”

They sat in silence, chewing on that.

“But who? A student of Arleigh’s angry with him perhaps? They asked about him specifically.”

“They might have had detention with him then. But we can’t go waltzing up and asking him.”

Lilith’s brows furrowed, then lifted in a smile. The mask was turning into quite the handy item. “No, we couldn’t. But somebody he trusts could.”