"Daniel," Nyn whispered, right up next to the ear of a sleeping form on a lecture hall table, "Daniel, get up already, Lanyon's asking something!"
"...Wah!" exclaimed Daniel, dramatically getting up from his sleep and being met with the glares of the entire class including his teacher, "Uhhh... S-sir, it seems I can't remember the question you ask-"
"At least make up a better excuse next time, Daniel, " muttered Lanyon, disappointed, the class now staring at Daniel is anticipation, "See me after class please," he uttered the finishing blow, breaking the class into muffled snickers, "Now, for someone more fitting to answer the question... Mr. Harris would you like to name the rankings for the top ten Platinum ranked Guild Members, please."
"Yessir!" shouted Connor Harris, standing up straight, before querying, "Sir, should I enclose the known names of the Guild Members and codenames if possible, sir?"
When Connor was in front of a teacher or senior figure he often does this. Awfully formal and concise, contrasting with his usual happy-go-lucky attitude towards things. One could only imagine how you would feel seeing the boy who playfully teased a noble the other day or two ago act like a stone-faced soldier in front of his commander today.
"Yes, yes, just get over with it."
"Yessir! Ranked 1 is The Inquisitor, real name Ellis Hang who is still active today. Ranked 2 is The Rogue, real name Lucan Duskwalker, and has been inactive for over two decades. Ranked 3 is The Longshot, real name Gulliver Harris who is still active today but is considering retirement. Ranked 4 is The Brawn, real name Avo Ashbeck who is still active today. Ranked 5 is The Vileblood, real name Ender-"
"Yeah, yeah, I get that you know them. Sit back down, Connor," Lanyon said nonchalantly, obviously bored at the length of his answer, "Tomorrow I expect the top ten Platinum ranked Guild Members to be memorised. If you're wondering why you're doing this, since this, on the surface, has nothing to do with training, it can help you figure out who's in charge and who you want to listen to and or not disrespect in the future. Thank you, class dismissed."
As usual with the end of the day, the shuffling of porcelains gossiping and chatting, gathering their things and going into the corridor filled the entire complex. And in one of those classrooms, a lecture hall to be exact, sat an annoyed Daniel Raigeki, wishing that he would just disappear. When the hubbub of the end of day was finally over, Lanyon finally spoke a word.
"You need to pay more attention in class, Daniel," said Lanyon, earnestly, "I'm now speaking off-record. As your teacher, I implore you, please listen in class, especially so in your case. Because your... well, you know what, you cannot catch on about certain things as easily as your peers and can't always participate in certain things. You need to concentrate as hard as you can, as tiring as it may be, so you can get a head start. Do you seriously want to go into the Guild, sat at Bronze or even Copper rank for the rest of your life?"
"...no, not really."
"Let me tell you something, Daniel," Lanyon said, approaching where Daniel was and sat on the chair next to him, "When you're artless, things are especially hard. You find no matter how hard you try compared to your fellow Guild Members, you're always left behind in rank promotions and forgotten. So you need to make yourself stand out. That way you have a chance to even be promoted. You could be a tactician or recon exp-"
"How would you know?!" shouted Daniel, dismayed, "You're not like me at all; you're successful, you became a teacher for Class 1s, a spot reserved only for the best, I bet you've never had to look back as you climbed the ranks! Never looked back on all the people left behind. All the people treated as trash. All the people who are treated as nothing, simply because they are normal, unlike the abnormal people with arts! How would you even be able to comprehend how-"
"Because I'm like you Daniel," interrupted Lanyon, with a soft expression on his face almost identical to Igo's, "I'm... artless,"
It was strange going from such a tense atmosphere to such an embarrassed and confused one with only a few words. After all, an artless like him being successful? How would that be even possible? Daniel's been taught from the very start of his life up until now that an artless has no future in the Guild?
So how could this man, someone who he felt like could of killed him when he first met him in that corridor, be someone like him. To Daniel, it didn't make sense. It was absolutely impossible, improbable! And so there was only one other option that could explain this. He was lying.
"I learned what I told you the hard way. The only reason I was chosen as a teacher here was because I was an excellent tactician that rivals the highest ranks, but in reality, they were probably looking for a quick substitute of a teacher who stopped doing it, someone who wouldn't cause too much scandal, and someone that could easily be brushed under the rug if necessary. I know exactly what you're going through, Daniel. So please-"
"It doesn't matter," Daniel cut-in, standing up from his chair and gathering his things, refusing the truth in front of him, "Stop trying to lie just to make me feel better. I'm... just going to go," and Daniel was going to go; before Lanyon could break out of his surprise, Daniel was at the door.
"W-wait, Daniel!" but it was too late for Lanyon to shout. Daniel was already out of the door, walking down the now empty corridor back to the first floor, "Come back here this instant, Daniel! Now! Please... Dammit..."
Lanyon didn't bother chasing, since nothing he could say now would get him back here. He couldn't even finish what he was about to say; after all, it would all go in one ear and out of the other, before Daniel 'departed' again. All Lanyon could hope now is that Daniel wouldn't hate Igo for what would happen now.