Rumors of Rebellion

The Sirenford Academy.

This name is known to every citizen of Sivaria. Despite the numerous wars on the said continent, the elite from all countries gather at this school to enjoy a high-quality education. The Sirenford was built on neutral ground and therefore forbids any acts of war - even among the students. This law is respected by all nations and their students to ensure a peaceful atmosphere for studying. However, there is anything but peace at this school and last night the conflict reached new heights.

The sun shines through the high mosaic windows and bathes the corridor in a vibrant play of colors. The white walls and marble pillars, like the red carpet, are covered by the light of the colorful stones and give the long corridor the aesthetics of a work of art.

However, the breathtaking sight is disturbed by a tense atmosphere: numerous students are spread out in small groups along the corridor, absorbed in excited conversations. They are all wearing the uniform of Sirenford Academy. Their blue jackets with golden embellishments make it clear through their elegance that this academy is reserved only for the wealthy.

Between these individual clusters of people, two students navigate their way to the other end of the corridor.

One of them is a young man with silver hair. With a hunched posture and his hands in his pockets, he strolls leisurely down the corridor. His face looks bored and he seems to have no interest in the conversations of those around him.

But his companion is completely different: a black-haired woman with large, round glasses. Her gaze is filled with curiosity and excitement. She wears a pin with an embedded gemstone that shines in the same magenta as her eyes. As she tries to turn her head in all directions to take in as many conversations as possible at once, her golden earrings twirl between her dark hair.

“There's quite a lot going on here, isn't there Cyril?” says the curious lady, looking at her silver-haired classmate with joyful excitement.

“Sudri...” Cyril replies with a look of continued disinterest, "The fact that the other students are already so excited so early in the morning is annoying enough. Please don't be like that too..."

Sudri adjusts her large, round glasses and grins broadly:
“Surely you know what they're talking about.”

"Now stop it. I can't listen to it anymore."

Sudri lets out a giggle and raises her index finger:
"They're talking about the masked man! For sure!"

The student gives a resigned sigh.

Of course they're all talking about the masked man! He is said to have attacked two sons of barons.

A student of unknown rank attacking the nobility... There has never been anything like it in the history of the academy...

While Cyril thinks about this moronic incident, Sudri continues to talk non-stop. He gives his classmate an annoyed look, but before he can say anything, another voice from one of the many groups calls out to them:
“Good morning Sudri, you have to listen to this!”

A student with light brown hair and two pigtails breaks away from her group and bounces excitedly towards the two of them.

“Good morning Lara, let me guess it-”

"You won't believe it! Two pupils were found unconscious in the school garden this morning. Dennis Evert and Valon Creek."

Don't pretend we haven't heard about this... Cyril thinks to himself, annoyed.

Nevertheless, Sudri pretends that this is the first time she has heard about it. Thinking, she taps her finger against her chin:
"Hm, the names sound familiar... Wait, the school garden is supposed to be closed at night. How did they get there?"

"Yes, yes, that's it! There's more to come! Selim- so- there was a guy- and-“
Lara can't form coherent sentences due to her excitement,  ”Yes and- the masked man and-!"

“Hey!”
Cyril now speaks up and makes a stopping gesture with his hand, "Take it easy here. Take a deep breath and say what you want to say calmly."

“Oh, so you are interested in the story after all, Cyril.” Sudri remarks and smiles at him with delight.

“Certainly not.” Cyril replies, still annoyed, "It's just this chaotic cackling that gets on my nerves. That's all..."

Lara takes a few deep breaths and then continues her story:
"So... Dennis Evert and Valon Creek are still unconscious. Valon apparently had a deep wound on his face that needed stitches. In addition, the head of the gardening club was apparently also present that evening. He was brought to the infirmary unconscious last night."

“You mean Selim Mavi?” asks Sudri.

“Exactly, but he can't remember anything except that Valon and Dennis broke into the garden when he was working there.”

Sudri adjusts her glasses again and briefly falls into a thoughtful silence:
"Hm, three unconscious students. One of them with a cut on his face... Sounds like the three of them got into a fight. But did they really use cutting weapons?"
Sudri stretches her arms out to the side and shrugs her shoulders, "Oh, typical men... What can you say?"

Cyril holds back his comment.

“But there's a fourth person!” says Lara. Her eyes sparkle with joy and excitement, “Several students seem to have seen Selim being carried to the infirmary last night - by a masked man in a red robe!”

“Excuse me?!”
Sudri jumps up, stunned, causing her glasses to slip.

“Yes! Sirenford has a mysterious knight of justice!”

Both ladies jump for joy and shriek with excitement.

Oh boy, now they're starting with the noise again...

Cyril pokes his finger in his ear. He contorts his face as if the screaming is causing him physical pain. For him, it's just an extension of annoying behavior.

“Hey girls!” Cyril shouts between them, interrupting the hysteria of the two students, "What's that supposed to mean? Just because the guy was wearing a mask doesn't mean he's someone from your novels. Maybe it was a guy from the theater club."

