In the quiet of his room, Arthur Valerian sat cross-legged, the soft hum of magic vibrating faintly in the air. His eyes glimmered with calm amusement as he spoke to himself.
"Elias and Georgina must have figured it out by now," he said, a faint smile tugging at his lips. "That I was the one behind it all."
From within his mind, a clear and elegant voice responded.
"Well," said Elaris, the ancient soul residing within his Divine Core, "after you publicly stepped in to save Nyx, it was only a matter of time."
Arthur stood, stretching his arms lazily. "Good. Now I can begin shaping him—Nyx—into my sword."
"But why take those three with you on the dungeon raid?" Elaris questioned, her voice thoughtful. "You could clear it alone."
Arthur moved to his desk and picked up his sword, sliding it into its sheath.
"Because they'll be important. Not just now, but in the future. I need a team—one that can survive any kind of disaster. And…" he paused, narrowing his eyes, "I'm sure Elias is planning something. He has future knowledge, after all. He's confident he'll be able to corner me… maybe even get me expelled."
Elaris hummed. "Then what will you do?"
Arthur turned, a sly grin forming. "I already planted a magical camera in his room. He and Georgina were having… quite the intimate moment last night.
(he can go to other people room as a yearlord)
Elaris went silent for a moment, then asked sharply, "Are you planning to release it?"
"Only as a last resort," Arthur replied coolly. "For now, I just need them to believe they're in control. Once they're sure everything's going according to their plan…" he smirked, "I'll just 'Uno Reverse' them."
"How devious," Elaris said, amused. "But now isn't the time for plotting. You have a class of arcane magic, remember?"
Arthur nodded. "Right. Jullian, Saryn, and Nyssara must be waiting."
He tapped the silver bracelet on his wrist. In an instant, blue light surged around him, enveloping his body in an arcane glow—and with a flash, he vanished from the room.
.....
Classroom S-1 buzzed with quiet conversations, a low hum beneath the sound of shifting papers and murmured spell theory.
But today, the air was heavier than usual.
Whispers flowed between groups like a current:
"Why did Arthur defend that guy?"
"Yeah... saving Nyx? After that video? What was he thinking?"
"He's the Yearlord, but does he even care about the academy's reputation?"
The voices weren't loud. No one dared challenge Arthur directly. But the judgment lingered in their tones, sharp and accusing, veiled behind false casualness.
Arthur Valerian sat at his desk, unmoving, hands folded, eyes closed as if listening inwardly. But he had heard every word. Each whisper etched clearly into his mind.
And then—he stood.
The quiet murmuring stopped as chairs creaked and heads turned. Arthur walked slowly to the front of the classroom, facing his peers, composed and calm.
He spoke—not loudly, but with clarity that silenced the room.
> "I've heard what you're all wondering."
His gaze swept over them—not with anger, but with a cold kind of certainty.
> "Why would I defend someone like Nyx Akers?"
He paused for a moment, then continued.
> "Because I don't believe in blind judgment. I believe in truth.
The evidence against him was fabricated.
The one who cleared him wasn't just me—it was the Headmaster himself."
A ripple of discomfort passed through the room. Some students averted their eyes.
> "You whisper behind my back, wondering if I've lost my way.
But ask yourselves this—if you had been framed, if you had been silenced and blamed for something you didn't do…
Wouldn't you want someone to stand up for you?"
Silence.
> "Being the Yearlord isn't about strength or popularity. It's about standing for what's right, even when it's inconvenient—especially when it's inconvenient."
He let that linger in the air.
> "You don't have to like Nyx. You don't have to agree with me. But remember this—truth doesn't care about your opinions.
And justice isn't swayed by rumor."
He returned to his seat, as calmly as he had stood.
No one spoke.
Even those who had whispered earlier now sat in silence, their expressions thoughtful, conflicted.
Only Jullian gave a small nod. Saryn crossed his arms, a faint smile on his lips. Nyssara looked down, but the corner of her mouth twitched with the hint of approval.
Arthur had said his truth.
And for once, even his enemies had no words to challenge it.
Elias stood up, his face tight with restrained anger.
> "Then answer me this, Arthur," he said, voice cool but sharp. "Why did Nyx curse at me and Georgina in front of everyone?"
Georgina folded her arms, stepping beside Elias.
> "That wasn't just an outburst. He humiliated us. You're defending that?"
Veylan nodded in agreement, adding,
> "He's unstable. Someone like that shouldn't even be in the same class."
Even Threx, who had been silent, shifted in his seat and muttered,
> "He crossed a line."
Arthur turned his gaze toward Elias—steady, unreadable.
Then he replied.
> "I'm not denying he was wrong. He cursed at you, he insulted Georgina. That wasn't acceptable.
And he paid for it."
He stepped forward, his voice firm, cutting through the room's tension.
> "He was publicly punished. He was demoted from second-year back to first-year. Suspended. Mocked by students and staff alike.
He lost everything—reputation, rank, pride."
Arthur's tone dropped, colder now.
> "What more do you want, Elias? Do you want to break him completely? Erase him? Crush him beyond repair just because he cursed at you?"
Elias didn't respond. His mouth opened, but no words came out.
Arthur stepped closer.
> "What happened wasn't justice. It was vengeance.
And the only reason he survived that spiral... is because someone gave him a hand when no one else would."
The silence was deeper this time. Veylan looked away. Georgina's lips tightened. Even Threx lowered his eyes.
Elias clenched his fists, but didn't argue.
Arthur turned away and walked back to his desk.
The room had no more whispers.
Only the sound of quiet breathing and a truth none of them wanted to face.