[Earlier in the Principal’s office]

Richard leaned forward, holding a crude bone mug that had gone through the test of time.

"Want some?"

Thomas, who sat across from him, shook his head to decline.

"Your loss." Richard poured himself another drink from a blurred bottle. The liquid was transparent, with a sharp smell.

After a long gulp, he set the mug down. "Out with it."

Tom sighed as he rested his rod on his lap. His expression grew serious.

"What do you think about the battle?"

"The Vermith held back more," Richard said simply.

"Hmmm," Tom muttered even as his grip tightened on his rod. "I disagree... she is just bad at her skills."

Richard laughed. "Don’t let a Vermith hear that..."

Taking another sip. Richard’s jaw tightened. "Isn’t that the problem?"

Shifting in the wooden chair. Hard lines formed on Tom’s forehead. "Yes and No."

Richard’s eyes widened as he laid back on his own chair. His fingers still curled on the mug’s handle.

"I’m listening..." he said with calm authority

"Shut up!" Tom said as he tapped his black rod on the table.

"She might possess raw power but she being here, shows her family’s devotion" Tom smiled. "Or lack of it."

"...Or she is here to do something of value we don’t know about yet," Richard intercepted.

Tom was taken aback by his observation. Placing his hand on his chin.

"That would mean, there is something we’re missing?"

"Indeed."

Richard suddenly stood up as he limped slowly to a wardrobe at the left hand side of the room.

"Something missing..." Richard repeated as he hummed and opened the wardrobe. Brought out a container and picked up something from inside.

"I found what’s missing." Richard held up a brown cube and dropped it in his drink.

The mixture inside the mug sizzled as he twirled it for a good mix.

Rolling his eyes. Tom sighed deeply. "Would you take this seriously?"

"I am..."

"No.. you’re not." Tom’s hand tightened on his rod. "You believe Louis and the others are enough to keep the balance."

"Of course. I do..." Richard took an even more satisfying gulp.

"Most of our best are graduating soon... she is just a first year."

"And Louis?" Richard raised a brow.

"Easily distracted." Tom sighed...

Richard knew the relationship between them. Tom had trained the Saint boy since before the boy learned to speak.

"Don’t fret.. Tommy. The boy would eventually grow into his role as a Saint."

Tom rubbed his forehead like he was getting a migraine.

"You sure.. you don’t want one of these?" Richard asked again with a small smile tugging the edge of his lips.

Sighing in defeat. Tom gestured for some.

"That’s more like it." Richard hummed as he poured the man a drink and slid it across.

Tom took the drink and immediately gulped it.

"Damn... was it always this bitter?" Tom grimaced with a weird face.

"Forgetting your roots..." Richard whistled.

"Shut up!" Tom snapped.

Richard laughed as they drank in silence for a second.

"What about the Gray?"

"What about him?" Richard still kept his expression straight.

"He broke the rules," Tom replied.

"...But he won. Against an Argent for that matter."

"That’s not the point. The rules are the rules."

Richard’s hand suddenly touched a scar on his neck. "Not always."

"That’s in the past," Tom sighed. "You know what happens without the rules brother..."

Richard fell back into his chair. "We all drown."

Tom nodded. "So..you know what you’ve to do."

"Me???" Richard jumped forward from the chair.

"You’re the guy, they come to .. remember?"

Tom raised both eye brows teasingly.

Chuckling softly, Richard sat back down as his eyes turned into a spiral shape.

"Make the announcement."

<><><>

Several minutes after the announcement, Dean was outside Richard’s office.

His palms were sweating and yet he couldn’t tell what he was so afraid of.

Openly calling him here, should mean he was safe right?

After all, what would they gain from expelling him in private? Nothing...right? If they really wanted to make a point, they would do it publicly.

"Damn!" He massaged his forehead. If he was expelled here, then he was getting a space in the Guinness book of records.

’Expelled before your first real class.’ That would be quite the title. Couldn’t compare to dying to Pee-Kun though, but still...

While he was tapping his feet on the ground nervously. The knob to the door by his left twisted.

It opened as Dr.Thomas walked out. He stopped just beside Dean and shot him a glance.

Dean’s heart picked up the pace immediately. All the mantras to calm himself that he kept repeating in his mind had failed.

"He’s waiting for you." The instructor finally said before walking away.

Dean gulped and walked in front of the door. Twisting the knob, he entered into the room doing his best to keep a neutral expression.

Inside,.Richard was sitting on the edge of the desk, running his fingers along a snow-white blade with the Gray crest on its hilt.

He didn’t spare Dean a look even aftrr he entered.

Letting himself just stand there. Dean didn’t move a muscle. Waiting for Richard to say or do something.

Finally, Richard looked up to see Dean there as if he just saw him.

"Beautiful craftsmanship. Your family doesn’t make mistakes, do they?"

"We try our best," Dean said.

"Interesting..." Richard said as he tilted the blade to inspect the edges."Funny thing about mistakes. Some you can fix. Others..." he shot Dean a glance. "Can be fatal."

Dean’s jaw tightened. "If this is about Marcus. I-"

"It’s about safety." Richard set the sword down gently. "We have about five hundred students here, Gray. Their wellbeing is my responsibility. You understand that?"

"Yes."

Richard nodded as he began limping to his cane. "Then you understand why what happened today can’t happen again."

Dean nodded repeatedly, as if he was programmed to do so.

"Thomas fought for you." Richard said casually. "Argued for your potential. Your dark horse potential."

He paused, resting on the silver head of his cane.

"I would have expelled you."

Dean still flinched slightly even though it was only confirmation to what he expected.

Richard finally let out a small smile. "Since that man can be convincing. I’ll stick to his light punishment. You’ll remain on probation."

Dean sighed inwardly. Thomas had saved his ass. Maybe he should lie down on a couch and tell the man all about his feelings.

Or, you know. ’Just say thanks..’

"Yeah, you should do that, " Richard said with a grin on his face.

Dean’s eyes widened...

...Had he said that out loud?