Magic Academy's Bastard Instructor

Chapter 93: Zen's Comet [1]

Chapter 93: Zen's Comet [1]

Arkhald Asylum.

That was where Arwen Ainsley was currently held.

"An asylum, huh?" Vanitas muttered to himself, staring at the report in his hands.

There was no real need to visit her. Even if he tried, they would likely turn him away with the excuse, 'Only immediate family members are allowed to visit.'

Just knowing she was alive, her current condition, and her whereabouts were enough for Vanitas to piece together what might have happened to her.

It took an entire week of personally studying her case for him to come up with his own conjectures.

"If I'm right, the shock of her entire life's work being dismissed due to the original Vanitas's accusation of plagiarism, backed by nonexistent facts, combined with her fragile position within the Ainsley family, it's no surprise she attempted suicide."

He flipped through the documents he had gathered on Arwen Ainsley.

"An orphan, adopted by the Ainsley family due to her exceptional talent in magic, far greater than their own son, Silas Ainsley."

It was all mere conjectures given the facts. 

But there was a high likelihood it was a political power play for the Ainsley Family.

"They needed Arwen to maintain their noble standing."

It wasn't as if the Ainsley family was at risk of losing their status.

But in a world where the aristocrats played a game of snakes, having an heir with subpar talent would undoubtedly crumble in the future.

"...."

However, something stood out to Vanitas.

"The way they invested in her education, her public appearances alongside Silas, and the way she was gradually introduced into aristocratic circles…. it's more or less obvious."

Arwen wasn't just adopted to fill the role of a gifted daughter.

She was being groomed to be Silas's future fiancée.

"They wanted to secure their family's future by pairing their magically inept son with a prodigy."

Going by that logic, it made perfect sense.

If Silas couldn't carry the weight of their family's reputation, then Arwen would. 

As his wife, she would ensure the Ainsleys remained powerful and influential. 

It wasn't an uncommon tactic among aristocratic families. 

Adopting talented individuals with the long-term goal of integrating them through marriage had always been common practice throughout history.

But despite her talent, Arwen was still an outsider.

No matter how much effort she put in, her place in the family was conditional. 

"A fragile position that could be shattered the moment she failed to meet their expectations."

And that's exactly what happened.

"With her accused of plagiarism, her worth crumbled in their eyes. She wasn't their daughter. She was an investment. An investment they had most probably put extreme pressure on. And when investments fail…. they're discarded."