"Who is this?" Nathan pointed disrespectfully towards Amy Blanc and asked Leo with big, confused eyes. Leo shook his head motionlessly, silently accepting the utmost arrogance of the boy by his side. Let alone aristocrats and Representative Students, even a commoner would never stoop so low in social courtesy.
"Mistress Amy Blanc, first vice president of the student council."
Nathan froze sarcastically and turned towards Amy under everyone's resigned stares. Only a fool would believe that Nathan didn't know Amy's identity, but somehow, the expression on his face left a good few uncertainties. At this point, no one could say for sure what was going on inside Nathan's brain.
"Ohhhhh, that's right! Look at me now, criticising the eyes of others? My fault, totally my fault, haha." He straightened his body and soothed the ridges on his uniform. Clearing his throat loudly, he naturally added a blend of grace to his voice.
"An honour to cross paths with you, Miss Blanc. My name is Nathan Modernson, a confidant of Leo. I sincerely apologise for my disregard a few moments ago. As the distinguished, graceful heiress of the Blanc Clan, I know you will surely pardon me for my arrogant mistake. Am I right, Leo?" Nathan asked Leo truthfully, his voice as smooth as butter.
Leo's eyes instantly lit up. Even though Nathan's intentions were still in vain, he could see where he was going with this question.
"Of course! Our family regards mercy and nobility as the most complimentary qualities."
Finally, straightening her mind from the chaos, Amy Blanc found herself at a crossroads with only one path. She couldn't afford to have her anger burn down the reputation of the entire Blanc Clan. Yet, she wondered in her heart: why would Nathan put up such an act? Maybe the mysterious boy was nothing more than a spoiled child who easily let arrogance lead his way.
She swore to get back at Leo after everything had ended, but seeing the bitter look on the boy's face, Amy was somewhat convinced that Leo had no choice but to follow Nathan's guidance. Even considering this, she couldn't help but blame her branch family cousin.
"Of course." She held back her fury and bowed gently towards Nathan. "Everyone makes mistakes. But as a senior, I must warn you, not many people have the same striving for forgiveness in this society. Watch out next time, hm?"
"Thanks for the advice," Nathan replied, his smile unobvious. "Never will I ever make the same mistake again. First time, also last time."
Jennifer could barely hold her laughter among the crowd at the back. She had to admit, watching Nathan mock others was quite an entertainment, as long as the target wasn't herself. She also noticed something subtle: William Schwarz had disappeared.
"Right, I interrupted your conversation, right? Please continue. Treat me as furniture in the room." Nathan stepped aside and stuck his foot to the ground, clearly uneager to provide any private space.
Amy clenched her fist. Nathan's actions were so infuriating that they almost became amusing. "We have some… private matters, so I would appreciate it if…" She stopped her sentence, waiting for Nathan to take a hint.
"Oh, what?" Nathan pointed at himself and shrugged. "Leo's matter is my matter. Please don't treat me as an outsider. Maybe I can lend a hand or two to your troubles?"
"You know what, it's no big deal at all. We can talk about it at some other time," she spoke hastily, losing her patience. "I have personal matters to attend to, pardon me."
Amy turned around and practically jogged to the exit of the corridor, leaving all the first-year representative students to watch her trail.
"Good luck and take care, Miss Blanc. Looking forward to our next encounter!" Nathan waved towards her direction before her body disappeared around a corner, his eyes emotionless and bored.
No matter how she persuaded herself, Amy was surely not looking forward to their next encounter.
She couldn't deal with Nathan's arrogance now, but unlike her description, she wasn't a lady of forgiveness and mercy. Even for someone like Nathan Modernson, she vowed to have him pay the price he deserved in the future. In one way or another, she vowed to return ten times the shame Nathan had inflicted on her today.
"Ok, guys…" Nathan turned around to the group and paused in surprise, noticing William's sudden disappearance. "Where did William go?"
"I'm here." William walked out from the corner behind, his expression calm and casual.
Even though he achieved the effect intended towards Amy Blanc, Nathan couldn't bring a genuine smile to his face. Realising the difficulties of the future, he couldn't help but feel the rock on his heart getting heavier. From this short experience, he also realised something that could not be dismissed—both Leo Blanc and William Schwarz were not the naive, foolish boys that he once thought they were. Being born in such families would impact their minds, whether vaguely or enormously.
However, thinking about their plan that was going to be carried out soon, it turned his day bright again.
"Alright then," he announced confidently. "Let's go fulfil our duty." Right after he finished his sentence, he turned around and marched in wide steps towards the exit of the living area. The others followed with remaining questions in their minds—from Nathan's unusual attitude towards Amy Blanc, as well as this conquering mission itself.
"Nathan, can you explain the details of our plan now?" Charlotte raised her voice from behind.
Nathan didn't turn back to answer her. To everyone's surprise, David Edmonds turned out to be the one to point out the obvious.
"Plan?" He grinned peacefully. "Gathering the seven representative students together IS the plan."
