Sustaining The King's Life 113 Divided We Fall, Together We Stand

The staff's hilt had thumped to the ground and had created a reverberating echo which was followed by white noise. A breeze swept Faustina's hair—and in the blink of an eye, the professor was no longer to be seen.

Silence surrounded the hall. The dark castle itself was now eerier than ever. They were in a sequestered s.p.a.ce, aiming to fight a horrendous monster in an equally sinister s.p.a.ce. Faustina glanced at several students—some which had horror etched into their expression, some with sheer indifference, anxiety, and some who were confident enough to smirk.

"Heh," a boy, who was probably around Orwell's age, snorted. He sauntered forward, attracting just enough attention as he stood into higher ground. Faustina noticed the gold in his fingers and the bling around his neck. The way he carried himself with so much confidence and arrogance spoke lengths. Faustina knew these kinds of people.

"Just all you know, I am the second born of the Disfiegros," he says. ��Anakin Disfiegro!"

n.o.bles.

"I realized shortly from the professor's instructions that it would be easier for us to combine forces." He chuckled. "I mean, commoner and n.o.bles, hand-in-hand,"

Faustina's eyes narrowed.

"I propose myself, Anakin Disfiegro, to be the leader." He smirks. "Any adversaries?"

Faustina glanced around, seeing uncertainty to some of the students.

"Well, I don't mind," one of the students said—a girl with the red hair and curvaceous body. Faustina could tell that it was hard to take your eyes off of her. She was that attractive. "You can take the lead for us n.o.bles, but who will be the leader of the commoners? You can't put a hierarchy over the students, Anakin."

Although ever so slightly, Faustina caught a glimpse of Anakin's jaw clenching. It did not last for a second, though. He immediately retaliated with a smile.

"Alright, then. Who volunteers to be the leader of you . . . commoners?"

"Leviticus will do it,"

"Yeah. Leviticus can lead. He's knowledgeable to these eerie kinds of stuff, right?"

"And he's a good strategist."

Leviticus blinked. All eyes were now on him. "Me?"

Faustina turned her head towards Leviticus, who pointed his finger to himself for a moment before he started to amble forward to Anakin. His hexagram earrings gleaming as the light struck its surface, his dark hair almost black like that of a Heilen slave. These characteristics were one of the things that obviously led the students to eye him keenly. His features were highly unusual.

Anakin then began to walk to the left side of the higher grounds as Leviticus stepped to the higher grounds. And then, clapping his hands, he imposed a smile. "Alright! All the n.o.bles, here on this side." He says, leading half of the students to the left side of the grounds.

Leviticus eyed the number of students dividing into two crowds—the commoners to the right, and the well-dressed n.o.bles to the left. Despite the students having the same uniform, he still could narrow down their differences. Leviticus watched Anakin, who was smirking as he splits the crowd into two.

"Oh, you must be the younger Feuerlon,"

Leviticus' focus s.h.i.+fted to Faustina, who was now pulled to the crowd of the n.o.bles by Anakin himself.

"It's an honor to meet you. Your brother is an alumnus of Ianua I, isn't he? I hope he shared some good tips to you."

After a few minutes of separating the students and the crowd toning down, Leviticus waited for Anakin to speak.

"As you all know; I have one of the greatest gems in the academy. A ruby gem. But then, even if I have such an uncommon staff, I still am not powerful." He blabbered. "So I ask you all to lend me your strength!"

Leviticus sighed. What a b.u.mmer. Did he have to do that? This Anakin clearly was enjoying the role he had given to himself.

Faking a cough, Leviticus took a step forward. What he did harnessed a good amount of attention.

"I'm not the leader type, but I know for sure several things about the undead since I'm from Zweite. Let's just put it at the fact that I have a background in things like this," Leviticus exclaimed.

He then paused briefly. "But . . . I don't ask you to put your trust in me. After all, we've only just met."—he laughs, ". . . however; despite all of that, I want us all to help each other out to pa.s.s. I'm not a good leader, heck—I don't even consider myself one right now!"

Faustina sees a considerable amount of students laughing. She also found herself smiling. Leviticus certainly knew how to charm the ma.s.ses.

"Just, let's get it over with," Leviticus a.s.serted. "One good strategy, nothing more, nothing less . . . ah, and one more thing."

"Let's ensure everyone pa.s.ses!" He grinned. "After all, the more the merrier!"

A loud cheer from the right crowd had taken over the castle. Faustina smiled at Leviticus as he met her eyes. He waved his hand at her, and Faustina, although awkwardly, waved her hand back.

"Not bad," the girl with the red hair declares.

Anakin Disfiegro tried to put up a bright smile, only with it ending into a momentary grimace. One could tell that he did not like what Leviticus had said. And the words that he spouted next came to prove it.

"Well, nice speech," Anakin says. "But let me all remind you that we, n.o.bles, are more powerful than you, commoners."

"Wha—"

"Is he serious?"

"What is he saying?"

"What do you mean by that? What makes you say that n.o.bles are more powerful than commoners," Leviticus challenged, "Lord Anakin?"

"Of course I have a basis! We have servants who studied in Magierstadt, and while they studied along with my sibling, they're still incomparable to him. To my older brother." Wors.h.i.+pped Anakin, "so I would expect you . . . commoners, to follow our rules."

"Heh, so much for preventing a hierarchy," the girl with the red hair smirked. She was the one who proposed the commoners to have a leader of their own.

"Rules?" Leviticus retorted.

"Yes, rules." Anakin rolled his eyes. "You have to abide by my . . . er, our rules. It's simple. You have to give the decision making to all of us."

"Is he serious?"

"He can't be serious, right?"

"That's just ridiculous!"

"Don't give us that c.r.a.p!"

Leviticus raised a brow, and despite the loud complaints regarding Anakin's ridiculous proposal, Leviticus moved his head to nod. ". . . Alright."

"Leviticus?"

"We're really following HIM?"

"Then what's the use of us having a leader if we can't decide for anything?"

"Perfect! Now that it's settled," Anakin exclaimed, and before he walked towards the n.o.bles, he cast a glance towards Leviticus with such mocking eyes. "Please give us a moment to strategize. We n.o.bles will ensure your safety!"