After hearing the news of his suspension being lifted, Nathan went off to Stellanova after 2 days of not being there. Passing through the gate, a thought crossed his mind on whether to tell his friends about what had happened with King Augustus, the Magus Sovereign, and his father.
The first person he encountered was Ariel,
"Hey Ari."
She turned after hearing his voice.
"Where did you come from? Aren't you suspended for another few days?"
"I missed you, too, but I got a call that it was lifted."
"Maybe Prof. Nowell had a change of heart."
He chuckled at her statement, knowing that King Augustus had something to do with it.
"Anyway, how was school when I was away?"
"Same- old, same- old. Nothing exciting really."
"Oh yeah…"
"Yeah. But Eleanor's been wanting to see you recently."
"I'm sure she must be the one with the most questions."
They both walked off to their first class of the morning. Once they arrived, they saw that the class hadn't started yet. Ariel tugged a bit of Nathan's school blazer and said,
"If you want to see her, now's your chance."
Nathan then went to her class, hoping that they hadn't started yet.
He arrived to see a cold, empty classroom with no sign of life in it.
"Damn…"
A familiar voice came from behind the disheartened Nathan. He quickly turned to see a girl whom he hadn't seen in what felt like an eternity. Silver hair that is in comparison to that of moonlight, gentle blue-green like eyes, is what best describes the girl in front of him. Stunned by her sudden appearance, he couldn't find the words to say to her, his heart wanting to jump out. She gave a soft smile and lightly punched Nathan's chest.
"Oh- hey, El."
"(chuckles) Haha, is that all you have to say?"
"(smiles) Sorry, I didn't have time to think of a speech."
"Oh yeah, but aren't you what teachers call a 'maestro of literature'?"
"Come on, that was 7 years ago."
They both went back and forth on their banter as they got to the classroom window.
"Anyways, Nate, how's it been?"
"Well, I'm sure you're aware, but I was… suspended."
"Oh yeah, Ari already told me everything yesterday."
"I'm sure she was livid when she told you."
"If you call grinning from ear to ear livid, then sure. So, what have you been up to this whole time? Captain Lukas has been asking me about your whereabouts before leaving. Then, after he came back, he was pacing around the manor for hours on end after coming back late."
"I always forget that you two live under the same roof."
"Don't change the subject. What happened?
Seeing the worried look on her face, he told her everything that happened that night, but left out the part that the man was his father.
"Whoa… that's a lot to take in."
"Yeah, but at least it was resolved faster than it should've."
"I get the feeling that King Augustus was partly responsible for lifting your suspension."
"You figured it out fast."
"If you thought about it, then that means that it's a high possibility."
"I guess. But why did you come here alone?"
"The professor changed classes last minute after our classroom was being used for an inspection. And now I'm just waiting on her and my classmates to get here."
"They're inspecting classrooms now?"
Eleanor answered Nathan's suspicion on the inspections that the reasoning behind them was because of leaks that have been going around.
"Leaks?"
"Yeah, I heard those leaks are related to-."
She got cut off by her classmates entering the room.
"I guess that's my queue to leave."
"We'll talk later."
He went back to his class after departing from Eleanor.
Class ends with him stretching and yawning,
"Never missed this."
Ariel looked over to him and sighed,
"First class and you're already complaining."
"Ouch, Ari, you're being so mean to me. Have a heart on my poor soul."
"Stop talking like that, idiot!"
"What are you two talking about?"
They both looked at where the voice was coming from.
"Noah, what's up?"
"I'm not talking to you ever again, Nathaniel Valen."
Ariel looked in confusion and asked,
"What the fuck?"
"You've done the impossible, Noah, you made Ari, and I agree on something."
"I am not talking to a so-called friend who checks in with a girl first rather than his best friend."
"I am so lost, dude."
Ariel got up from her seat and left the room from their bickering.
"Noah, you're losing me…"
"My heart aches after a betrayal of a dear friend."
"Did your mom hit you from behind the head."
"Quiet you! Only a fool like you wouldn't understand the pain I am going through."
"I'm leaving."
Nathan left the classroom with Noah, talking into his ear. They then see Ariel talking to another acquaintance, whose hair and eyes shine as bright as the sun, Seraphina.
"Oh, hey Nathan, hey Noah."
"Hey, Sera."
"I am angry, Sera."
"Nathan, what's wrong with Noah?"
Both Nathan and Ariel answered her question,
"Ignore him."
"Anyways, Nathan, how was suspension life?"
"It was fine. I've been helping my mom run the bakery and-."
Noah cut him off and said,
"He was a proud 'server boy' the whole time."
Ariel launched herself at Noah and put her palm around his mouth. The heat from her palm started to increase as she threatened him.
"If you keep this bullshit any longer, I swear I'll burn your mouth shut."
Noah rapidly nodded his head in agreeance and Ariel took her palm off his mouth.
They all laughed at Noah as he complained about how his mouth hurt.
"Changing the topic, Nathan, have you checked up on Ellie yet?"
"Yeah, I've been meaning to talk to her again later today."
"I think you'll be able to check her-."
"Well, well, well. If it isn't Nathan. Haven't seen you for some time now."
Sera was then cut off by someone who was seen as infamous in the whole school. A person who has been distasteful not only to Nathan and his friends, but to all who have met him.
Nathan turned and looked at him in a cold, disconnected stare, fist clenched from behind his back.
"William Beaumont…"