"Where should we go ?"
Altaris ask, his head turned to facing Violet with eyes darting everywhere to find an answer that seems so hard to get. A kneed in his hand forced him back into his calculating self, while she began to scan the crowd for any sign of direction. Found nothing, her interest turned where the flow of heads moved as following a river. Sometimes, to follow the crowds was not a bad idea.
Finding a clue, she pulled his hand, guiding him, tailing a group of students, to a phanteon looking building. It's color, white, as usual. An elegant looking levitating stairs adorning its face, guiding, flaunting, to visitor and students alike.
Two person standing at the side, answering question, providing guide, and sometimes, go out of their way, meeting nobles, and showing them the way to the hall, where the gathering take place.
One of them, look his way. Face surprised, at his incompetency of failing to identify. Then he walk close, with apologetic stride, while thinking how to properly apologize, but before it could happen, a fist looking projectile, with speed, flying, swinging, hurling towards Altaris.
Altaris, Ever calm, loving the development, abstain from moving nor dodging
He trust someone, to take care of it
And take care she does
The fist halted, Just inches from his face
Stopped, by a hand to small to block such force, holding it in place.
Trapping the perpetrator
Tiernan, shocked, try to pull his back. His expression contorted, heart in shock, both by the strength and the one who block his attempt. His target. looked at him in the eyes, full of mock, like a king seeing the failed attempt of his traitorous subject. And Tiernan, hate that look, with all his guts
"How dare a viscount look at me like that, you have no right to look at me like that"
Tiernan thought, his anger was rising by the second, boiling, ready to be unleashed. Consequence, blur from his mind. The only thought passing his head is how to make this peasant groveling, to make him kiss his feat and beg for forgiveness, to strangle him himself, to throwing him off a cliff, to....
"Ehmm"
A voice, cut his train of thought
A guy in white, standing in front of him. His gait, calm. Looking at the spectacle with reference in his eyes, gauging, to who he pick side
"Please refrain from fighting. The principle is lenient, but a breach of rule in your first day, will not be easily pardoned"
The guy said, a soft warning meant to be remember. And also, a reminder
Know your place
Tiernan, opening his mouth, try to defend. Salvaging whatever can be salvaged, before his reputation goes down the drain. But his plan, before he can mutter anything, cut down by Altaris, instantly
"Not need to worry.... senior. it's just.....friendly banter"
"Hmmm..... i'm inclined to believe it so"
Says the guy in white. He extend his hand, prompting a handshake, one who gladly Altaris take
"Lask Vinclar, from house Vinclar"
"Altaris Claremont, from house Claremont"
"Oh.... Claremont, i believe this is the first time i hear such names, and my lady ?"
"Violet Fernicus from house Fernicus"
She answered, with a slight bow, show of courtesy
"House Vernicus, Ah.. the marquis.... no wonder it felt familiar. Alright, may i show you two the hall then ?"
"Please"
They answer, together, harmoniously. Completely forget about the commotion they just did, and the guy behind it.
"Alright Then....follow me"
He said, with smile, Altaris and Violet, followed him. They walk while chat, lightly. Smile plastered in their face, leaving Tiernan who still stand, blankly, unmoving. Still confused with what's happening.
"I've been played"
He thought
"He played me....how dare he"
Then switch the blame, to Altaris. First he steal his girl, now he steal his fame. The seed of hostility, start blooming, rapidly. Like a plant put in fertile soil. With it, anger also rising, clouding his mind.
The crowd around him, staring, then ignore, doing their own thing. Amidst his standing, No one wants to get close to a trouble like him, only a licker that is.
After all, in first year, a duke and viscount have an equal standing
Same chance, same privilege, same way to rise to the top of the food chain, and same way to drown, to become prey.
Thinking it makes make his anger rise once again. He need distraction. So he walks, to the hall he supposed to be, while making a mental note, of a guy named Altaris.
And the guy, his smile grew. His sense, never leaving Tiernan. Right now, he understand emotion better then anyone, he knows when to push, and to pull.
He played Tiernan like a fiddle
"Think i just found my dark piece"
He murmured, so only Violet can hear it. She nodded, happily. Cause what he just say, not only a statement, but also compliment. That mean's she act her part perfectly, the way she respond, like an actor in need for script. full improvise, but still make it fabolous.
The exchange, the bait, the fight, and the look, all was a setting to get the intended result.
They knew how people like Tiernan act, pampered, used to have everything. They expect everything would come to them, willingly or unwillingly. Using their standing, their fame. It make them blind, making it easier to form a pit ,around them.
Soo easy to read, soo easy to trick
Now they just need to cultivate the anger, waiting for Tiernan next course of action
Thinking it make Altaris giggle, the first victim of his manipulation.
Then they arrived at the hall
A Huge space, capable of holding at least 2000 people. Rows and rows of wooden chair, arranged in neatly manner. Near the front, slightly better chair is placed, meant for people with standing
Fairness ? Fuck that
Fairness doesn't run things
Noble did
So there they goes, the better seat. He sit in row three, almost near the commoner. Violet, supposed to seat in row 2, just behind dukes, and other nation royalties, but she refuse.
For her, Altaris is everything. More then standing.
And there they sit, together, waiting, till the academy bell ring, sign of new beginning