“Hey, how are you? Can you see me?” The girl sounds worried. Her long blue hair hangs over her shoulders, but her face is not visible.

“You must be a first year. People like us shouldn't mess with the nobility, you know? Because those are the rules at this school. We just have to fit in.”

She jumps up, startled.

“Oh, I'm sorry! I'm talking so much again. I didn't even ask your name.”

“...”

“Cyril? That name has a nice ring to it! Really nice!”

The corners of her mouth lift into a crescent grin.

“Nice to meet you, Cyril! My name is 「 」”

“Ugh, shit... My head...”

Cyril holds his head in pain as he wakes up in the hospital bed. The glaring overhead lights only worsen his discomfort.

“I may have some fighting experience, but I still don't stand a chance against a Lacrima...” is the first thought he can grasp.

“I haven't been here for a long time...” Cyril lets his gaze wander over the infirmary. The curtains block his view of the neighboring beds. Cyril carefully lifts himself out of bed. His muscles still ache a little from the electric shock and his face feels swollen, but for someone like Cyril that's not a big problem; he's been through worse.

He quickly puts on his blue jacket and slips into his shoes: something has piqued his interest.

“That's right, yes! I haven't seen this place for a long time either...”

As Cyril looks out of the window of the infirmary, a huge garden opens up before his eyes. The late spring weather makes the buds of the flowers bloom and bathes the garden in a sea of bright colors.

Cyril can't get enough of the sight. Two years ago, the garden had already enchanted him and still does today.

“You haven't been here for a long time, Cyril.”

Cyril turns around.

“Ah, Selim!”

Selim, the chairman of the gardening club, sits in his infirmary bed with folded hands. He was the first acquaintance Cyril made at Sirenford and today the two still have a friendly relationship.

Last night, Selim was the victim of the violent attack that brought the masked man to the scene.

“How are you?” Cyril asks, looking at the thick bandage on Selim's head - who in turn carefully touches his short black hair:

“Pretty good so far, but the doctor wants me to stay here for another day... I want to get out of here as soon as possible though...”

He gestures with his head to the beds on his right. Two students are lying in the two beds; one of them has a bandage wrapped across his face.

“Your attackers, huh? I can't believe they moved these guys right next to you after what happened...”

Cyril shakes his head in bewilderment.

Selim lowers his eyes and stares at his folded hands:

“By now, I guess the whole school knows what happened, huh? But the school will sweep the incident under the carpet as usual... I guess...”

Cyril was already painfully aware of this; Dennis Evert and Valon Creek are both sons of influential barons who seem to have good relations with the student council.

“Yes... I'm sure the student council will pull out all the strings to cover it up...”

“I assume so, anyway. My memories of last night are hazy, but I remember the two of them saying they had Semis from the student council on their side.”

Cyril's face darkens at the name. Semis Bazma, the Peacemaker of Meadows. Both his title and his reputation are nothing but a façade!

A Peacemaker should stand for justice.

A Peacemaker should protect the weak.

But instead, they do the exact opposite at this school!

“Doesn't it make you angry?”

The words came out of Cyril's mouth unintentionally; He knows full well that neither he, nor Selim can stand up to the Student Council or the Peacemakers. Defying the laws of the academy is akin to lèse majesté and that in turn is akin to a reprimand or worse.

“Cyril...”

Selim tries to find the right words:

“I-I am grateful... I am grateful to the masked man who is said to have saved my life.”

“The masked man from the rumors? Have you seen him?”

Selim shakes his head.

“No, I only heard it from the rumors.”

Selim stops briefly.

“B-but... to know that there is still someone among the students who will stand up against the tyranny and let justice be served... It gives me a little hope.”

Selim lifts his head and looks at Cyril. His face, pale earlier, seems to have gained color.

“It gives me hope that students like us will one day be able to experience our school days without violence and with joy!”

Cyril doesn't know what to say. The masked man. Anyone who resists is sorted out and expelled, but a mask... a secret identity... You can't expel someone from the academy whose identity you don't know.

It would be the safest form of vigilante justice - until you're exposed at some point.

Cyril crosses his arms:

“I think this masked man is a reckless idiot...”

But somehow the thought of the mysterious fighter for justice inspires him.

Maybe he could also-?

No. That's moronic. He has seen for himself what happens to those who oppose the rule of the student council. He's seen it happen to her...

“I'm going to get some fresh air.” Says Cyril

“Don't do that,” replies Selim, ”Stay in bed. After all, you're hurt too.”

He glances towards the door:

“Besides, the doctor will notice if you leave the infirmary.”

“That's not a problem.”

Cyril grins maliciously.

“I'm the son of a pirate, you know. Doors aren't my only exits!”

He takes the handle of the window behind him and tries to open it.

“...”

It doesn't move a bit...?

Is the window stuck?

Cyril pulls aggressively on the handle, but the window seems to be welded to the frame.

Shit! There goes my cool exit...

“Hehe...” Embarrassed, Cyril turns to Selim, who looks at him in confusion.

“I don't want you to sit in a draught, so I'd better take the other window. You should thank me!”

“Huh, what-?”

But before Selim can utter his question, Cyril has already yanked open the neighboring window and jumps out with a swing.

“Cyril, wait!”

But it was already too late. The silver-haired boy has already disappeared.

Fortunately, the infirmary is on the ground floor.