Class 1-A was dead silent, with not even a peep to be heard, a strange thing considering it was meant to be full of young children. The culprit behind their silence however, was currently staring down at them without a word from her podium. Vera Quadreign hadn't said anything after walking in, but the atmosphere was turning heavier by the minute and Altair felt like he was breathing lead. Even Alexander and Nezra didn't dare raise their heads-or rather, Nezra faced the worst of it and couldn't even think of doing so. This wasn't mere phycological pressure either, but the effect of the disparity between their Tier and Quadreign's.
The classroom had been like this for almost five minutes before Quadreign spoke up, her words directed at Nezra. "Do you have any idea what you've done? Assaulting a fellow First Year, damaging school property, brazen usage of your Mana without regard for your classmates...I'm honestly impressed at how many codes you violated with a single action."
Nezra trembled, though Altair believed it was out of anger and shame rather than guilt or even fear. From what Altair had seen of the boy these past weeks, Nezra wouldn't stand for anyone looking down on him, or being belittled in any way. His current treatment was sure to sour their relationship permanently, but Quadreign clearly didn't care and continued to speak down at him.
"The Principal has already been informed, and will have to arrange a faculty meeting. Thanks to you, all the homeroom teachers now have extra work to put in after class. Mr. Lindt and Durnoff will also have to be called in since they teach you. If I were you, I wouldn't expect such an easy future in learning."
Altair doubted the legality of that statement, which sounded like a thinly-veiled threat, but he kept his silence. Elizabeth did too, though her expression turned strange upon hearing it. The two exchanged glances, Altair conveying his curiosity with his, but Elizabeth only shook her head gently and turned away. 'Later' she mouthed.
In the front of the classroom, Quadreign was still berating Nezra. "Do you even have anything to say for yourself?"
"He started it" Nezra raised his head and responded coolly, his face expressionless save for the subtle intensity in his eyes, a shimmering rage. "He came into the room and started picking a fight out of nowhere, you can ask anyone and they'll say the same."
"So why were you the one to start fighting?" she pressed, glancing over the other students (minus Alexander and Altair who she learnt were outside when it happened).
"He didn't target them" Nezra shrugged nonchalantly, his hands having rooted themselves into his pockets at some point. Her eyelid twitched at the sight but she kept her composure and continued the questions. "And what exactly did he say to you specifically to anger you so?"
"He said an orphan like me had no place in Sky Cross, that it was too illustrious a place for, ah, as he put it: "street trash""
Altair blinked in surprise at the reveal, turning to look at his classmates, but no one showed any surprise or discomfort. He felt a pang of shock that he was the only person seemingly out of the loop. He stared angrily at Elizabeth but she just gave a wry smile and didn't respond. Still, he quickly shelved the information in his mind and tuned back in to the interrogation that was ongoing.
Vera paused momentarily upon hearing Nezra's words, and when she spoke again her tone had softened a bit. "Your response was very disproportionate to the action Nezra. You broke three of his ribs and he nearly cracked his skull on the wall. Do you understand the implications of your actions? You nearly killed him!"
Before Nezra could respond, a polite cough broke up the atmosphere. Everyone turned towards the door, seeing a tall man in a fancy suit standing there, one hand resting on the hollow doorframe. His presence known, Le'garde stepped in with a smile fixed to his face. Vera Quadreign stepped forward to meet him halfway, though Altair noticed she positioned herself to hide Nezra behind her figure. "What can I do for you, Sir?"
"No need to be so serious Vera, I'm just here to survey the damage" Le'garde laughed heartily, putting a hand on her shoulder. He then gently pushed her aside, revealing Nezra behind her. "Now then, do you understand the severity of your actions today, Student Nezra?" he smiled down at the boy.
"I do, Sir" Nezra admitted, boldly meeting the Principal's eyes without fear. "However, I believe such severity was warranted, and that that student had it coming."
"Oh?" Le'garde raised an eyebrow in surprise, his smile turning deeper. "And what makes you say this?"
Nezra stood taller and kept his voice steady. "On the very first day here Sir, you told us that status doesn't matter inside the school, that only talent and effort are the qualitive factors of our treatment. Yet, that student still proudly flaunted his Noble lineage and insulted my own misfortunes, a direct violation-nay, an insult to your ethos and authority. My actions were personal as much as they were enacting your punishment."
