The next morning, all was well within Professor Archeota's Liberal Arts class. While he was preparing for today's lecture, the class was enjoying its leisure time. Students were up and about, gathered in their own social circles.
Compared to the first day of class, the number of students was significantly less. Groups that used to have ten, maybe fifteen students flocking all around each other were now down to about eight.
Cull the weak, spare the strong. That's how it goes in Rhodeia, so one could only imagine the look on everyone's faces when the door clicked open, and the talk of the college stepped in.
His glasses were gone, revealing his sharp lavender eyes — the symbol of House Luvelaine's purebloods.
No one said a word as he marched up the aisle, not even the faintest whisper. Then, he suddenly came to a halt.
He twisted his neck, glancing over through the corner of his eyes. And the victim of such a deathly glare was none other than Crown Prince Asta himself.
"Do you have something to say to me, Luvelaine?" he said with a taunting smile.
"...No," Caelus muttered before continuing his stride. "Nothing at all, Your Imperial Highness."
"Is that so? Well, I have plenty I wish to say to you."
Caelus stopped in his tracks, though he would not turn around. In turn, neither did the crown prince. Without even looking at each other, they spoke.
"Save it for someone who is willing to listen," Caelus said coldly. "I have no desire to associate myself with you in any capacity."
"A shame, because I have every desire to associate myself with you."
"...What?"
"It is as I said, my friend. You see, I've become quite interested in you after your little stance against me. Somehow, someway, a mere first-year student of Rhodeia — a fallen noble who was scorned and laughed at — was conjuring four rune circles. Doesn't anyone else find such a feat impressive?"
No one was brave enough to speak, neither in agreement nor in disagreement. Even Archeota, who'd been sitting by his desk, looked away from his paperwork momentarily.
"A Fourth-Circle mage. You do realize that no student of Rhodeia, even the small number of third-years that have survived till this point, has reached that threshold, yes? That makes you, Luvelaine, a genius of our generation. Perhaps even more than a genius."
At last, Asta stood from his seat to meet Caelus's back.
"I admit, my behavior several days ago may have been... distasteful at best, but you must understand that I do not take action unless it is absolutely necessary. For you to stand in the way of the crown prince of Vectis — heh, well... Anyone would assume that you mean to commit treason, wouldn't they?"
Then, Caelus turned around. Not much, but just enough for him to see what appeared to be a welcoming smile coming from Asta. He knew better than to trust it.
"Get to the point, Prince Asta," Caelus said, his voice calm yet cutting. "Any longer, and you'll be interrupting Professor Archeota's lecture."
"Spiteful, aren't you?" Asta chuckled, feigning lightness. "Even after I swallowed my pride to explain myself. Perhaps we started off on the wrong foot, Caelus de Luvelaine. I wish to propose a truce."
"And for what? I can't imagine someone like you capable of remorse."
"Oh, come now. Of course I am... though only for the right reasons."
"Then speak."
The sheer sharpness in Caelus's tone left the classroom hushed. To address the crown prince so brazenly was unthinkable, yet Prince Asta only smiled, as if savoring the audacity.
"I know this guy's a Fourth-Circle mage," someone whispered. "But still, against the crown prince...?"
"Between those two, who do you think Rhodeia College would favor more?" asked another.
But Asta shut the chatters out, focusing his gaze on Caelus.
"Tell me, Luvelaine," he went on, "do you recall the Great Crusade? It happened well before our time, but the legends never waned. The ones who led the charge beside my mother, Empress Sellas D'Angelica, were among the few who were dubbed heroes of humanity. The Nine Lords of Angelica. Their names were never given to the public, their faces never shown. Save for one."
All eyes turned as if pulled by invisible strings toward Professor Archeota. Leaning against his desk, fingers resting on his chin, he let out a breath.
"You have two minutes, Your Imperial Highness. You have my audience as well as the entire class's, which I'm sure was your aim. Waste it, and you'll wait until after my lecture."
Asta inclined his head in mock courtesy.
