I created my own system

Lena Riverside went back to her village to mourn for her sister's death, the academy on the other hand put a mass to pray for her soul. Many attended though I could feel a different atmosphere while the mass began. It was an ambience that didn't seem grief to the deceased but more of a tension that makes you feel suffocated.

Someone is nervous I can tell, their actions and the tiniest change in their expression tells me that they are anxious about something. Something that I am eager to know. Enjoy new chapters from empire

The mass was held in the academy chapel. It was called a chapel though its size can accommodate at least 500 or more people. Chairs line up filled with students while the grand altar shows the twelve Gods, it stood majestically with its massive size and carved images of the said Gods.

In the middle of it are twelve priests that represent each church of the twelve Gods, they spoke benevolently putting their faith in power to bless the fallen soul of the deceased.

As the mass continued I immediately observed my surroundings wanting to see the attendees' reaction to the sermons of the priests.

[Creator those three girls sitting at the very back are Olena's former friends]

"Former?"

[Yes, from what I gathered they started avoiding her when our victim began being targeted by Edgar and his goodie lackeys]

"From the conversation you have listened to, how long the bullying has been going on?"

[According to those three girls it started last year when they were still third-year students]

"My brother and sister, were they included in the bullying?"

[No, actually it seems your siblings are the shackles that bind Edgar from overly using his status. However every time they leave for missions Edgar runs wild like he was the king of this Academy]

"How about Prince Titus and the other children from noble families, don't tell me they turn a blind eye to this"

[Our culprit is good at hiding his tracks and silencing people. That is why he hasn't been caught since he started attending this academy]

"Hah!....this is stupid"

I gasp my head with only one thought

They knew about this, they should know it yet they didn't try to stop, and now a life has been taken.

I closed my eyes for a bit and sincerely I prayed, I want her soul to be at peace, to find the path to the cycle and have a new life different from the grief she suffered here. I prayed even more and wished that all the gods were to forgive her sin for killing herself.

When I was already done with my prayers I went out not finishing the mass.

"Are you done?"

Mckenzie immediately said to me as soon as he saw me.

"I am done, what did you guys get?"

Right in front of me are the boys of my class Blair, Mckenzie, Braiden, Aaron, Samael, Casper and Niko. On that day unlike me who went to bed early, my friends remained at the scene and observed the people who came back and forth. Although Jeremiah was there to investigate it wouldn't really hurt to ask for their help.

"About that we found some suspicious reactions from some professors" Braiden started to report while we walked steadily towards our class building. The rest of us were waiting there.

"Apollo this is just our assumption but I think this is a case of bullying" Samael voiced out his concerns as he took another folder.

"The students I saw yesterday, they have been talking about something so I memorized every word they say and recorded them here" he added as he handed me a long brown envelope.

"It seems they knew what was happening to her yet they didn't dare to utter a single name" he added.

As we walked the road it was packed with more students, though we didn't experience any hard time moving since they would move away as if we had a contagious disease.

The reason for this crowd was that today's classes were cancelled to specifically pray for Olena's soul. This free time gives us some time to investigate the people who were included in bullying her.

"Apollo you knew she killed herself due to bullying right?"

Aaron asked me to which I nodded in answer.

"Based on what you gave me Samael, it wasn't just some students but professors were also involved"

"We can only conclude from this that the culprit is from the nobility or a member of an aristocratic family. They are the only people that can influence large-scale people and known personnel of the academy"

"So shall we filter the people who could possibly be the ring leader of this?"

Mckenzie suggested then he took a sheet of paper from his pocket and began unfolding it.

"We all concluded this last night and I think we found the guy, based on what we have been talking about and the evidence we have gathered. We think the culprit is Edgar Williams"

"And your reasoning?" I asked wanting to hear the explanation he could give me.

"It's true that nobles and well-known families can execute influence to order others but it won't be to the extent that it could affect the professors. Even the emperor cannot do this since the imperial family has an oath not to interfere too much in academy affairs. So we should remove the imperial princes and their enterouge. What is left now are the second bearers of power in the empire.

The four ducal houses and the house of the archduke, also can't be them since they are loyal to the crown and will not do something that can tarnish their reputation. And as the saying goes the oath of the emperor is the oath of the dukes. The crown won't interfere with the academy and so the dukes won't as well.

That gives us to the third bearers, the house of the marquises and out of all of them only one stands out. They have established a firm foothold on this place and have been the key figures in its prestigious history, the Williams"

Mckenzie concluded while my eyes saw that the piece of paper in his hand was the written words he just said.

"Was that a script?" I thought but then Aaron suddenly spoke making my attention shift.

"Apollo I think the professors knew what was going on, but turned a blind eye after all the Williams family had a firm grip here in the academy"

"Aaron is right with their uncle in the vice headmaster position anyone can be afraid to speak"

Keith's words have some truth in them and from what I heard plenty of the professors here are from their family.

"We marked five professors with questionable actions yesterday here you can see their information here and the things they did before the incident"

Niko said while he gave me an envelope. It was a sizable amount and detailed, they are really good.

"How did you guys do all this?"

"That's a trade secret," they all said to me while giving me a mischievous look.

I couldn't help but laugh at their words though what I was most interested in was the file about the professor's recent activity.

"Three professors were found moving back and forth on a secluded area a few days before the incident"

"And also Edgar applied for a leave of absence on the next day after that suspicious night"

Casper and Mckenzie said while a map of the said area unfolded on my hand.

"Isn't this the club room?" I realized.

"Yup that club is under Edgar's management, the Fireseed club"

I suddenly felt something was off

"I don't know if we have a chance to gather information about this since everyone is too afraid to speak, so whatever happens at that time will be a mystery to us"

Casper is right, I can't help but sigh though it seems that night was the trigger for yesterday's incident.

"So Apollo can we ask you something"

"What is it, Keith?"

"How do plan to proceed with this, we know we can continue this kind of investigation however it will probably take some time. However, if it's you we are sure there is a more convenient and faster way to find evidence"

"I agree with Keith, following tracks and speaking to some people about the incident will only drag time. We don't have that and we know you don't want to prolong this"

Blair commented until we finally arrived at our class building.n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om

"Oh, we forgot to mention this but the girls got their hands on something as well, we should hear it out" Blair added.

And so all of us went inside and there in the lecture room the rest of my classmates gathered.

"Wait you guys"

I was a little dumbfounded when I realized it wasn't just them but some of Lena's close friends from the Middle class are here.

"What's happening?" I asked and immediately Alya explained.

"They have something to say Apollo so sit with us"

I was confused but still obeyed her words and so all of us newcomers sat alongside them.

"So care to explain what is going on?"

As soon as we settled on our seats, I asked Mica, Lena's best friend.

My words however make the girl's expression livid.

"Um...Apollo, you once told us that if we were to be in trouble you would help right?"