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Arios had been thinking about Garron more than he liked to admit. It wasn't something he could shake off as paranoia anymore. The instructor had always been a bit too stiff, too careful, too deliberate in his movements and words. On the surface, there was nothing wrong with that—plenty of instructors were strict. But it was the subtle things that made Arios suspicious. The way Garron's eyes occasionally darted away when certain topics were raised. The way he avoided questions about his past with rehearsed answers. The way he always seemed connected to the council, yet never directly responsible for anything.

Arios remembered the instructor's resume he had pulled up once on the school's public archive. He wasn't supposed to have done that, but it wasn't particularly restricted either. It was a profile page with the usual: birthplace, education, positions held, research contributions. It all looked neat at first glance—too neat. Until Arios noticed that five years were missing. An entire gap with no explanation. No listed school, no academy affiliation, no position. Just blank space.

Normally, someone with Garron's reputation would fill that space with lectures, research, assistantships, or anything to avoid suspicion. But Garron hadn't. And that blank gap was the reason Arios now found himself climbing the stone steps toward the academy's main library on a quiet afternoon.

The library wasn't just for books. In its lower floors were the archives: dusty shelves stacked with academy newspapers, newsletters, and city prints going back decades. Arios figured if Garron had been anywhere in the open academic world during those missing years, some trace of him might exist. A name in a headline, a small mention in a report, maybe even a dismissal note.

He reached the front desk. The librarian on duty glanced up but didn't bother asking questions; students were free to browse, and Arios was known for being quiet in his research. He went down the stairs to the archive section and pulled open the heavy door.

Dust greeted him. The smell of old paper and ink was strong here. Rows of bound volumes lined the shelves, each labeled by year and month. Arios ran his fingers over the spines until he found the first year of Garron's "missing" gap. He pulled out a bound volume, laid it on the long oak table, and flipped it open.

At first, he skimmed through local events, tournament results, academic announcements. Nothing unusual. But then, halfway through, a headline caught his eye.

Westveil Academy Instructor Dismissed Amid Misconduct Allegations

March, Year 431

The administration of Westveil Academy confirmed today the dismissal of Instructor Graven following an internal investigation into inappropriate behavior toward several students. Although no criminal charges were filed, the academy released a statement declaring that "professional standards had been compromised." The case has drawn criticism from parents demanding stricter oversight of faculty.

Arios narrowed his eyes. Graven. Not Garron, but close. The initial was the same. He frowned and kept reading. The article ended with little else—no photograph, no detail about where Graven might go next.

It could have been coincidence. There were plenty of instructors with names starting with G. But Arios felt something in his gut telling him it wasn't just random.

He closed the volume and pulled out the next year. Another round of announcements, another cycle of events. And then, again, something jumped at him.

Instructor Garonel Expelled from Blackthorn Collegium

September, Year 432

The Blackthorn Collegium issued a statement yesterday confirming that Instructor Garonel has been removed from his post due to repeated complaints of inappropriate advances toward students. While the Collegium declined to release the specifics, sources close to the matter described "serious breaches of conduct" that left administrators with no choice but to act. Parents have urged regional authorities to begin inquiries into academic hiring standards.

Arios tapped the page with his finger. Another G-name. Another dismissal. Another case of "misconduct" left vague but damning.

He leaned back, his mind racing. Garron wasn't in either of these names, yet the timing was too precise. The missing years on Garron's resume overlapped perfectly with these incidents. If it were only one case, he might have dismissed it. But now there were two.

He flipped further, digging into the third year. His eyes scanned page after page until a bold headline stopped him again.

Scandal at Southmere Academy: Instructor Graves Removed from Post

January, Year 433

Southmere Academy has confirmed that Instructor Graves is no longer employed following an inquiry into allegations of misconduct. Witnesses claim that students had raised concerns for months before formal action was taken. The academy expressed "deep regret" for the incident but declined to elaborate further, citing the privacy of those involved.

