38. Implicated!

Christopher was sitting in the private training room with no intent to train today. He might as well take the morning to rest.

On getting to the hall that morning, they were informed that the exam for the day would not commence until noon and that was the last one. Christopher did not know if he was supposed to be happy about that.

Since everything changed at the last minute the exam went for three days and not a week like it was usually held.

He simply placed his sword beside him and laid on the floor.

Interrupting his train of thoughts he heard a slight knock on the door. He turned around and was surprised to see Mr Coniel from the glass door. He smiled at him and Christopher got up to open the door.

“I see that you must like this place a lot.”

Christopher flashed a wane smile not knowing how to reply.

“Congratulations,” Mr Coniel started.

“Huh,” he answered looking confused.

“On discovering your element and doing well in the exams so far.”

“Thank you sir,” he nodded and bowed.

Not wanting to drag the conversation further, he excused himself and left Christopher alone.

As soon as it was 12:00 pm, all the disciples were gathered in the hall. They had all taken their respective seats and anticipated the announcement of the next exam. For many, they were excited that this was the last while others that had not really performed well in the first two were not.

All the disciples had taken their respective positions but Mr Coniel's seat was vacant.

While Christopher was still wondering why this was so, Derrick got up to address them.

“Good day red falcons disciples. I must commend your excellence in the past exams. You all have taken the surprises well and have proven that you are capable of handling emergency situations in the real world.”

“For today you have been given a special task.”

He took a paper from an object on the table before him and unraveled it.

He smiled and was about to speak.

Just then Mr Coniel walked in seeming very agitated.

He and Derrick had a conversation in whispers that none of them could make anything out of.

While they conversed, Christopher noticed that Derrick's face changed to that of shock and horror.

He cleared his throat while Mr Coniel sat down looking very distressed.

"Guys, it has come to our attention that the red falcons plaque has been stolen."

The whole hall erupted in shouts of ahhh.

Only the first year students did not understand what was being spoken about.

“What's that?” someone asked from the crowd.

“It's a key that gives access to the academy to people from another world. We have succeeded in protecting ourselves for years and keeping the key safely but if they have their hands on it. We would no longer be safe.”

Fear gripped them.

“How is that possible?” people murmured.

“But I have an idea,” Derrick continued.

"We can find it collectively. It can't be that far. According to Mr Coniel's reports. It went missing this morning."

Christopher couldn't help but eye him. Something was not adding up in his story.

“I think we have our last exam now.”

“The treasure hunt. You are to find the red falcons plaque. Whoever finds it will be rewarded.”

Even if they were scared before, upon hearing that there was a reward for whoever found it, their moods changed.

Everyone hurried away and began to check different places they could think of.

Christopher waited until everyone had left. He was now the only disciple remaining in the hall. Seeing that he was alone, Derrick approached him.

“Why are you still here?”

“Are you not interested in finding it?”

Christopher thought long and hard before finally speaking up.

“You did not tell us to go yet and besides don't we get any clues?” he asked.

“I don't even know what the plaque looks like.”

Derrick smirked and patted his shoulders.

“You are really something, you know that right.”

“I can't say. We are all just convinced that it is still in this academy.”

Christopher cocked a brow expecting further explanation from Derrick.

"The plaque has an aura of its own that we can sense, so Mr Coniel and I can still feel that it's still in the academy."

“So how will I know it's it when I find it?”

“You will feel its strong auras when you are around it,” he replied.

"Does that mean that anyone can feel its aura?" Christopher asked again.

“Not anyone but I'm sure you can”

With that being said, he left him alone.

Christopher sighed not knowing where to start from. On the other hand he could decide not to join them, he had done exceedingly well in the others so skipping this shouldn't cause so much of an hassle. He shrugged the idea off and resorted to finding the plaque.

He was almost at the door of the hall when he noticed a signpost on the floor showing an arrow to take the right turn. He wasn't sure if he was the only one who could see it or not.

"Come on go ahead," he heard the voice say in his head.

“Lady bot, is that you?” he questioned with excitement evident in his voice.

“You completely forgot about me,” he heard the voice again.

“How would I forget the system in my head?”

He took the turn and continued walking until he stepped on one of the tiled floors. He could feel it move slightly beneath him. He bent low and touched it. He realized that it was actually not fixed to the ground.

On raising the tile, he could see a wrapped paper. He picked it up and opened it.

It was a map.

He followed the map until he got to a door that was made of very old pine wood.

He could hear sounds of water rushing from it. Using the energy of the wind, he opened it and entered.

The place was beautiful yet familiar.

“Oh yes,” Christopher's eyes lit up as he remembered it.

It was the garden of life.

“The beautiful petals, the birds chirping, the butterflies, trees, the river with clear shiny water.”

Just when he was admiring all of this, the door was shut behind him.

He turned back in an instant but before he could process any of it, he was overpowered and a mask was used to cover his face as he felt a sharp pain in his head.

….

"We found him."

"We found the thief."

He could hear voices faintly but he couldn't stop feeling the sharp pain.

“The thief?”

“ What thief were they talking about?”

The mask was taken off his face as he could see the other disciples gathered around him.

“Why would he do that?”

“Who knows?”

“Maybe that's why he did well in the exams.”

“Hold on, the thief they were referring to was him.”

“How was that possible?”

“I see you have him already,” Mr Coniel's voice echoed from behind as all eyes were on him.

“I didn't steal anything,” Christopher yelled.

Mr Coniel grabbed a remote and played a video on the screen before them.

“Then what is this?” he questioned with disgust.

Christopher could see someone with his exact height and clothes in Mr Coniel's office stealing it.

“But that's not me,” Christopher defended.

It was difficult for him to believe in himself. The hair, height, clothes were all his. But that wasn't him.

“Then prove it,” Mr Coniel thundered.

“If you are not the one who stole it, prove it.”

“But how?” he questioned.

“We already went through your belongings but it's not there.”

“If you bring it back, we will forgive you.”

“How can I bring back what I did not steal?”

“That's not my business, it's yours.”

“I'm disappointed in you,” Mr Coniel spat while walking out.

Christopher was angrier but this whole thing was wrong.

He was left alone in the hall as everyone continued murmuring about him.

He went back to his dorm feeling very downcast.

On getting there ,he was met with a worried Andrew and Zinedine.

“You didn't do it, right?” Andrew asked with pleading eyes.

“No I didn't,” he replied, which made them both relieved.

“We'll help you prove your innocence.”

“No,” he declined.

“I don't want you getting involved in this mess.”

"But….."

They tried to insist and dragged the discussion for hours but Christopher was adamant as his mind was made up already.

If anything, Christopher did not want to drag his friends into it. He needed to get to the bottom of it, but first he had to find the plaque and win Mr Coniel's trust back.

He couldn't stand the sight of him being angry at him. That look of disgust he gave him weighed heavily on his shoulders.

He was suspecting Zane already, he was the only one who held a grudge against him and would do anything to get him out of the way.

Not wanting to be bothered anymore, he waved the thoughts off and went to bed even though he was sure that he would rarely be able to get any sleep.