The air in Room A was thick with tension, an unusual restlessness settling over the class as students whispered among themselves, their voices hushed yet sharp like the edge of a blade.
There was a noticeable shift in seating arrangements—the absence of ten students who had been demoted to Room B left a few empty spots, and already, some students were trying to claim new positions before the seating hierarchy was fully decided.
But despite the minor chaos of moving bags and chairs, there was one absence that stood out more than the rest.
Denwen was missing.
At first, it had been a quiet observation. Then, it became a murmur. Before long, it had evolved into a wildfire of speculation, spreading from one seat to the next with unsettling speed.
"Hey, bro, did you hear? They say Denwen might be an Ember—one of Emberfall's agents."
"Yeah, I heard he's under investigation for causing a double dungeon. Can you imagine that? That stuff is high-level."
"I really liked the guy… but now that I think about it, isn't it suspicious? I mean, he's a D-rank talent, right? No major support, no crazy resources, yet he's progressing way too fast. Doesn't add up."
Some students nodded thoughtfully, considering the possibility, while others remained skeptical, shifting uncomfortably in their seats.
"Nah, that's insane. Why would Emberfall even bother with someone like him?"
"Who knows? Maybe he's a sleeper agent. You've seen how ruthless they are."
Whispers coiled like smoke, wrapping around the room, filling every corner with doubt and unease.
In the midst of the gossip, Melissa sat calmly, flipping through a book, her silver hair catching the light as if she was completely detached from the nonsense. She had no patience for rumors.
Jay, on the other hand, shrunk into his seat, clearly uncomfortable. He wasn't the best at dealing with tension, and this? This was on a whole other level.
Kara, however, was burning with fury.
Her fingers gripped the desk tightly, her nails pressing into the wood hard enough that thin white lines were left behind. She could already guess the source of the rumors, and when she turned to confirm her suspicions, she wasn't disappointed.
Sitting in his usual spot, looking sickeningly pleased with himself, was Angus.
That smug bastard.
When their eyes met, he grinned. A slow, taunting smirk that only fueled her rage further.
As if to drive the knife deeper, he winked and blew her a kiss.
Kara gave him a middle finger without hesitation before turning away, her jaw clenched so tightly it hurt.
It was clear as day—Angus had set this up.
He must have planted the rumors, instructing his little minions to spread them beyond Room A, perhaps even through the entire school.
Roy had been silent for too long.
From his seat, his fists were clenched tightly, his nails digging into his palm as he tried to control his rising fury. But the moment the whispers became too much, the moment Denwen's name was dragged through the dirt, he couldn't take it anymore.
He pushed back his chair and stood up abruptly, his presence commanding the room.
Roy wasn't just any student.
He was the class president, the prodigy with A-rank talent, the one who always had a jovial attitude and cocky grin across his face.
But today, there was no grin.
Only rage.
The moment he stood, the noise in the room died down as if someone had pressed a mute button.
He swept his gaze across the classroom, his usually warm golden eyes now smoldering with anger, his aura pressing down on everyone like an approaching storm.
The students gulped, shifting uncomfortably in their seats. Even the rowdiest ones knew better than to cross Roy when he was like this.
And yet, as expected, Angus couldn't resist stirring the pot.
"Oh?" His voice cut through the silence, mocking, his smirk never faltering. "What's wrong, Roy? You seem awfully defensive. Is it because it's your friend under scrutiny? What if it were someone else? What if it were… I don't know… me?"
His words dripped with amusement, as if he was enjoying every second of the situation.
But Roy didn't snap.
He inhaled deeply, steadying his emotions, forcing himself to remain calm. Then, he turned his gaze to Angus, his expression unreadable but his eyes sharp as daggers.
"Look, no one deserves to be accused of something like this," Roy said, his voice even. Deadly calm. "I would still defend them. Even if that person was you, Angus."
The amusement in Angus' face flickered for a brief second.
"But let me make this clear to all of you." Roy's voice rose, filling the entire classroom. "You're throwing around accusations without any evidence, pointing fingers at your own classmate like it's a game."
He took one step forward, his presence growing heavier, his aura expanding.
"Do you even understand what you're suggesting?" He paused, letting the weight of his words sink in. "You've all seen what Emberfall is capable of. You've read the reports, watched the broadcasts. Some of you might have even lost family to them. And yet, here you are, blindly labeling someone as an Ember—without proof, without reason—just because it makes for a good story?"
The students shifted uncomfortably, some dropping their gazes.
"So, from now on, as your class president, I do not want to hear another word of slander or baseless speculation against Denwen."
His voice dropped slightly, but the intensity remained.
"Because if I do, you're going to have to face me—with everything you've got."
His rank 2 aura flared, pressing down on the class like a crushing weight.
Even Angus paled slightly, his usual smirk fading as he sank lower into his chair, his fingers twitching as if resisting the urge to grab his weapon.
Roy stood there for a few more moments, ensuring that his message was delivered. The tension was palpable, the silence thick enough to choke on.
Then—
"Alright, that's enough, Roy."
The voice came from the doorway.
Kael had arrived.
The moment the instructor stepped in, the pressure eased, and students exhaled breaths they didn't even realize they were holding.
Roy turned slightly, his expression neutral once more.
"I think your message is clear as day," Kael continued, walking toward the podium. "You can return to your seat."
Roy exhaled slowly, rolling his shoulders before making his way back.
As he passed by Kara, she gave him a small, appreciative smile.
Jay shot him a thumbs-up, his admiration clear in his wide eyes.
Even Melissa, ever the indifferent one, rolled her eyes—but if one looked closely, they'd see the faintest ghost of a smile on her lips.
Roy plopped down in his seat, exhaling softly.