Noah stepped into the lecture hall, feeling the weight of dozens of eyes falling upon him.
He could sense the stares even before he looked around.
Each gaze seemed to linger, watching his every move, and he knew exactly why.
Maya had already told him—his title as the Blessed Sage was gone.
Stripped from him during the two months he had been away.
He was no longer the leader of the first-year student council.
The title had been passed on to the next student who had scored the highest in the magic power evaluation exam.
And that student was none other than Amy Blue Rose.
Noah didn't care, not at first. In fact, he expected it.
After all, in the original game, Amy was supposed to be the one who earned the Blessed Sage title.
It had only returned to its rightful owner.
But now, standing in the midst of a hall filled with whispers, he couldn't help but feel the shift.
As Noah made his way down the aisle, he spotted a seat near the window.
It seemed like a quiet spot, away from the murmurs.
But as he walked, he could hear the hushed voices behind his back, students whispering as he passed.
"Isn't that Noah?" one student whispered.
"I heard he's the one responsible for the demonic summoning," another muttered.
"He was gone for two months after that... makes you wonder," a voice chimed in.
Noah clenched his fists slightly.
Some of the rumors he overheard were wild and outlandish.
But others... well, some of them were true.
He had been responsible for the demonic summoning, even if things hadn't gone the way he had expected.
It was a mistake, one he hadn't foreseen.
And now, that mistake had painted a target on his back.
Still, he kept his head down and ignored the whispers as he moved toward the window seat.
He didn't need their approval or their understanding.
He just needed to survive in this twisted world, one that seemed to spiral further out of control the more he tried to influence it.
Finally, reaching the seat, Noah sat down, staring out the window and trying to focus on what lay ahead.
The lecture hall was filled with tension, but Noah remained quiet, lost in his thoughts.
As Noah sat at the window seat, he felt the weight of stares upon him, so he looked around to find the source of his unease.
Scanning the room, he noticed that none of the main characters—Xander, Rylan, or even Ariana—were present.
Curiosity pricked at him; where could they be?
He had considered asking Maya, but hesitated, feeling it might intrude too much.
Just then, Noah noticed two students approaching down the aisle.
One of them, with striking blue hair, was unmistakably Amy.
But it wasn't Amy who caught Noah's attention the most.
It was the student behind her. His attire was a variation of the academy uniform, but something about him stood out.
Noah's eyes seemed to sparkle with recognition.
The student had black hair and intense red eyes.
Anyone who had played "Beyond Horizons" for over five years would recognize him immediately—Draven Lockwood.
In the game, Draven was initially portrayed as the villain but was later revealed to be a true protagonist after the bad ending.
Noah admired Draven's presence.
Seeing him in person was surreal.
Draven was a character he had only ever known through a screen, yet here he was, standing right before him.
Amy approached Noah, her expression a mix of arrogance and reluctance.
She said, "I just wanted to say thank you for what you did.
It's unfortunate that you were the vessel for the demonic power, but that's how things turned out.
Don't expect me to be too sentimental about it..."
Amy's words, though courteous, carried a blunt edge.
After delivering her thanks, she took a seat directly in front of Noah.
Draven, on the other hand, settled into the seat next to Noah.
Noah recalled what Maya had mentioned: the security among noble students had increased significantly.
The Blue Rose House had hired top-notch protectors to ensure the safety of their members.
Draven, with his formidable skills, was one of those hired.
He was there to guard Amy, and now, he was positioned right next to Noah.
Noah couldn't help but continue glancing at Draven, marveling at the reality of encountering someone who had been a central figure in the game's narrative.
As students continued to murmur in the lecture hall, the door creaked open.
Two stern-faced guards in polished armor entered, immediately drawing everyone's attention.
Their presence commanded silence, and the room grew tense.
One of the guards stepped forward and called out, "Is there a student named Noah Ashbourne present?"
Instantly, all eyes shifted to Noah, who was seated by the window.
The room fell quiet, the air thick with curiosity and suspicion.
Noah muttered under his breath, "Bastards. How could they all betray me like this?"
Feeling trapped, Noah raised his hand in a resigned gesture.
A bead of sweat rolled down his cheek as he stood up.
The guards' gaze never wavered from him.
They motioned for him to follow.
Noah stood and walked toward them, his heart pounding.
The guards led him out of the lecture hall and down the dimly lit hallway.
Each step felt heavier than the last.
Maya had informed him of this moment.
As soon as he woke up after two months, he would be summoned to explain the Starlight Manor incident.
He knew this was essentially an interrogation, a chance for the higher-ups, professors, and possibly noble families to hear his side of the story.
The incident had involved demonic summoning and chaos, making him a key figure in the scandal.
Noah walked in silence, his mind racing.
He wasn't sure what awaited him—whether the academy would expel him or if he might face worse consequences from the noble families.
Despite his outward composure, a sense of dread gnawed at him.
He cursed under his breath, hoping that he wouldn't be expelled or, even worse, face death for the turmoil caused.