CHAPTER 768: THE PRICE OF GOOD INTENTIONS

A moment later, Adam was back in the dorms of the House of Exorcism. Though the moon was still young in the starry sky, he found the lounge deserted. No eager students, discussions, or spell show—only silence broken by the stridulation of cicadas.

The boys’ floor was the same, except for the dim lights filtering beneath a few closed doors.

Followed by Quintella, Sarah, and Mathilde, he eyed his room, then took the stairs to the girls’ floor. Not much activity here either. Everyone went to sleep early to begin class in the best condition.

"Here we are." He patted Quintella’s head after she guided him in front of her room. "We had lots of fun, but sleep is as important. Sleep well, Quintella."

"Thank you, big brother." Quintella’s arms trembled around his ribs, the sadness in her hug betraying the cheerful tone of her voice. But before he could reassure her, she stepped back and showed the plushy he had made for her. "It feels as if you’re with me, so don’t worry. I’ll be fine. And what can happen to me when I have two friends sleeping next door?"

As she forced a chuckle that sounded like dry, crumpled paper, Adam nodded. "I know you’re courageous. I’ll see you tomorrow for breakfast. Pastries and candies are, of course, on the menu."

He waved, but before he took three steps, Mathilde sneered. She cupped her hands to amplify her voice, took a deep breath, and then screamed. Windows rattled in their frames as her mana-enchanted voice tore through the hallway, awakening students—and something much worse.

"A boy! On our floor this late!"

Quintella, Sarah, and Adam’s eyes widened. They exchanged glances, flabbergasted by Mathilde’s sudden scream and the immediate uproar it had caused.

Girls erupted from their rooms like a swarm of furious hornets, nightgowns billowing, eyes blazing with outrage.

"Who’s the intruder?!"

"Is this some kind of prank?!"

"I’LL SKIN HIM ALIVE—"

A deep furrow creased Adam’s brow as he glared at Mathilde. She had been the one asking him to escort them back to their rooms. Though he had agreed mostly to support Quintella on her first night away from him, he pursed his lips, feeling betrayed.

"Care to explain what you’re doing?" When he spoke, his voice took an icy tone. A single tremor distorted the air around him, making Mathilde’s triumphant stance falter.

She took half a step back, her lips quivering. "I-I..."

One door slammed against the wall louder than the others, silencing her. From it, Isolde emerged, gnarled back straight, knuckles white around her staff.

"On the first day. After my warning?" She spat, silver mana bursting out of her eyes.

The air thickened, turning suffocating from her mere presence. Even Adam gulped, an icy shiver running down his spine. His eyes darted to the stairs, a single thought blaring in his mind—escape.

He raised his foot, but the air itself thickened, wrestling against his incredible physique. It felt as if thick mercury wrapped around him. His eyes widened, a mantle of horror draping his tense shoulders as he froze mid-movement. This single step seemed impossible to take.

"Since you took the initiative to come, you won’t leave this soon, will you?" There was no warmth in Isolde’s chuckle, only the promise of unavoidable punishment.

What was it again? Upon remembering, Adam pressed his lips into a tight line, a muscle in his jaw trembling half through the strain of trying to move, half in outrage. There would be no forgiveness, no peace, no tomorrow if she goes through with her threat of turning his manhood ethereal.

"W-What? Leave my brother alone!" Despite her cracking voice and tears in her eyes, Quintella rushed in front of Adam, her short arms extended to shield him.

Her breath came out labored each time Isolde’s staff struck the floor, the sound like a countdown to ruin.

"Step back if you don’t want to share his punishment." Isolde’s answer was simple but carried unbearable pressure for an eight-year-old girl.

Jaw clenched, trembling like a leaf battered by tempestuous winds, she stuttered back against everyone’s expectations. "H-He just accompanied us back to our rooms. He was worried about me. He did nothing wrong!"

The other girls harrumphed while Mathilde smirked in triumph. This was not how things worked here.

"Oh, dear child. You’re so young, so naïve," Isolde snorted. "Do you think I care about whys and hows? Worries guided his steps to a place I had banned? Even if you were dying, I would still punish him for breaking the rules." She waved her staff, the ancient wood splitting the air with a sharp whistle. "Now move."

The pressure on Quintella intensified. Tears trailed down her clenched jaw, and her breath refused to come out. The girls’ accusing fingers pointed at her brother, their frenzied glares as if they were watching a criminal walking through death row—they were too much. If no one trusted his brother, she would be the only one then. Now, tomorrow, always.

As her pink eyes narrowed into determined slits, however, Adam’s voice tore through her resolve. It came out in a broken growl, more guttural than gentle despite his efforts. And it made her tears flow harder as she complied. "Step aside, Quintella. I’ll manage."

He exhaled heavily, the sound like a magical serpent’s primal hiss. He had thought chivalrous behavior would be respected in a noble society. Instead, he received scorn and a lesson: rules in Brineheart weren’t to be broken, no matter the reason.

Isolde’s smirk warmed slightly, her tone mocking. "At least you take responsibility for your transgression. I’m not here to judge your intentions. You might have wanted to cheer your sister up, or you could have tried sneaking into a sleeping girl’s room." She raised a finger, emphasising the reason. "Magna and I aren’t managers just in name. You should have sought us."

Adam’s brows twitched, his gaze darkening.

"Now, for the punishment." Isolde slammed her staff against the ground in a theatrical display. "Since it’s your first offense, I’ll deduct a hundred points from the House of Exorcism. It’ll be two hundred next time."

The gloating girls, who had been eager to watch the punishment, gasped. First class hadn’t started, but their balance was already in the negative? They glared at Adam, faces twisted in vengeful grimaces. At least, he would suffer for it.

"I warned everyone equally about the consequences," Isolde continued. "An ethereal limb for a week will surely calm youthful impulses."

One of the oldest girls stepped forward, murder in her blue eyes. "And here I thought our recruit would help us right the House. He’s just another Desmond." She spat, her lips twisted in a scornful grimace. "Cut it off, Teacher Isolde. That’s what he deserves for sabotaging us."

The air thickened even more around Adam, not from Isolde or the girl’s magic, but his own. Killing intent fueled by his mana distorted his frame, his mana billowing like a gathering storm in his circuits. This blue-haired girl—he wouldn’t forget her.

"You’ll hand out punishment once you become a Teacher, Nadia." Isolde waved her hand dismissively.

But before she could proceed, Mathilde stepped in front of her. "I do remember that the punishment had yet to be decided, Teacher Isolde. Though I like yours, I must admit I prefer Magna’s idea of switching the offender’s gender for a week."

She winked at Quintella like a nosy friend who thought she’d helped. All the while, she ignored the girl’s clenched fists.