After hearing the news of his suspension being lifted, Nathan heads off to Stellanova after 2 days. 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 encounters is Ariel,
"Hey Ari."
She turns after hearing a familiar 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 chuckles 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 walk off to their first class of the morning. Once they arrive, they see that class hasn't started yet. Ariel tugs a bit of Nathan's school blazer and says,
"If you want to see her, now's your chance."
Nathan then heads off to her class, hoping that they haven't started yet.
He arrives 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 turns to see a girl whom he hasn't seen in what feels like an eternity. Silver hair that is in comparison to that of moonlight, gentle blue, crystal-like eyes, is what best describes the girl in front of Nathan's eyes. Stunned by her appearance, he couldn't find the words to say to her, with his heart wanting to reach out. She then gives a soft smile and lightly punches Nathan's chest.
"Oh- hey, Ellie."
"(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 go back and forth on their banter as they go by 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? Leon 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 tells her everything that happened that night, but leaves 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 involved in 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 at the 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 answers Nathan's suspicion about the inspections, explaining that the reasoning behind them was because of leaks that have been going around.
"Leaks?"
"Yeah, I heard those leaks are related to."
She gets cut off by her classmates entering.
"I guess that's my queue to leave."
"We'll talk later."
As Nathan was about to leave, she called out his name and said,
"I missed you."
He smiles at her comment, his eyes fixated on her gentle smile, wanting to say more to her, but forces himself to go back to class.
Class ends with him stretching and yawning,
"Never missed this."
Ari looks over to him and sighs,
"First class and you're already complaining."
"Ouch, Ari, you're being such a meanie to me. Have a heart on my poor soul."
"Stop talking like that, idiot!"
"What are you two talking about?"
They both look at where the voice is coming from and it being,
"Noah, what's up?"
"I'm not talking to you ever again, Nathaniel Valen."
Ariel looks in confusion and says,
"What the fuck?"
"You've done the impossible, Noah, you made Ari and me 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 gets up from her seat and leaves the room to avoid their bickering.
"Noah, you're losing me…"
"My heart aches after a betrayal of a dear friend."
"Did your mom hit you on the head?"
"Quiet you! Only a fool like you wouldn't understand the pain I am going through."
"I'm leaving."
Nathan leaves 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 answer her question,
"Ignore him."
"Anyways, Nathan, how was suspension life?"
"It was fine. I've been helping my mom run the bakery and-."
Noah cuts him off and says,
"He was a proud 'server boy' the whole time."
Ariel launches herself at Noah and puts her palm around his mouth. The heat from her palm starts to increase as she threatens him, saying,
"If you keep this bullshit any longer, I swear I'll fry up your mouth shut."
Noah rapidly nods his head in agreement, and Ariel takes her palm off his mouth. She says to Noah,
"Now apologize to me, Nathan and Sera."
"(deep breathes) I'm… sorry."
Ariel and Sera accept his apology, and Nathan comments,
"Good boy."
"UH, ARI!"
"Zip it, that's what you get for being annoying."
They all laugh at Noah as he complains.
"Changing the topic, Nathan, have you checked up on Ellie yet?"
"Yeah, I've been meaning to talk with 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 turns and looks at him in a cold, disconnected stare, fist clenched from behind his back, and says,
"William Beaumont…"