Watching the silver-haired youth step onto the stage, the entire hall fell into utter shock.

It was not the loud kind of shock. No one gasped or cried out. Instead, a heavy stillness spread through the hall, as if the air itself had frozen.

William had only seen the man from afar a few times before.

Each time had been brief. A distant glimpse across the Hall. A figure surrounded by senior members. A presence that drew attention without effort. Yet even those fleeting moments had been enough to leave a mark.

This man was possibly the strongest person in all of Gahalia, second only to the Archon.

The one who occupied the first seat in the Great Hall.

The man who had fought and defeated a ranked devil on his own at the age of twenty, a feat that many seasoned veterans could only dream of.

A prodigy, hailed as such since the very day he awakened his utterly broken skill.

An inspiration to thousands. Someone trusted by millions.

The person who held the most authority among the seated members.

And also the same man who had completely shut Guinevere up without even raising his voice.

Arthur.

Real name: Alex Glade.

Standing on the stage, the young man calmly surveyed the students before him. His silver hair reflected the hall's lights, and his sharp yet distant eyes moved across the crowd without haste. When his gaze reached William, it lingered for just a moment longer than the rest.

Then he spoke.

"I believe you all must be told why you are here," Arthur said. "It is not for any contest. Nor is it to prepare you for a war."

His voice was not loud. In fact, it was almost quiet, as if he were speaking to himself rather than addressing the students.

Yet every single person in the hall heard him clearly.

A moment passed before Arthur continued.

"There were debates about whether to pull young students like you into this side of reality," he said. "A place where there are no clear rules and no backup waiting behind you."

His eyes hardened slightly.

"But circumstances left us no choice. You are being placed into the position you would have reached in a few months anyway."

A ripple of unease passed through the students.

"I am aware," Arthur went on, "that some of you are afraid. Others are excited. But both emotions are unnecessary, and frankly, inadvisable."

His gaze sharpened, turning cold.

"Because you are not here to be protected. You are here to protect. And you are not here to hunt monsters."

Those words landed heavily.

They carried no anger, no drama, yet their meaning was absolute.

Arthur was reminding them of their true role.

Their duty would not be to chase glory or fight devils head-on. They were not meant to become celebrated hunters, no matter how many of them had dreamed of it. Their primary task would be to save survivors, to escort civilians, and to stand firm at places where Death Sinks appeared.

Defenders.

Protectors.

That would be their role until they graduated from the academy.

Not long after, Arthur concluded, "For now, enjoy the dinner and get some rest. Starting tomorrow, you will be assigned your new roles."

As those words settled, staff members began moving through the hall, guiding the students toward the exits.

The groups from Ardentia and Daverfall, the academy located on the southern continent, were led in different directions.

As they were escorted away, Brutus threw one last glance over his shoulder.

William, walking beside Emma, felt the stare and turned.

For a brief moment, their eyes met.

Nothing was said.

Then Emma whispered something under her breath, and William looked away.

Brutus narrowed his eyes, clenched his jaw, and faced forward once more.

Meanwhile, back inside the ceremonial hall, Arthur remained standing on the stage.

He slipped his hands into his pockets and spoke again.

"The rest of you may leave."

The remaining staff members exchanged brief glances but said nothing. One by one, they departed, their footsteps echoing softly until the hall was left with only two seated members.

Guinevere stood off to the side, silent.

She had not spoken a single word since Arthur's arrival.

"Your silence speaks loudly, Guinevere," Arthur said without looking at her. "Do you regret your actions?"

The raven-haired woman finally parted her lips.

"I do not regret failing him," she said slowly. "But I do regret allowing my anger to carry the argument further than it should have."

She had more than enough time to reflect on the reason behind Arthur's displeasure.

Unlike what Guinevere had believed earlier, the students were not here because they wanted to be. At least, most of them were not.

"And from what I have heard about Delimore William," he added, "he would rather be anywhere else but here."

Arthur had naturally heard of William's personality. His reluctance to work with a team, Domella told him everything. Yet despite that, he still chose to come along.

Setting aside the fact that he had little choice, William had not caused trouble. He had not complained. He had not contacted his father to interfere.

That alone showed that he was not short-sighted or selfish.

He was willing to use his power for those who could not protect themselves.

But being told that one mistake would get him expelled…

"That was immature of you, Guinevere," Arthur said at last, turning to face her. "I expected better."

His dark eyes locked onto hers, and her lips trembled.

"I was…annoyed," Guinevere admitted. "He broke my spell like it was nothing. I worked on it for years."

Her pride still ached.

She knew it would be difficult to fool a telepath with a spell that tampered with the mind. But she had never imagined it would be resisted so easily.

And then he had humiliated her in front of everyone.

She was the holder of the fourth seat, for god's sake.

"Guinevere," Arthur said calmly, "you can never be absolute in any field. There will always be someone stronger. What truly matters is how you react when you meet that person."

His voice softened slightly.

"And today, you showed your weak side."

Guinevere lowered her head, her toes drawing small arcs against the floor.

"I know," she said quietly. "And I am sorry."

Arthur let out a slow breath.

"Can I trust these students with you?" he asked. "You know I cannot come to check on things often."

It had only been the first day, and Arthur had spare time, which was why he came to observe from afar.

But once he saw how things were unfolding, he had no choice but to step in.

Guinevere looked up.

"Has your trust in me faded because of one small incident?"

Arthur paused.

Then he stepped closer.

Guinevere's heart began to pound as the man she admired stood before her.

Arthur raised his hand and gently cupped her cheek.

"I lost faith in this world long ago," he said softly. "But there are still people who remind me that there is something worth living for."

Guinevere's breath caught.

"I will not disappoint you again," she said.

Arthur smiled faintly.

"I expect no less from you, Guiny."

And with that, he vanished.

The moment he was gone, Guinevere's restraint shattered. She jumped in place, hands clenched, giggling like a small girl.

Thankfully, no one was there to see it.

Otherwise, no one would ever take the fourth seat seriously again.

°°°°°°°°°°

A/N: Fan girl spotted. Thanks for reading. Drop a comment.

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