Exactly. With all seven of them tied to one rope, does any scheme even need a plan? Success had already been decided. It was a victory that no one saw coming before the fact was stated before their eyes.
It wasn't necessarily all that late for the students of the Imperial Academy just yet. Apart from private tutoring and other academic-related affairs, independent clubs and communities usually held their gatherings at this time. Therefore, the appearance of four individuals standing outside the representative students' living areas wasn't exactly something that caught attention.
"Did we keep you waiting?" Nathan walked out, leading the others, and waved to Daniel, Joseph, Jay, and Professor Brandle—which was a weird occurrence to everyone's eyes.
Hugo Brandle didn't want to watch over and ultimately take responsibility for whatever Nathan was scheming, but Henry Nox had specifically instructed him to follow Nathan's command, so he had no choice but to get himself involved.
"Here is the master key," he murmured as he handed Nathan the key. "I'll be watching your back."
Nathan smiled brightly without words, impressed at how quickly the three boys blended into the atmosphere of the representative students. Apart from the colour of their uniforms, one couldn't truly comment on any of their differences—if any existed in the first place.
"Alright, can I get your attention!" Nathan clapped his hands and yelled out, ensuring he wasn't too loud for anyone else to hear. "Are you all familiar with the name Edgar Helmander?"
Even though all of the students already knew who Nathan's target was, they couldn't help but admire his courage in directly confronting this figure. William and Leo exchanged glances with each other. Though as cold as ever, the usual hatred was partially converted into amusement.
"Can you tell us about him?" Daniel Whitedawn called out, pretending curiosity in his eyes.
Nathan nodded in the wisest demeanour he could muster. "Edgar Helmander, the treasured son of the Rune Arts Federation Second Seat Mirror. Conceived at an old age, Mirror's endless spoiling protection shaped his character, filled with arrogance and injustice." It had been quite a long time since Nathan had told a story, but the emotion he put into it was as interesting as ever.
"As a third-year representative student, he is truly a contamination of our academy, who wrongly views himself as the most supreme. Forming enmities with the student council and many of our families, notably the Schwarz and Blanc clans."
Professor Brandle curled his eyebrows in confusion and anxiety as Nathan went on. He couldn't imagine anything positive happening from how he was going with this topic.
On the other side, Nathan's emotions became more and more excited. "Certain oppressed communities of students were forced to hide under his shelter, which he cruelly abuses for his desire for power. He treats these innocent students as inferior slaves working for him, manipulating them into believing that he is the only one to support them. But that's no longer true!"
Once more, William and Leo exchanged glances with each other. These "oppressed communities of students" referred to those who refused to pick a side between Jonathan Schwarz and Amy Blanc—or more broadly, ordinary students who stood up for themselves to uphold equality and their rights, something that simply wasn't tolerated among the Imperial Academy. Even with their confusion, they listened as Nathan continued.
"He thinks that no one could stop him. He thinks that his evil deeds can be exploited without punishment. He thinks that he is the salvation of the innocent students in need. I tell you what? He is wrong!" Spit was flying out of Nathan's mouth as he spoke with passion. "I, Nathan Modernson, along with the support of all of you, with righteousness in heart, will end his tyranny once and for all. His identity is no longer a lighthouse that he can cower himself into!"
"Woohoo!" Monica cried out from the crowd. She was the most enthusiastic about the plan at the start. Now, under Nathan's inspirational speech, she could barely contain herself to stand still for even one more second.
"We will show him, and the rest of the academy!" Nathan raised his hands in the air. "Even though persecution is sometimes excused with a strong background, virtue and freedom will eventually shatter the darkness with their radiant light! We are this kingdom's future, but before we change the entire world, let's change the world around us. Show everyone that we are different from aristocrats who take their status for granted—for the suppressed to see, for society to hear, and for our hearts to feel." The emphasis of his last sentence had truly ascended the tone to another plane. Even for the three boys who had planned this out with him, they felt a warm power inside their hearts.
Jennifer, William, and Leo were the only exceptions who looked as if they were trying their hardest not to laugh. They were sharp enough to interpret that "righteousness" was the last reason Nathan had in this "crusade." But they couldn't lie—it had been quite some time since they last heard such an interesting and heartfelt speech.
Professor Brandle, on the side, smacked himself gently on the head with his molten rocks, speechless and surrendered.
Nathan scanned everyone's reactions, nodding in satisfaction. This was simply an appetiser leading to the final speech he prepared for later. For someone of his identity, Rune Art Mastery, power, or wisdom were no longer the most serviceable qualities.
Throughout history, the debate over whose Rune Arts were the strongest was never a scarce topic between all classes and communities, and none were able to decide the ultimate answer that satisfied everyone. Such was the reason, the stimulus that keeps pushing development forward.
Nathan had found a special Rune Art, one that didn't need a wand, mastery, or even runes themselves to cast.
Simple, everyday words, woven into a mythical speech enough to transpose people's, and perhaps entire kingdoms' hearts.
To some extent, this was quite undeniably the strongest Rune Art in recorded studies.