Mark sat down, unable to lift his gaze.

“…I’m sorry for how I acted before,” he said.

“It's fine. I'm the one who went beyond the limits. I apologize. It's just… been a stressful night for all, I guess,” Tenny replied.

Mark smiled, Tenny smiling a bit in return.

“So… are we… friends?”

“Yeah. We were friends before.”

“WE WERE?!"

Mark was ecstatic. Blake laughed while Tenny looked at Mark in confusion.

“I would've never given you my contact information if we weren’t…  I'd think to protect myself from a lunatic. But, I guess I like to live in a bit of danger.”

Blake laughed harder, Mark visibly upset.

“Well, at least I'm an acceptable lunatic to you. I'll take that at this point.”

Blake looked at Tenny.

“So Tenny, you were going to tell us something?”

“Yeah. I'm on the second floor, where the assault took place, down the hall. I didn't have the courage to question the victim. She was beyond distraught. What could I do... But, many questioned her in that state, and even when her friend tried to stop them, she responded respectfully. I guess I'm far from being a worthy lawyer. You have to question them at the moment to get an accurate recollection of what just transpired, but it's another thing to see the looks on their faces…”

“I see what you mean…” Blake agreed.

Mark looked apprehensive.

“So, did you see…  the culprit?"

Tenny smiled.

“You don't have to worry about asking that. I told you, I'm not angry anymore. I was just a bit stressed out. Yeah, I saw the culprit race down the staircase after pausing when the victim identified him.”

“Did you see his face?” Blake asked.

“No. I don't know if anyone did. But we've been told repeatedly to come forward with anything we may know. I'll be e-mailing what I witnessed tonight.”

“So, was the culprit there the whole time, down the hall? Listening to the victim's recollection?” Mark asked.

“Ah, I don't know. No one said anything. He had been gone for fifteen minutes, yet... when she finished her recollection, she identified him down the hall."

“But, wait. Why would he return to the scene of the crime so early? Wouldn't he try to hightail it out of there as fast as he can, especially after an assault like that?”

Tenny and Blake looked at Mark in thought, looking at each other and then down at the tables. That makes a lot of sense. For the assault to occur, for the assailant to flee, and then to return to the crowded scene of the crime fifteen minutes later?

         Something wasn't adding up.

“Guys, this is speculation, and we should mull it over before coming forward with real, solid facts. I'm beginning to see how you got in here, Mark,” Blake said.

“Should I be happy or offended? …I'm going with happy.”

Blake laughed.

“It's all about how you show yourself, Mark. I keep telling you, first impressions. But back to the subject. Let's keep it to ourselves for now until we find out more information. The culprit could be foolish, or it could be something else entirely. Let's let each other know what we find out.”

Tenny nodded, slightly apprehensive about the long run. The more she learns, the closer she'll get to reaching the inevitable point of learning the suspect's identity.

Then she'll be useless to the investigation.

The day flew by, after another night of heavy reading. Tenny had to prepare for the extensive class today.

A bright morning, Professor Thuron walked around the vicinity of his laptop and desk, the students writing information down from the projection screen. Tenny typed fast, happy that she did not have to worry about her handwriting remaining legible, her eyes darting up and down for seconds at a time. Projection screen, to laptop. Projection screen, to laptop. Over and over. She was fearing the moment that the screen would switch over to the next page.

A student a row away from Tenny typed at the speed of light, resting her hand for a moment. She slid her hand from the laptop, hitting her coffee tumbler off of the desk. Rolling down the steps, the tumbler hit the teacher's table's leg. Professor Thuron walked over, leaned down and lifted the tumbler. He made his way up the steps to the girl's table. She thanked him and apologized, as Tenny glanced over.

“Just be careful,” he said.

The stoic professor placed the tumbler down, Tenny noticing something strangely off. The classroom brightened, the sun drawing more through the windows, where Tenny saw something all too familiar.

         A y-shaped mark laid clear and present on the professor's wrist.

Tenny stared in shock, slowly looking up at the professor as if she saw a ghost.

Professor Thuron turned around, noticing Tenny's stare. He looked at Tenny in confusion.

“Your eyes should be up there. Focus."

Professor Thuron raised his eyebrows for a moment, heading back down the stairs.

Tenny stared after him, feeling adrift in a sea of uncertainty.

Professor Thuron looked back up at Tenny, wondering about her expression. Tenny immediately corrected herself, not wanting to draw suspicion. She looked back down at her laptop, having a new lead she never expected.

Apprehensive. Confused. Speechless. The three things Tenny does not like to feel, and she's feeling them all at once.

Tenny’s finger wavered over the send button of an impromptu e-mail to Juniper Na. It was a blessing that they had each other's contact information. Tenny looked Juniper up on the GNW site. It was a curse to continue down this narrow path.

Double-checking everything, Tenny reviewed her e-mail one more time.

[Dear Ms. Na,

I would like to thank you for the tour of the Glint, Nexus, and Wenge law firm. It was not only an amazing learning experience but also a look into what could become our future if we continue with the hard work, dedication, and the retention of our passion. Thank you once again. However, just two days ago, there was a crime committed at Vellichor University. A student was physically assaulted, and the suspect was apprehended, or so we thought. I think there may be a new lead, and I wish to discuss this with you further in person for a faster transfer of information if that would be fine.

Thank you again,

                Tenny Hale]

Tenny nodded slightly, deciding this may be fine. She was also a bit surprised that she could type all of this without her ability to fight against it. Perhaps it was getting better.