Three cases. Three different institutions. Three different G-names. All within the same five-year window.

Arios felt the weight of the pattern forming in his mind. He couldn't prove Garron was any of these men, but it was difficult to believe otherwise. Instructors could change names, adopt new identities, or simply move across regions to avoid notoriety. And each case had the same outline: vague misconduct, quiet dismissal, parents unhappy with lack of detail, and an instructor who disappeared without trace afterward.

He checked the fourth year, almost expecting nothing. But again, another headline appeared.

Academy of Redvale Confirms Removal of Instructor Garreth

June, Year 434

The Academy of Redvale announced the termination of Instructor Garreth after internal disciplinary proceedings. While the administration has not revealed the nature of the complaints, statements from several guardians suggest repeated concerns about student welfare. The Academy stressed that "student safety remains paramount" but faced questions over why the action was not taken sooner.

Arios closed his eyes briefly. Four names. Four dismissals. All instructors. All names starting with G. All within the exact span Garron had omitted from his resume.

He pulled the final year volume, half expecting the pattern to continue. He wasn't disappointed.

Instructor Garris Dismissed Following Inquiry

November, Year 435

Instructor Garris has been dismissed from his position at Northwind Academy following an internal review. The academy released a short statement citing "incompatibility with professional standards." No criminal charges have been pursued, but the case adds to a growing list of dismissals involving academy faculty across the region.

Arios shut the book and sat back in silence. His thoughts tumbled over each other. Graven, Garonel, Graves, Garreth, Garris. Five names. Five dismissals. Five institutions.

And then Garron.

The gap in his resume was the same five years. Not one mention of where he had worked during that period. No references, no acknowledgments. Just blankness.

The odds of this being coincidence were too low. Either Garron had used multiple names across different institutions, or he had been involved with these instructors in a way that tied him to the scandals. Either way, Arios knew now that Garron wasn't clean.

He flipped his notebook open and began writing down the headlines in careful order, noting the years and the institutions. His handwriting was steady, but his mind buzzed with unease.

He didn't know how deep this went. He didn't know if Garron had powerful backing or if the council already knew about this and chose to look away. What he did know was that Garron was hiding something dangerous.

The library was quiet except for the scratching of his pen. He stayed there another hour, re-reading the articles to make sure he hadn't missed anything.

When he finally stood and returned the volumes to the shelves, his body felt heavy. The air outside the archive felt fresher, but it did little to ease his unease.

As he walked toward the exit, he heard a voice behind him.

"Arios?"

He turned to see Lucy and Liza approaching. Lucy looked surprised, while Liza had a smirk on her face.

"What are you doing down here?" Lucy asked.

"Research," Arios said simply.

Liza tilted her head. "Research or secret detective work?"

He sighed. "Something like that."

"See?" Liza nudged Lucy. "Detective Arios. Always poking around in dusty books like he's chasing criminals."

Lucy frowned. "You should be careful. If you're looking into things you shouldn't, it could backfire."

Arios gave a small nod. "I know. But I can't ignore it."

The three of them walked out of the library together. Liza kept teasing him, calling him "Detective Arios" in an exaggerated tone, while Lucy stayed quiet but close to him, her concern plain in her eyes.

By the time they reached the cafeteria, the weight of the archive's discoveries was still pressing in Arios's mind. But for now, he let the noise of the students and the lighthearted banter of his companions cover it, knowing he would need time to decide his next step.

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[A/N:] Your humble author has a new challenge! I'm usually good for a 2-4 chapter drop, but I've been thinking... what if we could go for an epic 6-chapter release?

I've decided to make it a reality check. If someone out there blesses me with a Magic Castle (or any gift above it), I'll literally consider it a direct challenge and drop those 6 chapters in a single day or two. Can you make this happen? I'm fucking waiting.

If you find any errors ( broken links, non-standard content, etc.. ), Please let us know < report chapter > so we can fix it as soon as possible.