As if on cue all the students on the stage removed themselves and returned to their seating.
With a stomp of Neptune's foot, the stage lowered to match the leveling of the rest of the auditorium. Along with the wall inwardly expanding, increasing the length of the stage.
All to set the stage for the 4 families to trample on house Rosalind.
. . . .
("Why target me and not the twins who are more illustrious?")
("What are they to gain from this?")
A million thoughts came and went, trying to surmise their motive. However, time awaited no one.
"Edil Rosalind as you have heard, this challenge cannot be refused." Neptune announced, constraining, and forcing the boy to comply to their plot.
"Damn it." He swore under his breath.
("Are they trying to see if I'm a hidden dragon? No that can't be, they should know who my father is. He wouldn't do something this tedious and they should know it.")
("Am I even the target? Or…!") Edil with realization of their possible motive stood up, immediately grasping his necklace that had the insignia of his family crest and yelled "I'm coming!"
His outburst drawing the attention of the crowd. Some within the crowd giving him odd looks, giggling with his phrasing.
The observers all stared upon the boy with numerous of thoughts. Their gazes filled with a mixture of curiosity, amusement, and pity.
For many it would be the first they have seen the shut in of Rosalind.
The onlookers couldn't help but question, if it is possible that he was also a hidden genius. What a coincidence it would be.
The majority of them, however, couldn't help but express their pity towards the unfortunate boy. To be targeted by the schemes of adults without even being a significant player. Just a child not even considered as heir of the family, fighting in an unbeatable battle.
Though one can't know if the pity is of generosity or eagerness to see the prestige of a noble, a big one at that to lower.
Prophesying his defeat, as it is an impossibility to win against a child that was able to gain the rank of templar within the church.
Edil did not care for the opinions of the nobles, giving him stares, whispering about him and judging him.
Not because he was full of confidence or felt indifferent to the whole situation, but because he was distracted.
When Edil drew the attention of the audience, many have dismissed a commission that was occurring towards the end of the roll designated for freshmen.
Which is located at the front of the stage, with each year organized behind them. The guests and servants being on the sides respectively.
The disturbance could still be heard that was otherwise suppressed by the accumulative efforts of the audience through an earpiece attached to the auditory nerve within his mouth. An earpiece which was activated by the necklace, simultaneously activating for all family members and trusted servants nearby. It being a device meant for emergencies to communicate.
From the noises he could imagine what was going on, on the other side of the transmitter.
A boy and a girl with dark blond hair, red eyes, and tanned skin, appeared to be wrestling.
Their bodies twisted and turned, limbs intertwining as they grappled with one another, each move in attempt to prevent the other from acting out. This act occurred upon the seats of the auditorium with the onlookers nearby looking upon them as if they undisciplined fools.
Having features mirroring each other to a tea. If it weren't for the length of hair and the uniform they wore, no one could tell the difference between the twins.
It was amusing spectacle to watch as both performed the same actions to impede each other. Each had a hand on the other's mouth, while tripping and kicking each other to stay seated.
It was only by sheer luck that their unruly act hadn't drawn further attention. Hearing the muffled noises, Edil thanked God that those two are idiots.
"I already accepted the challenge, it is impossible to back down now, so neither of you can take my place. Speak through the receiver." He said with a special method taught in the family in order for the mic in his mouth to pick up his voice.
""How dare they look down on us!!"" Both yelled through the receiver, making the boy wince. ("At least they listened and used the receiver.")
"Not only have they disrespected us through that shitty statue, but they pull this shitty stunt, what the hell is this family lineage shit?! We weren't asked! What the hell!!!" Cursed Samantha
"I know right and to make it worse they chose to target the reject, what the hell are they looking down on us!?" Samuel agreed, putting down his brother in the process.
"They wouldn't dare, look wouldn't it be more correct to say that they are scared to challenge you both, and need me to show off?" Walking slowly towards the stage, he tried to appease them so they wouldn't continue and cause unnecessary trouble.
"Shut up! Since when you have been allowed to speak to us?" Samantha berated him. Clearly disgusted to even hear him through the mic.
"Yeah, reject who do you think you are!?" Parroted the male twin.
*Sigh* ("Well that was technically true, I tended to avoid them once they started to show signs of aggression and trying to take advantage of the hierarchy set by their mothers. I didn't want to give them anymore reason to get rid of me or kill me.")
"Helena can you please calm them down?" He asked nicely.
"" How dare you causally call our-"" Close to rebuking their brother, they were sorely interrupted by a woman's mature voice in the intercom.
"Yes, master Edil. You two quite down now. You must know how complex this school is, as you have learned in previous outings, you must behave as nobles." Helena courteously replied and lectured the twins.
("Doesn't mean I didn't kiss up to their caretaker.") He inwardly sneered.
"" Yes ma'am."' They obediently responded although grudgingly.
"Thank you, Helena," Grateful, Edil didn't forget to give proper thanks as this has resolved one concern out of the several he was encountering.
"Yes, master Edil, you owe me." She giggled. Seemingly in private as the twins didn't blowup through the intercom with the causal way, they interact with each other.
"Yes, yes I promise." The boy agreed causally finally reaching the stage and facing his nemeses starting today.
Both young and old.