A few minutes in the past, just as their teacher had left the classroom the two leaders of the rival gangs stopped bickering and retreated to the opposite sides of the classroom.
"That brat doesn't know what she is talking about Boss you are amazing and there is nothing wrong with that" one of Ciaran's loyalists spoke out in his defense.
A big cheer of "Yeahs" was heard as the gang of rebels all adored their Boss. They perceived him as a genius and took pride in being his posse. They were predominantly young boys, as eighteen of them fell into this category. The three girls, who had joined this merry gang did so for a variety of reasons, one of which was that they couldn't stand Clara and her snobbish behavior.
They were all children of commoners, and no matter how hard the Empire tried, the difference in status, even among children was felt. In theory, Ciaran was also a part of the upper class, with his more or less owning the whole city and all, however, the boy was anything but noble. He was short, ugly, and borderline fat, and yet all that failed to portray even a part of his grotesque character.
Ciaran Clades, at the tender age of six, has already, although on a smaller scale, started a rebellion against the Empire. When his attempts to break into, the library went sour, he did not despair. He formed his own group and motivated them to help him achieve his goal.
To those he could not get on board to seek knowledge because of the possibility of punishment, he told that the second floor kept treasure. The sweet kind – candy, something they have been denied by the academy more and more as they grew older and older. The smart ones knew he was lying, the dumb ones realized later, or were told by their friends, whichever came first.
Ciaran had many bad qualities, but his virtues truly had his gang mesmerist. When they confronted him for lying, he openly admitted it. They seriously considered beating him up, but then and there he brought them to one of the best candy stores in the city and bought them treats.
"My dad thought me to always keep my promises. I promised the goods, and you shall have them" he had declared.
Most thought it was just a spoiled rich kid trying to buy them off, and they were partially right. Mister money bags were trying to buy their loyalty, but he was not a spoiled kid. Later down the line, they found out that he had been helping his father with the books, the ones with the many numbers in them since he was four.
The money he had painstakingly gathered for two years, he blew away for them. He was someone who would lie, cheat and steal but he kept his promises. That and he was also driven, almost to madness, probably beyond. Every time they played he would remind them of the "plan", every time they would talk and joke and laugh, they would also revise.
He was their friend, but he also had them on a payroll, and he was going to make his investment in them worth it.
"She gets on my nerves, but not even that snake can ruin my mood today. Today is our day. Today we make history" Ciaran said with majesty. He was the peak of charisma, at least the peak of a boy whispering to his friends, in a loud classroom.
They looked out the window; to the untrained eye, they might have seemed like simple children wanting to ditch the stuffy classroom for the joys of outside play. But they were anything but simple.
They were in a sense, untrained robbers - the lowest tier of organized crime. Planning and scheming for the ambitions of their shrewd leader.
What they were actually looking at was the library, a building one could see from the window of their classroom.
A magnificent tower that stands tall and proud, piercing through the sky. Its sheer size and scale are awe-inspiring, as it reaches high above the clouds and seems to touch the very heavens themselves.
The tower is grand and spacious, with a width that is equally impressive as its height. It is made of the finest materials, with walls of gleaming white marble that reflect the light of the sun and give the tower a radiant glow. The tower's floors are made of polished stone that gleams like gold, adding to its majestic appearance.
The tower's windows are large and numerous, providing breathtaking views of the surrounding landscape. They are framed with elegant blue curtains that flutter in the breeze, adding a touch of elegance and grace to the tower's already majestic presence.
At the entrance of the tower, there are double doors made of sturdy oak, emblazoned with a golden emblem of a griffin. The griffin is the symbol of strength and courage, and it serves as a fitting representation of the tower's grandeur and magnificence.
As you step inside the tower, you are greeted with a vast, open space that is filled with light and air. The interior of the tower is just as impressive as its exterior, with soaring ceilings and walls adorned with intricate designs and murals that depict scenes of myth and legend.
Overall, this tower is a marvel of architecture and design, a true masterpiece that showcases the boundless creativity and skill of its builders. It stands as a testament to the heights that can be reached when we combine our vision and ambition with the power of human ingenuity.
It was Ciaran's favorite place in the Academy, but the other children loved it as well. The first floor was about twenty times as big as their classroom, and it was packed full of books. But it was not just storage for books, it had more to offer.
What interested most of the kids, were not the books but the reading areas. They were spaces in between the bookcases where with tables and sofas where the kids could read, play or interact with their older peers. It was one of the only occasions where the class of Year one could interact with older kids, whether in or out of the academy. A rule none of the kids understood, but were all forced to follow.
It was an experience to be sure, but today none of that mattered, what mattered was the big stairway that led to a big double door identical to the one at the entrance.
It was locked, guarded too, by upperclassmen no less. The upperclassmen have a choice to take on a guard job at the library. In an ordinary school that wouldn't be a problem of course the guards were two and they were twenty-one, but here those pesky roadblocks were Warriors.
Well, Warriors-in-training, no one that important would sit around all day looking over a bunch of kids and their reading activities.
"Boss we already agreed that we will split into three groups of seven, two of us will distract the class preps and the kids of the other classes, as well as any seniors that might try to stop you. You will lead the rest of us to glory. Have you figured out the solutions for the other two problems" Rayon asked
Ciaran looked at his underling. This was his most loyal subject, his left-hand man Rayon Watters. An orphaned boy who got taken in by the Clades after his whole family was butchered at sea by beasts.
They took him in when he was two, and the two boys grew up to be brothers. Rayon had no real last name, not officially, no commoner did, but he called himself Watters in honor of his family. He was the polar opposite of his brother. Tall for his age, gifted with a portrait-like visage painted with gold-colored hair and blue eyes. He was stronger than all the other boys, and could even take a few of them on in a fight, but he was dumb as a brick.
Academically he was challenged, but it did not matter to the boy. ' I don't need to know a lot as I know the most important bit – do as Boss says and I shall profit.' This was his ideology of life.
Ciaran tried many times to make his brother call him by name, but the stubborn mull refused. "We are brothers but you are the Boss" he claimed.
"Good question, I do have something planned for the teacher, but I will keep it a surprise" he smiled like a businessman who smelled money.
"As for the guards I bought them off. When I was working for dad I coincidentally found two hard-working boys, students in Year three, and we had a little chat. Turns out they needed money, and I needed them to synchronize their shift on some particular day, at a time convenient for us. And then they just have to be overwhelmed by our numbers, and not hit you too hard. Funny how we could help each other that way"
"And before you ask, I sneaked my way to their work quarters, at the Harbor, away from the pesky eyes of adults. I know that breaks the Law, but it's just a minor infraction. Add it to the list, along with bribery and it still won't be as bad as what we are about to do" he said his smile extending to his ears.