Sending the e-mail, Tenny sat up straight, releasing a sigh of nervousness. Looking around the library, she noticed Sage, her roommate, lifting the chin of a bespectacled, long-haired raven-haired girl.

Sage kissed the girl’s cheek as her face lit up. Kissing him back, the girl waved to him, leaving the library. Sage smiled after the girl, walking further into the library. Less than a week into the semester and someone is already landing a girlfriend?

Sage noticed Tenny's glance, walking over in her direction. Tenny realized that Sage was the first to assume the arrested culprit was innocent. What did he know?

“Hey, All hail Hale.”

Tenny sighed.

“I thought that stupid nickname faded.”

Sage smirked, getting ready to leave.

“So-” Tenny began.

Sage looked back at her.

“It turns out you might be onto something. About the event... on the second floor."

Sage smirked, turning around fully.

“How did you know?” Tenny asked.

“I didn't. I'll defend anyone. It's a test to myself to see if I can win no matter what.”

Tenny was a bit surprised. Sage smiled.

“Is that want you want to hear? Everyone looks at me like I'm a villain, so I say that to get it out of the way. I mean, those are kind of my true ambitions, but you also can't immediately confirm the roles of a suspect and victim.”

“You think the victim could be faking?”

“Not at all. That looked like a genuine reaction to me. I also didn't know that the suspect could be innocent. Like I said, I'll defend anyone.”

Sage sat on the edge of the table Tenny was at.

“I used to think of these situations as you hear or see the exact same things differently. There will be people that you will never be able to convince and people whose outlook you could change forever for better or worse. We're always learning new information, as you've proven, I assume. Our role is to clear those paths. Make sure we all can hear and see the same things. Change an outlook in a way that can influence the world, not destroy it. What I'm getting at is we are playing with peoples' freedom here.”

He stood up straight, looking down at Tenny.

“And I can't stand it when people are judged, tried, and convicted for things they clearly did not do. But worse than that, I detest cowardice.”

“That would explain your anger at my hesitance to ask questions."

“Cowardice can be the difference between life and death. When there are lives at stake, one should try and overcome it. But it looks like what I said got to you. I saw you outside the window on the night the culprit was handcuffed. You tried to get a better look. You're different. You wanted to make sure of things. That's the right path to confirming the verified suspect. Keep that consistency, or you'll lose respect.”

A male student approached, clapping his hands between pauses.

“The Sage of Wisdom has once again graced his knowledge with the commoners. I learn more from him than my actual classes.”

“Well, look who it is. Hale, this is Creede. He's the worst partier I've ever seen in my life.”

The boy, Chess Creede, is a tall blonde with green glasses. He wore the same indigo uniform as everyone else.

"Cut me some slack. I've never had the chance during high school. Do you know how many awesome parties I missed?”

“I don't see how when you live in the middle of nowhere. The tiniest town population I've ever heard of."

“That's what buses are for. I also have access to backstage passes to places you could never enter in ten lifetimes. But the studying paid off now that I'm here. And I plan to hit the books… eventually. Let me rest my brain after all these years, great Sage.”

Sage rolled his eyes, Tenny feeling like an outsider with all of the information they tossed between each other.

“So, this is All hail-” Chess started.

Sage shook his head fast.

“She's not like me. She detests glorious nicknames."

Tenny rolled her eyes, Chess laughing.

“We all have our pet peeves. Especially that beanstalk growing next to you, Hale."

Sage hit Chess with his elbow, causing Chess to laugh more. Sage faced Tenny.

“Exactly. This guy is so irritating. Always like, 'What's the problem? What's the problem?' I'll have to inform his developer to input more dialogue for this generic NPC.”

“And yet, you keep playing the game. Installing all the updates, paying for all the purchases…"

“Speaking of which, Chess, where's my twenty I lent you for those drinks?”

“Nag, nag, nag. There's an ATM at the Dale cafe. Come with, but be wary. The assault on the second floor is all everyone's talking about. The guy was convicted, wasn't he?”

Sage exchanged a quick look with Tenny. It looked like a warning as if to say that they should not discuss any theories about the real culprit being loose.

“Chet is on the second floor, too. I heard him speak with the victim once. How's she doing?” Sage asked.

“Marian? Last I heard, she was down at the precinct, giving an ID. Chet texted me that the guy still swears he didn't do it. Or so he heard.”

“Well, my wallet's hungry. We getting my money or not?"

Tenny waited at an empty table while Sage closely monitored Chess, who typed away at an ATM.

“Sage, can you give me some space while I type in my information?”

Sage rolled his eyes, looking away as he smirked at Tenny. After a few moments, Sage turned back around and faced the ATM. Chess selected the twenty-dollar withdrawal option.

Seconds later, a twenty appeared in the withdrawal slot, and a receipt printed out as well. Chess grabbed both, shoving it in Sage's cupped hand.

“Here, here. Happy?”

Sage kissed the twenty, holding the wallet inches away from Chess’ face, gently tucking the twenty in with light finger taps. Chess rolled his eyes, looking to Tenny.

“Can you get him to hate me? Spread some rumors around the university, get him to avoid me like the plague?”

“That's not as hard as you think.”

The entirety of the cafe patrons turned to the commanding voice.

           It's Titus Wenge of Glint, Nexus, and Wenge.

          Many of the customers went into an uproar, while the staff clapped at his arrival.

Tenny and Chess were caught by surprise. Only Sage looked as if his life were ending.

“My nephew has never taken too kindly to me. And it required minimum effort.”