"What do you mean be straightforward?" Nolan exclaimed, widening his eyes as if he'd just been accused of murder. His tone was a delicate blend of offense and righteousness, the kind that only a truly shameless man could pull off without flinching.
"Granfire, you wound me! Truly, you wound me."
He placed a hand theatrically on his chest, his voice rising with every word.
"I'm not provoking anyone here. Not at all. Me? No, never. I'm simply expressing genuine concern for the future of these young minds. These students… they are the torchbearers of tomorrow, the seeds of Arcane Civilization, and yet here they are, about to face their final assessment. I can't just sit here and pretend everything's fine when I sense doubt in the air. It's… troubling, to say the least."
Nolan began pacing in a tight circle, as though the very emotions running through him demanded movement. His eyes gleamed like an actor's on a grand stage, voice now carrying across the viewing deck.