Everyone fell silent for several seconds, and Quadreign stared with shocked eyes at the audacity of her student. Le'garde himself became expressionless, and Altair felt himself subconsciously tense up. Just as the air felt like it was about to turn into a powder keg, Le'garde suddenly burst out laughing and clapped his hands several times. "Very bold of you, Student Nezra!"
"Sir?" Quadreign asked in confusion, perplexed by what was happening. Le'garde stepped away from Nezra and approached his employee instead. "Vera, what do you think of what has happened here? I feel someone of your background would be more suited for passing judgement than I right now."
Her expression hardened for a split second before reverting to normal. She smoothed down her shirt and spoke. "The injuries suffered by Student James were serious, almost life-threatening. In turn, the insults thrown at Student Nezra were not nearly as serious...but there is also the fact that those specific words violated the most important rule of our institute. But even so, vigilante justice cannot be encouraged or condoned, else the entire school descend into anarchy."
"How very astute of you, Vera" Le'garde complimented her before turning to face the rest of the class. His snake-like eyes scanned everyone in the room, lingering on each person for just over a second. When it was Altair's turn, he felt a tightness in his chest, like his heart was being crushed with a fist. Behind the fake warmth of his smile, Altair could see bone chilling coldness in the eyes of Le'garde. Those were the eyes of a man who saw no difference between people and beasts, who had stained his hands in more blood than most countries. The viscosity of life was apparent behind them too, and in that moment Altair felt a brief pang of kinship with the man.
It ended just as quick as it came though, when Le'garde moved onto someone else. After giving everyone in the room a once-over, he spoke to them. "And what do you, his fellow students, believe would be the appropriate response? Don't be afraid now, speak up! Should I punish young Nezra here for his transgressions, or let him off for defending my authority and the sanctity of the school?"
The kids shuffled awkwardly at his question, Nezra staring ahead into space without saying a word. Yet he dug his nails into his flesh, crunching his fist into a ball. After several seconds of silence, it was Ophelia Augustus who spoke up first. "As his classmate, I naturally don't want Nezra to be punished" she began, before pausing. "However, I also cannot overlook the overextension of one's boundaries. I believe that Nezra must be punished under school law."
Across from her, Zeze also raised her hand. "The Sun God's doctrines state that law exists above all, and that they must be upheld under absolutely all circumstances. Nezra is guilty."
Alexander was the next to speak, but in opposition to the prior two. "That boy-James-caused a serious breach in the school regulations. Such disrespect of the law, even if only a school's, will translate to further discontent in the future. As a Noble, he cannot carry such views while serving the Crown. Him being punished here will nip that future in the bud."
Ophelia wavered slightly at this, but Gordan spoke before her. "The tree that shakes cannot stand. Our Harvest Church emphasizes the need for rigidity and sturdy root to survive. While James' behavior was unbecoming of a Noble, it is not enough to condemn his entire character, especially his future. Nezra's action were too violent to go unpunished."
When everyone turned to look at Nephelae, who had been dazing out the window with her chin on her palm, she looked over with a bored face. "I don't really have a say with this, but I guess I support his right to defense."
With three students against Nezra, and two defending him, Altair belatedly realized that Le'garde had turned the classroom into a jury, with Nezra's own classmates as the jurors. Behind him, Vera Quadreign stood with a frosty expression, evidently unhappy at what was occurring but unable to interfere. After Nephelae, it was Elizabeth's turn to give her judgement.
"Uhh, well, you see..." she stuttered and fidgeted, unable to meet the gaze of Le'garde or Nezra, or anyone at all. After twenty seconds of this, she slumped down in her chair and gave her answer softly. "I think he shouldn't be punished..."
The score was now tied, and Altair was the last one to cast his vote. Nezra snapped out of his stupor and looked at him, with even Nephelae turning away from the window to observe, her face still expressionless. Seeing it all come down to him, Altair sighed and forced down the flicker of irritation towards Le'garde. Being a Sovereign, he would probably sense it.
"Nezra is..."