Morning came slowly to Hillcrest Academy.
At 6 a.m., the medical room was quiet except for the faint hum of equipment.
Raymond entered carrying a tray of breakfast and medicine.
Eden was awake, sitting carefully against the bedrest. His movements were slow, like his body still remembered the fall he never completed.
Raymond placed the tray beside him.
"Eat this. You can't take medicine without eating anything."
Eden nodded silently and began eating.
Each bite felt mechanical. His mind wasn't focused on the food.
It was focused on the other bed.
Adrian lay there, still unconscious. The bandage around his shoulder was fresh and tight.
Eden's eyes stayed there longer than he realized.
Raymond noticed.
"The doctor said Adrian sir should regain consciousness in three to four hours."
Eden spoke quietly.
"His shoulder got injured again…"
Raymond didn't reply. He only nodded once.
After Eden finished eating, Raymond asked gently,
"You're fine?"
"Hm."
Eden glanced around.
"Where's my phone?"
"It's with the doctor," Raymond said. "Avoid it for now."
"Okay."
Raymond left the room, deliberately keeping the silence undisturbed.
Eden looked back at Adrian.
"Why did you save me…?" he whispered.
"Why did you make me visible…?"
Adrian didn't respond.
But one of his fingers twitched slightly.
Eden noticed.
Eden almost called Raymond back to tell him Adrian moved.
But he didn't.
For some reason, he wanted to believe Adrian would wake up on his own.
Just like yesterday — when Adrian arrived at the right moment.
He didn't know why, but that tiny movement made his chest tighten.
Outside the medical room, two staff members stood quietly on duty.
For the first time, Eden was being protected.
---
At 8:30 a.m., students began arriving at the academy.
Keris walked in with his head down, avoiding eye contact. His mind repeated the same thought again and again.
What if everyone blames me?
The Devil Trio arrived as well, unusually quiet.
Many students wanted to meet Eden, but fear stopped them. For the first time, even the most powerful students at Hillcrest were afraid of consequences.
Later, Professor Finch announced that all lectures were cancelled for the day.
No one returned to their hostel rooms.
Students gathered in the canteen. Professors remained there too instead of going to the staff room.
Raymond looked around and whispered, "Everyone's waiting for something… they just don't know what."
---
At 10 a.m., the medical room door opened.
Adrian walked out.
Eden followed behind him.
Students stood up instinctively.
The entire canteen fell silent. Even the sound of plates stopped.
Some students realized they were holding their breath.
Adrian's steps were steady — but slower than usual
Adrian's face was pale, but his posture remained steady.
He looked at the students once before speaking.
"What happened yesterday is not acceptable."
For a brief second, no one moved.
Even the faint clatter of cups stopped.
Some students noticed the slight stiffness in Adrian's left shoulder when he adjusted his stance.
Eden stood a few steps behind him and realized something uncomfortable.
Adrian should have been resting.
Instead, he was standing here — addressing them.
Not defending himself.
Not questioning anyone.
Not asking for sympathy.
Only setting structure.
A few professors exchanged glances.
They understood what this meant.
This was not damage control.
This was reform.
His calm voice carried across the canteen.
"One more privilege will now be given to all of you — counseling sessions."
Students exchanged glances.
Eden's jaw tightened.
Samuel watched quietly from the side.
He regained consciousness after nine hours… and this is what he does first.
Adrian continued.
"The first three sessions are general sessions. Attendance is mandatory — for students and staff."
"There will be separate time slots to avoid discomfort."
"The counselors arriving today are professionals. Conversations will remain confidential."
"No extra charges will be taken."
After finishing, Adrian began walking toward the principal's quarters.
Lucas stepped forward.
"Sir… a police van has been outside since last night."
Students stiffened.
Adrian simply nodded and kept walking.
---
Eden returned to his hostel room.
Two staff members stood in the corridor.
Inside, Eden lay on his bed, staring at the wall. A tear slipped down his face.
At the canteen, whispers began again.
"Why is there a police van?"
"Are they going to arrest someone?"
"Who filed a complaint?"
"Why are the Devil Trio silent?"
Professors heard fragments of conversation but chose not to interfere. They had their own questions.
---
The Devil Trio stood aside.
Leon finally spoke. "I got a message from Mr. Lee. Eden's father filed a complaint against everyone."
"Everyone?" Ethan asked.
Leon nodded.
Marcus asked, "What else did he say?"
Leon lowered his voice.
"Mr. Lee arranged things… so if arrests happen, we won't be involved."
Silence followed.
"They're protecting their reputation, not us," Ethan muttered. "I don't even remember the last time I saw my father."
Marcus sighed. "Then who gets arrested?"
Leon replied, "Maybe the principal… Keris… or someone else."
No one spoke after that.
---
In the afternoon, a taxi entered Hillcrest.
Raymond saw the man step out.
"Eden's father…" he whispered.
Eden's father walked forward, anger visible on his face.
