Luckborn

Otter stood before Administrator Vex's office. He'd heard the man was strict, unforgiving. The heavy oak door loomed before him, its brass handle cold under his palm. He took a steadying breath before pushing it open.

Vex sat behind a sleek gray desk. Aside from a neat stack of folders, an inkwell, and a ticking timepiece, it was bare. There were no richly colored tapestries or bookshelves of dark wood in the room. It was plain, functional—unforgiving. Just like the man himself.

The Administrator didn't look up immediately. His eyes skimmed a document from behind a pair of spectacles before setting it aside with deliberate precision. Finally, he met Otter's gaze. "Mr. Bennett."

Otter swallowed hard and stepped forward. "Sir."

Vex gestured to the chair in front of his desk. "Sit."

Otter obeyed, gripping the worn wooden arms of the chair to steady himself.

"You've been written up for breaking curfew and unauthorized presence in a restricted storage building," Vex said, folding his hands. "Would you care to explain?"

Otter straightened, forcing himself to sound calm. "I wasn't there by choice. Lyle Ainsworth and Torrin Hale ambushed me outside my dorm and locked me in that closet."

Vex arched a single dark brow. "You have evidence of this?"

Otter clenched his jaw. "No, sir. But I—"

"Then what you have is an accusation, not a defense," Vex interrupted smoothly. "And without proof, I cannot act on your claim."

Frustration boiled under Otter's skin. "But they told me themselves that they wanted me gone. They've been after me for weeks—"

"Do you have witnesses?"

"No, but—"

"Mr. Bennett." Vex sighed, sitting back in his chair. "I do not doubt that some students hold resentment toward you. However, I cannot hand down punishment based on suspicion alone. You must understand that justice requires evidence."

Otter bit his tongue to stop himself from snapping. Justice? Was that what this was?

"However," Vex continued, tone as even as before, "I am aware that Mr. Ainsworth has been assigned a work detail in the particular building where you were discovered."

Otter watched as Vex's eyes darted back and forth behind his lenses. Was he reading something?

"And there are records establishing a certain pattern of behavior. Which means there is likely some truth to your story."

Otter dared to hope.

"However, policy dictates you must face consequences. While I could dock you credits or assign you latrine duty, I am inclined to be more lenient. I think the best option is to revoke your liberty privileges for a month."

Otter's stomach dropped. "What?"

Vex regarded him coolly. "The rules apply to everyone, Mr. Bennett. You were found outside after your already extended curfew in an unauthorized location. Furthermore, according to the custodian, you had made quite the mess. The consequence is firm and non-negotiable."

Otter's hands clenched into fists beneath the desk.

Without liberty privileges, he couldn't leave campus. Not that he had, other than last night. But he was hoping to make some inquiries about Varek and his father at the Adventurer's Guild in the city. Now that would be impossible.

"Understood," he muttered, barely keeping his anger in check.

Vex studied him for a long moment, as if gauging his reaction. Then, with a sharp nod, he said, "Dismissed."

Otter rose stiffly and left the office, shoulders taut.

The Academy grounds bustled with students heading to and from their course sessions. But as Otter walked, he noticed the hushed murmurs. The sideways glances. He didn't know what it was about, but it seemed people were talking about him. Which couldn't be good.

Otter grit his teeth and quickened his pace.

He found his friends in the courtyard beneath the sprawling willow tree, their usual meeting spot. Levi was sprawled across a bench, Milo sat cross-legged in the grass, and Liora leaned against the trunk, arms crossed. Erin stood a few paces away, watching something in the distance.

At his approach, they all turned to him expectantly.

"You look awful," Levi observed.

Otter let out a humorless laugh. "Thanks, Levi." He dropped onto the bench beside him, exhaling sharply. "I got written up."

"What?" Erin's brows knit together in concern.

"For what?" Milo asked.

"For breaking curfew." Otter's voice was laced with bitterness.

Erin crossed back to the group."But we got back last night with time to spare. What happened?" She suddenly looked very suspicious.

Otter hesitated. Then, with a sigh, he said, "Lyle and Torrin jumped me last night and locked me in a supply closet."

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Erin's expression shifted from suspicion to outrage. "Are you serious?"

"They did what?" Liora's voice was ice-cold.

Levi sat up straighter, eyes wide. "Hold on. They kidnapped you?"

Otter shrugged. "That's a little dramatic, but—"

"No, it's not," Milo said quietly, his usual calm demeanor darkened by something colder.

Liora folded her arms. "They left you locked up on purpose? Just to get you in trouble?"

"Pretty much."

Silence.

Then Liora pushed off the tree and cracked her knuckles. "I'm going to kill them."

Otter groaned. "Liora—"

"No, I'm serious." Her violet eyes burned with barely restrained fury. "They jumped you. They locked you up so you'd break curfew, and now you're the one getting punished? That's actual bullshit."

"Believe me, I tried telling Vex," Otter said. "But since I don't have any proof, he can't do anything."