Lara shakes her head violently. She folds her hands together and stares dreamily into space:
"No! It must be a noble knight who stands up for the weak students! After all, there was a similar case last year."

“That doesn't really convince me now...”

“Oh come on, Cyril!” interjects Sudri, nudging him with her elbow, "I mean we're possibly talking about a mysterious group of students who serve justice when helpless classmates are in need! He saved Selim's life! The poor guy would have bled to death otherwise!"

Cyril averts his gaze and looks into the distance, depressed:
“Playing the hero at this school... What nonsense...”

Lara puffs out her cheeks angrily:
“Hey Mulligan, what's your pro-!”

But Sudri holds her back:
"It's okay Lara. Let's just leave him alone. He's just a lost cause."

“You're a lost cause.” Cyril replies.

Although Sudri shares the same enthusiasm as Lara, she seems to understand her friend's mistrust. Lara is visibly confused by Sudri's reaction, but suddenly her attention turns to a completely different student:

“Oh my- That's the prince!”

The shouts come from a student who had spotted the prince by chance - the other students were too immersed in their conversations to notice his presence. But now the entire corridor has fallen silent and turns its attention to His Highness. It doesn't take long for the students to start talking loudly again, but this time they all turn their attention to the prince:

“Your Highness, you look dazzling again today!”
"Good morning Your Majesty! How are you?"
"Prince Semis! Have you heard the rumors?"

As always, he is the center of attention:
His name is Semis Bazma and he is one of many sons of the Sultan of Jamna - a vast kingdom known as a heartland of art and astronomy.

With a friendly, slightly embarrassed smile, he waves to his classmates while his companions try to keep the crowds of students at a distance.

“Your Highness!” shouts a student from the crowd, “What is the student council going to do about the masked man?”

"Sssh! Shut up! Don't mention that in front of a peacemaker!" another voice shouts at the questioning student.

“Not at all!” replies Prince Semis with a gentle smile, "I understand that you are concerned about the rumors, but don't believe such stories. If there really was such a danger to the students, we as the student council would have intervened long ago." 

His deep, melodious voice resounds confidently through the corridor and his majestic aura alone is enough to convince most of the students present. After all, he is not only blessed with royal charisma, but also with good looks. His dark skin and purple hair hint at his exotic origins and his magenta eyes sparkle like jewels. It's no wonder that the charming prince from the Far East tops the list of best-looking students every year.

“Tch!” Cyril clicks his tongue in annoyance and looks at Semis from a distance.

“Oh, the prince!” exclaims Lara, leaving Cyril and Sudri without a goodbye to melt into the huge crowd.

“I'm really sorry, but I have to go to my first lecture,” Semis calls wistfully. His companions push the students aside so that the prince can go his way.

“Ugh, he's coming our way.” Cyril whispers in disgust and narrows his eyes.

Sudri looks visibly nervous at the sight of the prince and frantically adjusts her glasses. When Semis is only a few meters away from her, Sudri gathers all her courage:

“Good morning, brother.” 

She calls out to the prince in a friendly but shaky voice. But as always, he doesn't answer Sudri. She is not even worthy of a glance as he strides past her.

It is no secret at the academy that although Sudri Bazma-Kannan is part of the royal family of Jamna, she receives nothing but contempt and rejection from her siblings. Sudri is of course aware of this too, but she still thinks it is appropriate to greet her half-brother when they meet - even if he never greets her back.

“Hey Prince!”

As the words leave Cyril's mouth, the entire corridor falls quiet and a tense silence hangs in the air. Semis also stops, but doesn't turn around.

“Don't you greet your family in your country?” Cyril adds. There is no anger in his voice, but a calm yet cynical tone. 

None of the students present can grasp what is happening before their eyes. Cyril is a pebble; a student of inferior class. His counterpart is not only a jewel, but also a member of the student council; a Peacemaker. Cyril's behavior could cost him his life.

Semis finally turns around. His magenta eyes meet the golden gaze of the silver-haired boy.

“Hey Cyril, you better stop that!” Sudri whispers to him in a panic, but he ignores her.

“And you are?” Semis asks. Like Cyril, his deep voice is calm. The friendliness on his face has completely disappeared and his graceful air has been replaced by a menacing aura.

“I am Cyril Mulligan.” Replies the student truthfully.

Although both men appear perfectly calm, their looks and pure aura seem to be engaged in a fierce battle. Like two predators just waiting for the right moment to jump at each other's throats.

“Mulligen, huh?” Semis lifts his chin slightly, “The pirate boy, then...”

Cyril hates that title, but he feels like he shouldn't be talking back right now.

"Your family may be rich, but bandits will always be bandits. Just as pebbles will always be pebbles."

Cyril continues to remain silent. Although he continues to stare blankly at the prince, he feels increasingly nervous. Perhaps he has gone too far after all.

“Know your place in this school, Cyril Mulligan.” The prince reprimands him. He turns his gaze away from Cyril and continues on his way. Cyril looks after Semis for a while until he finally turns around and heads off to class as well.

Sudri stares speechlessly in both directions of the corridor, while the students present go back to their conversations as if nothing had ever happened.