"I filed a complaint against all of you," he said. "Because of this academy, my son tried to end his life. I won't spare anyone responsible."
He went straight to Eden's room.
Eden's father stopped at the door for a second before knocking.
His hand trembled slightly.
The anger on his face was real — but the fear behind it was stronger.
Finally Eden father knocked
"Eden, open the door."
Eden opened it.
His father immediately hugged him.
"You don't need to worry anymore. No one will harm you."
"I'm taking you home. You won't stay in this academy."
Eden's father paused after saying it.
For the first time since arriving, his voice lowered.
"Do you know what it feels like," he said quietly, "to get a call saying your son almost jumped?"
His grip on Eden's shoulders tightened — not in anger, but in fear.
"I built everything so you wouldn't struggle. I sent you here because this academy had a name. A reputation."
He looked around the small room.
"And now that name almost cost me my son."
Eden didn't look away this time.
"They didn't push me," he said slowly. "They didn't even know."
His father's expression shifted — confusion replacing certainty.
"You think I didn't notice?" Eden continued.
"People were watching yesterday. They were afraid."
A pause.
"But they were watching."
Eden struggled to speak.
"They saved me… even the principal got injured."
"They're protecting their image," his father replied.
"I'm not leaving," Eden said softly. "Counseling has started. Things will change."
His father didn't argue further.
Inside, Eden thought quietly:
Maybe I'm not invisible anymore.
He remembered standing on the tower… the crowd below… Adrian climbing toward him.
Outside, Samuel passed by and murmured, "This boy is still fighting."
---
At 5 p.m., a police jeep entered the academy grounds.
Shock spread instantly.
The Devil Trio exchanged glances.
Keris froze.
Luther shifted nervously.
Eden and his father came outside.
"Dad… you filed the complaint?" Eden asked.
"Yes."
"They didn't do anything…"
His father remained silent.
The inspector stepped out of the jeep.
"In this academy," he announced, "students are harassed and bullied. Yesterday, one student attempted self-harm. We will investigate everyone. No one leaves the academy until the case is resolved."
Eden's father asked, "You're not arresting anyone?"
"We are arresting two people," the inspector replied. "The student Keris… and Principal Adrian."
Shock spread across the ground.
Professor Finch stepped forward. "Principal Adrian saved Eden's life."
"It could be an act," the inspector replied. "For sympathy."
Raymond spoke, "He was injured saving Eden."
"It could be planned."
No one spoke after that.
Police personnel went to bring Adrian.
Another officer handcuffed Keris.
Keris didn't resist.
Keris's knees felt weak as the officer pulled him forward.
Students stepped back unconsciously, creating space around him.
For the first time, Keris understood what it meant to stand alone.
He didn't look at Luther.
He didn't look at Eden.
He only looked down.
When his father's voice cut through the air, Keris felt something strange — not relief, not comfort — just exhaustion.
At that moment, another taxi arrived.
Keris's father stepped out with a lawyer.
"You cannot arrest my son without proof," the father said.
The inspector replied, "We have camera footage showing Keris bullying Eden."
The lawyer responded calmly, "There were also viral clips of Ethan, Leon, and Marcus bullying students. I have copies."
"Don't teach me my job," the inspector snapped.
"If you don't arrest them, you cannot arrest Keris without a statement," the lawyer replied.
Keris's father added, "If you still arrest my son, I'll call the media."
The inspector clenched his jaw.
After a pause, he ordered Keris to be released.
Eden's father remained silent.
Footsteps approached from the administrative corridor.
The sound of handcuffs became audible before Adrian appeared.
He looked once at the Devil Trio… then at Eden's father… then at Keris's father… then at the students and staff.
He said nothing.
Adrian stepped into the police van.
The vehicle drove away.
The sound of the engine faded slowly.
No one moved for several seconds.
Luther felt something tighten in his chest.
Keris had bullied him for months.
There were days he avoided certain corridors just to not cross paths.
But this — this wasn't what justice looked like.
He glanced toward the Devil Trio.
They were standing still. Watching. Silent.
Power didn't argue.
It rearranged outcomes.
Professor Finch adjusted his glasses again — once, then again — a small, habitual gesture when control slipped beyond reach.
Raymond remained near the steps, hands folded behind his back.
He had seen disorder at Hillcrest before.
This felt different.
This felt like the beginning of something that would not stop at one arrest.
Finally, a student spoke.
"That principal tried to change the academy… and now he's arrested. No one said anything."
Another student said, "Devil Trio didn't get arrested because their fathers are powerful. Keris was saved too."
"But no one tried to save the principal."
Professor Finch spoke quietly.
"Adrian even stayed the closure order of Hillcrest… and saved the Devil Trio from going to jail once."
"But today… no one spoke."
---
Somewhere outside Hillcrest, in a dim room, Avein's phone buzzed.
A message appeared.
"Principal arrested."
Avein looked at the screen and said calmly,
"The shield of Hillcrest has been taken down."