Liora's lip curled. "So he just decided to screw you over instead?"

Otter sighed. "I don't think he wanted to. He said without evidence, he can't make a ruling against them."

"That's convenient," Milo muttered.

Erin crossed her arms, her jaw tight. "I'll talk to Vex."

Otter blinked. "Erin—"

"No, this isn't okay, Otter." Her voice was firm, unwavering. "People already treat you like you don't belong here. If you just take this, it'll only get worse."

"She's right," Milo said quietly. "If we don't push back, they'll keep testing how far they can go."

Otter ran a hand through his hair, frustration mounting. "What do you guys want me to do? I can't prove anything. And Vex isn't going to just take my word for it."

Erin let out a slow breath, her fists still clenched. "There has to be an appeal process. I'm sure someone saw something."

"I doubt it. Even if there was something, I don't think Vex would back down. Maybe those two jerks would get a worse punishment, but I think I'm stuck with mine."

"Either way," Liora seethed. "They won't get away with this."

Otter had a sinking feeling he wouldn't like whatever she was planning.

"Speaking of things getting worse," Levi interjected, glancing around conspiratorially, "have you guys heard the new rumor?"

Otter groaned. "There's a new one?"

"Oh, it's a good one," Levi said with an exaggerated grin. "Apparently, word's spread that Varek was after you."

Otter stiffened.

Levi continued, his tone a mix of amusement and warning. "Some people are saying you've got a criminal past."

Otter dragged a hand down his face. "Great. Just great."

"Who's saying this?" Erin demanded.

Levi shrugged. "The ones who were there last night, mostly. But, you know, people love a good story."

Erin turned on her heel. "I'll handle it."

Otter blinked in surprise.

Levi whistled. "Guess we're all in the mood to 'handle' things today."

Erin ignored him, still fuming. "You don't deserve this, Otter."

Otter's throat tightened. After everything—after the strain between them—he hadn't expected her to jump to his defense so quickly.

"Thanks, Erin," he said quietly.

She nodded, her expression fierce. "Of course."

Otter went to the rest of his sessions and pretended that losing his liberty privileges didn't bother him. But as the day dragged on, frustration clawed at him. His confinement meant he couldn't investigate Varek's contract or look for information about his father in the city.

He had trouble concentrating on the lectures and found himself listening in on other people's conversations to see if they were talking about him.

Later that evening he found himself in one of the few places where he could clear his head: The Library. Unlike the rest of the Academy, where his presence felt scrutinized, here he was just another body moving among the towering shelves, another pair of hands reshelving books and fetching scrolls. Normally, he found comfort in the quiet routine, but tonight, the weight of the day pressed heavy on his shoulders.

His liberty privileges were revoked. Erin was out fighting his battles for him. And the rumors about the bounty hunter had spiraled into something far worse than he anticipated.

" I heard you got written up. Again."

Otter turned to see Piper standing beside the checkout desk, arms crossed, an unimpressed look on her face. Her ink-stained fingers drummed against her sleeve. ""Unfortunately."

Piper gave him a flat look. "Congratulations, then. You're officially more trouble than the third-years, and they drink in the dorms."

Otter sighed, leaning against the desk. "If it makes you feel any better, it wasn't my fault."

"That's not better," she deadpanned. "That's worse."

Otter huffed a laugh despite himself. "Yeah, well, try telling that to Vex."

Piper shook her head. "Unbelievable." Then, after a moment, she added, "You okay?"

The genuine concern in her voice caught him off guard. He hesitated before answering. "I don't know. I felt like I was finally getting somewhere, proving myself, but now…"

She nodded and was silent for a moment. "I'm sorry about your dad."

Otter shrugged. "Thanks. I was really hoping to learn more about him. I don't know if I'll find anything here." He gestured to the Library at large. "I doubt he came here before he disappeared. But Varek…that felt like a lead I could follow. Maybe."

"They might have a record of the bounty at the Adventurer's Guild."

"Yeah, well, I can't leave campus. So that's a no go."

Piper tapped her chin thoughtfully. "Then let me handle it."

Otter blinked. "What?"

"I'll go to the Guild for you," she said simply. "I'll ask around, see what I can dig up."

Otter stared at her. "You'd do that?"

Piper rolled her eyes but lowered her voice to the barest whisper. "I already agreed to help you break into the Restricted Section. A few questions at the Guild is hardly a step up."

A grin tugged at the corner of his mouth. "Fair point."

"One caveat," she said.

"I'm listening."

"If I'm chasing down this lead for you. You need to pick up the slack on the Emrys Gale research."

"I can do that. Midterms are coming up, and I need to make sure I'm prepared for those, but yeah, I can put in a few more hours here."

"Good." She turned to leave, then added, "And don't get locked in any more closets."

Otter laughed and Piper left to finish her duties. He took a deep breath and exhaled slowly. Friends were a wondrous thing.