"Of course, Professor," he smiled before snapping back to Caelus. "My mother will be remembered as the woman who led the Nine Lords and struck down Archdemon Kaides de Vellum. But history repeats. Upon the grave of the last, another Archdemon has risen: Arkus de Vellum. Even now, he poses the greatest threat to my empire, and none of our generation has been able to get close to eradicating him... yet. I will carry my mother's torch. I will defend the empire, and etch my name into legend just as she did. But I cannot do it alone…"
He extended a hand as if offering him a great treasure.
"I can lift you from obscurity. I can make your presence known, and the world shall know of your prowess and remember your name forever. However, there is a condition. Caelus de Luvelaine... Become the first of my Nine Lords."
A collective intake of breath rippled through the room. To serve at the side of the crown prince — to be named among the Nine — was an honor beyond dreams. A legend in the making.
But to Caelus, that outstretched hand was no gift. A crown and a chain were still chains, nonetheless, waiting to clasp around his neck.
"I'll give you this, Prince Asta," he muttered, "you truly do have a grand vision. However, you are also one who deems that sacrifices are necessary to pave your path, and none are safe from it. You preach of nobility and mercy, yet you are blind to the fact that you portray yourself as anything but. Not through your carefully measured words, but your blatant disregard for lives you believe yourself worthy to control."
"A leader must set an example," Asta rebuked. "If I am to grant the benefit of the doubt to those who stand in my way, then who knows how many more will take advantage of that?"
"Treason is a sin worthy of death. Do you remember those words? You'd better, because that was exactly what you told me, Your Imperial Highness. Well?"
Like an impending doom, Caelus fully turned to look at him, a glimpse of fleeting red hidden deep behind those sharp, lavender jewels.
"If I decline your proposal now, would you consider that treason? And if so... is that sin still worthy of death now that you've seen what I am capable of?"
This time, Asta had nothing to say. His silence spoke greater volumes than even the dozens of students scattered across the classroom, watching.
"The Nine Lords of Angelica is a fantastical tale," Caelus continued. "One that is worth telling and retelling. It wouldn't be unlikely for us to say we should look to them as an example. However, not every man who stood beside Empress Sellas was remembered. For every legend etched into history, there are thousands of names ground into the bloody soil beneath it. Legends are written in hindsight, not in classrooms. If I am to be remembered, it will not be because someone else decided where I belonged. So, Prince Asta... Find your Nine Lords elsewhere. I will have no part of it."
Asta studied Caelus for a moment longer than necessary, his eyes sharp and without the honey-coated smile he'd worn till now. Then, he laughed for reasons he himself didn't even know.
"I expected as much," he sighed. "Alas, I am not worried. We're both first-year students, you and I. There is still plenty of time for me to convince you."
"Try as you might, I shall not falter," Caelus declared. "Confidence is one thing, but blind arrogance is another. You speak as if the crown were already yours."
The room tenses at the jab, but before Asta can fire back, Caelus tilts his head ever so slightly, his voice dropping just enough to sound like an offhand remark.
"Funny... Princess Aria never had to remind anyone of her worth."
That one line lingers in the air like a blade left unsheathed — Asta stiffening, the others exchanging uneasy glances. It wasn't just a critique. It was a comparison between the crown prince and his greatest enemy. Just that alone... it burned.
Suddenly, a deafening thud from the front of the lecture hall. Professor Archeota had his hands on a closed book, hinting that the noise came from him simply shutting it.
"Time is up," he said. "Be seated, Caelus."
After a bow, he continued his ascent on the aisle. Without a word, Kain stood, allowing him to pass through into the middle seat. For a short moment, he was met with worried glances from both sides.
"Caelus..." Rosalina mumbled. "Are you... okay?"
"Why wouldn't I be?" he asked.
"Well..." Kain gulped. "You have been gone for four days straight at this point, so... I guess we were just worried, especially after this shitshow."
"Ah, that's right. But yes, I am perfectly fine. One thing I will say, though... you were right, Kain."
"Huh? About what?"
"I should never have gotten involved with the imperials."