Sustaining The King's Life 116 Secret Door

The tension had risen the moment the commoners had broken through the closed doors. Leviticus' dark eyes were unwavering, as if he had found his resolve. His group also had their fair share of reason. They were looking at the n.o.bles as if they have seen nothing but beasts untamed. Faustina herself could not bring her eyes straight to any of them, especially Mich.e.l.le. Guilt gushed through her whole being as she found her gaze dropping to the floor. She felt the same feeling of ease and relief and the feeling of ignominy.

"We cannot work together with you," Leviticus declares, his voice arctic-cold. "Lord Anakin."

Anakin Disfiegro conjured a smile, masking his appalled expression from earlier. "Now, now . . . let's not be like that, Leviticus. There was nothing we could've done."

Leviticus walked forward to Anakin, "you could've done . . . nothing?"

Anakin smiled, "yes, Leviticus. We couldn't have done anything more than to run. I hope you understand that."

"He's right. You people have to understand that we're as weak as you are . . . for now,"

"It was scary! Don't tell me they were expecting us to save them when we could even barely survive that vulture attack?"

"We're just students like them. We couldn't be so charitable to risk ourselves just that they can pa.s.s."

Whispers drifted around the whole place like hisses of a snake. Faustina glanced to Leviticus' group, and then sees that their expression was still unwavering despite the n.o.bles whispering to themselves.

"You see, this is still an exam," says Anakin. "There are certain things we can't really help you with. For instance, this one. But of course, we will still help you at the next stages!"

"There will no more next stage," Leviticus exclaims. "We're taking a different route."

"What?" Anakin blinked. "Different route?"

"It's none of your business," Leviticus says. "Unlike you, I have studied the undead. And I know where they lurk. Mich.e.l.le,"

Mich.e.l.le nodded to Leviticus, and then with her light footsteps to the ground, she sauntered eastwards, she then stopped by a wall, placing her palm to the concrete as if she was searching for something.

"What is she doing?"

One of the n.o.bles chuckled. "Did she go . . . crazy?"

"Shh, she'll hear you,"

"The vultures might have done quite the . . . damage to her brain,"

Laughter echoed in the vast as a familiar scene was captured. Someone being mocked by people who only knew how to pry.

The laughter died in a moment as Mich.e.l.le pointed the hilt of her staff into the wall. Slowly the gem in Mich.e.l.le's staff glowed. The light from the gem slowly spread through the wall, forming what seemed like a magical circle of unfamiliar patterns—with the exception of a firefly insignia in the middle. The magic circle had begun to illuminate the whole s.p.a.ce, and opening what seemed like a secret door into the eastern part of the castle, the magic circle dimmed out.

"W-well, I'm certain that any of the n.o.bles coming from Zweite will surely know about this undead enchilada," says Anakin, trying to keep his smile.

"Are you sure?" Leviticus challenged. "We wouldn't be sure about that."

Anakin glanced around his group, and then it had confirmed what Leviticus was trying to convey. No one looked like they knew what the undead are.

But there was nothing most important to Anakin but his reputation—his pride as a n.o.ble. He was the second son of the Disfiegros. But he was considered the less important one. His older brother was an achiever, a graduate of Ianua II, and his younger sister, Lilliane, was a candidate as the king's bride. But he—Anakin—was born with nothing but flimsy magical powers lower than that of his older brother.

Right now he couldn't lose face. Now is the time he can prove himself to the ma.s.ses that he wasn't the lower sibling. That he wasn't the lower Disfiegro. This was the time he can prove to everyone that he could lead without seeking any help from anyone, especially a lowly commoner.

"Hah, so you're basically going to cheat?" One of the n.o.bles—Elisha Marben, took a step forward. Anakin knew the Marben house—they were Viscounts. Lower than the Disfiegros.

He smirked. "Thank you for that, Elisha." Mockingly, Anakin raised his brow. "It's a cheat, then. You're cheating the exams because you know the premises well."

Leviticus narrowed his eyes.

Anakin curved his lips. Maybe he could use the commoners as collateral—or as shields so he, along with the n.o.bles, will pa.s.s the exams.

Being the most ignored child of the Disfiegro house, Anakin harnessed the ability to change his expression so easily. He learned to warp words and turn them into sharp weapons, as any other n.o.bles could. But he considered himself better than any n.o.ble. He was frequently underestimated, so he had thought that people were merely shallow.

"Oh, does this mean, Leviticus, that you're the only one who will get to decide whether you'll let your group pa.s.s or not?" Anakin asked, feigning a surprised expression.

"Wow, so he has the complete control over it?"

"That's scary . . ."

The n.o.bles were clearly on Anakin's side, trying to bring Leviticus down. Anakin had never felt this powerful before—the exposure, the people noticing him, and backing him up. It felt so good for him that he was certain he had hit a nerve or two. Not that it mattered; this guy was a commoner anyway. Although he wondered . . . why would a commoner be named . . . Leviticus?

Leviticus took a deep breath. "I specifically said earlier that they don't have to trust me." he countered. "I will be a strategist because I have a piece of knowledge about the undead."

"So you're cheating, basically—"

"I didn't say I know about this castle or what." Leviticus clears. "Have you been listening to the professor? This is a dungeon artificially made by Magierstadt. How in the world would I know every crook of it? I don't have that kind of cheat. I only said I knew the undead; my country specifically deals with them."

Leviticus tilted his gaze. "Or are you mocking Magierstadt instead?"

"That's preposterous!" Anakin said in his defense.

"Well, you think a mere commoner like me can cheat his way to the most prestigious school in Earthland," Leviticus smirked. "Aren't you looking down at the school?"

Anakin still stood to his spot, trembling in anger. He clenched his jaw, and balled his fist. Did this commoner just use SARCASM on HIM? To him, the second born of the Disfiegros?

Anakin took a deep breath. "I am not."

Leviticus smiled. "That's good."—he says, and then walked past Anakin with a smile etched on his face. Some of them giggled as they trailed behind Leviticus as they saunter to the secret door opened by Mich.e.l.le.

Leviticus, before going to the secret door, glanced back.

"Follow us if you want, Lord Anakin." He says. "But this time, you abide by our rules."