"Do something about it then" the entire class buzz with anticipation of a nobles clash.
The classroom was quieter than usual. A heavy silence hung in air, like silence after a fire.
"I said earlier that I respect you Levi. Even now, this is not your fight"
" Clark vahlrex!" The calm Levi suddenly shouted in anger, his voice shaking with fury, the taunting smile of before faded.
'Vahlrex?' Damian thought inwardly.
He rose from his seat, his fist trembling at his side. "Forgive me sage but I'll have to join in on this" he said, then turning his gaze to Clark.
"You speak of lives as though they're numbers on parchment " Clark surprised by this, he knows Levi was always calm, he never shouted or even show signs of anger, however Clark wasn't about to back down now, knowing his pride is on the line as everyone was staring.
"Why shouldn't I?, weak lives weigh us down. They fall so that the worthy can stand taller. If you don't see that, then perhaps you're not as sharp as you think"
" My sister died!!!" Sage screamed angrily "Mireen, she died in that stupid test!"
Clark tilted his head lazily as though sage's rage was no more than a passing breeze.
"So?" He said
"So?.... Weren't you the one always talking about how you liked her and wanted to marry her!"
"Well she never accepted my proposal and you know what, I'm glad she did. I thought she was strong"
"She is!!!" Sage shouted
"She's dead, isn't she. That says something different"
"Ahh!!!...." Sage moved in to attack but Levi placed a hand infront of him, stopping him.
"You said you respect me Clark" Levi spoke burning with rage but now trying to calm himself "well I respect your family and so you. But respect has limits. You mock the fallen and I won't let that stand. Yesterday's blood is still drying and you call them. I won't let that stand"
"I couldn't careless what you like, Levi"
"Then ready yourself, I won't let you off easy"
The room seemed to shrink - chairs scrapped as a few students instinctively shifted away, giving the nobles space. Th tension was a living thing, wrapping around throats and lungs, pressing down on shoulders.
Sage's hands tightened. Levi's eyes sharpened. Clark's pride swelled, itching for the clash.
It was about to ignite --- when another voice cut through the storm. A voice neither loud nor trembling, but cold.
Measured.
Unyielding.
"Pathetic".
The word was soft, but it was enough. All eyes turned towards Damian Quin.
He sat with his chin rest on his hand, his gaze fixed on Clark --- not with rage, not with disdain, but with something far sharper: indifference sharpened into a blade. His eyes were calm, unreadable, but the weight behind them silenced even the nobles.
"Your arrogance" demian began, his tone detached, "it's loud enough to fill this room, yet your words are hollow. You speak of life as if it were coin to be spent. But coin can be earned back. A life can not"
"You mock the dead" demian continued, his voice gaining neither volume nor haste "yet every corpse you scorn is proof of the path you haven't walked.
Do you know why you talk so freely of their loss?, because you never had a reason to carry the burden of loosing someone or something or even the fear of losing your life, the tes... you where never worried.
You're from the 'Vahlrex family. The same family that created the velcrid academy.
I imagine your family knowing that this test was necessary for the academy status and students progression would never let their son go into such brutal test blindly or at all."
"You low life date question my families integrity?!" Clark shouted displeased
"Maybe, I remember at the start of dungeon test, when all the nobles stepped forward to flaunt their control of their abilities at just the flicker shade rank, I don't remember seeing you, for someone so prideful and arrogant. I imagine you won't miss such an opportunity to show off. It's hard to even believe you were in that trial".
" Are you saying I did not attend the dungeon mission"
"No, far from it. You were there, I know that cause I saw you, at the backline of the entire first year. No noble was there. It's like you were expecting something to happen even before it did. I even saw how you push one of your "friends" towards a feral, right before you took to your heels. running and screaming like a little girl, for someone moving like that you act quiet confident now, princess"
Clark was silent as if acknowledging what Damian had said, his face facing downwards in shame. The students hearing this turned to Clark in disbelief, questioning him silently with their glares and his expression confirming their questions.
"Wai...wait, you knew, you knew we were about to be ambushed. You knew we were about to enter that hell and said nothing!!!" Sage anger only grew from here.
"Wh...what, no, do you really believe this commoner" Clark said, his composure breaking
"Of course you did, I couldn't find you in that dungeon. You were hiding, you made a lot of people die on that day, mireen died because of you, you let so many people die and have the guts to mock them right after!!!!!" Levi shouted his aura rising, other nobles gave accusing glances, some even rising to join the beat down.
" You knew about the academys plan, betrayed your friends, if anything I'm surprised you passed the trail. Do you feel no guilt" Damian continued calmly "Unless ....your pride turned out to be your weapon. The requirements is to either overcome your guilt or justify your actions.
I can imagine how much you convinced yourself that you did what you had too. You're the worst kind of person. Selfish, stupid, naive, pathetic and prideful. Those who died are far from weak,if anything you're the closest to that"
The silence that followed was crushing. Clark's face twitched. His composure completely shattered under the weight of words that cut deeper than steel, his pride demanded a response, his rage begged for release. But shame overwhelmed him.
'A commoner dares talk to me in such manner, I won't let this' Clark's mind was filled with thoughts, he took a step ready to pour his anger on Damian but so did the present nobles.
The door swung open.
It's professor Mo.