Ravenwood Academy was more than a place of learning.
It was a pillar of influence.
A beacon of knowledge, and most importantly, a thriving institution that required extensive financial backing to operate at its esteemed level.
Few understood the intricate web of power, politics, and coin that kept the academy standing.
Even fewer were aware of the delicate balance maintained between the Holy Church of St. Eldred, the academy itself, and the noble houses that contributed to its prosperity.
On this particular morning, that balance was about to be tested.
A black, unmarked carriage rolled to a stop before the grand iron gates of Ravenwood.
From it stepped two figures clad in the crisp, understated attire of high-ranking vassals.
The first was an old butler with a rigid, confined posture, his white hair neatly combed back.
Despite his age, he carried himself with precision, exuding an air of quiet authority.
His name was Conrad Ashworth.
