Markov Hyrphonus
Two days have passed since Audel vanished. Despite Princess Hera, the rebellious princess, assuring us of his safety, I can't help but wonder what he's doing right now. His sudden disappearance was quickly overshadowed by the fact that other nobles also went missing without a trace.
The school administration is in chaos, receiving reports of missing files daily.
Rumors have spread that foreigners from other continents are lingering in the city. This has not only stirred an uneasy fear among the students but has also driven the nobles to band together for protection. Meanwhile, those without names or status, like me, are left vulnerable and unsafe.
Not that I care much, though. I'm too deep into this mess now. Backing out would mean defying the princess, and she'd likely have me killed for it. It's her fault, really—she dragged me into this. But then again, I chose to get involved willingly. Audel... I did it all for you.
Besides, I was bored out of my mind, and I thought this would be a welcome change of pace in my life. Leaning back on the wooden chair, I crossed my arms behind my head. My eyes wandered across the vast cafeteria, scanning the students during recess. Some seemed indifferent to the situation, while others couldn't hide their fear, their tired eyes marked by dark bags.
Clearly, they were nobles who were aware of the danger and had spent sleepless nights worrying.
"May I sit here?" A sharp voice interrupted my thoughts. I turned to see a familiar face.
I nodded in approval, and she settled into the chair across from me, followed by the girl beside her. It was Miss Boltaire and Mary, both members of the newly formed so-called rebellious force.
With their plates settled, I straightened up, giving them my full attention. Miss Mary, Audel's sister, looked like she hadn't slept in days, and I could tell she had been enduring rigorous training. As for Miss Boltaire...
I glanced at the empty glass in front of me, its surface reflecting my own image, and asked, "Any updates on him?"
"No," Miss Boltaire shook her head, then countered, "What about the plan? Did she update you?"
"No," I replied, shaking my head this time. "But I'm certain she's up to something."
Miss Mary joined in, her tone sharp and analytical. "Many of the nobles are now aware that this city is swarming with spies from the other continent. Was this her doing? Spreading the rumor to sow distrust between the nobles and the king?"
I couldn't help but admire her insight. For someone her age, she was remarkably cunning. I wondered if it was a natural trait or something she'd picked up from her brothers.
Leaning forward, I lowered my voice. "Most likely. She's trying to drive a wedge between the nobles and the king. If she succeeds, the rebels will gain the upper hand in the coming conflict."
"So, it's inevitable," Miss Boltaire said with a frown, her eyes fixed on her plate. "War. It's coming.We shouldn't be fighting among ourselves when there are outsiders threatening our land."
I shrugged. "True. It's their tactical advantage, and they're using it well. As the saying goes, 'United we stand, divided we fall.'"
"I think you might've fallen for the young lady there, haha!" An irritating voice interrupted us. I turned to see Nuer, a classmate of mine, sliding into the seat beside me. I could sense the annoyance radiating from the girls, though they masked it well.
Nuer slung an arm around my shoulder and barked, "To think our little virgin nerd is talking to a girl—no, two of them! Ohoho! You're quite the player, Marky."
A vein throbbed in my forehead as I muttered, "Could you leave us alone? We're in the middle of a conversation."
"What if I don't?" he taunted. I felt my mana surge in anger, all of my veins chanelling mana in pure rage, and he noticed it too, being a sensory-type mana wielder himself.
"Oh?" he sneered. "You wanna take this somewhere else?"
"Stop." A firm voice cut through the tension. It belonged to a man—a stranger. I looked around and realized a crowd had gathered, though I hadn't noticed them before. Standing at the front was an exceptionally handsome figure, almost otherworldly.
"Leave the boy alone, Nuer," the man said, his words simple but carrying an edge of threat. With my special eyes, I tried to read his intentions, but to my surprise, I couldn't.
Nuer jumped to his feet and lunged at the man, only to be slapped to the ground. The handsome figure stood tall, looking down at Nuer as he spoke calmly, "Please don't interfere in others' love lives."
Love life? What—
Before I could process his words, Nuer scrambled to his feet and fled. The crowd dispersed quickly, avoiding the man's piercing gaze. He took a seat beside me and sighed, "Too many bullies nowadays. What is the student council even doing?"
"Th-Thank you," Miss Boltaire stammered, then quickly corrected him, "And we were definitely not talking about something as trivial as love, mister."
"Raphael," he introduced himself with a smile. "You can call me Raphael. I'm a classmate of—" He turned to Mary, pointing a long finger at her and nearly startling her out of her seat. "Her brother. You're Miss Emporio, correct?"
Even Mary stuttered under his gaze. "Y-Yeah. I'm Mary. Audel is my brother."