Chapter 44

The startled birds circled and cried, while beneath the sky, all was silent.

After a long while, the shock subsided, and a clamor erupted.

This unforeseen turn of events revealed its truth, whispers spread, and chaos ensued.

"Quiet."

The voice of the student on the ceremonial platform was calm, as if he had anticipated this.

"Everyone, please mind your words and actions, or I cannot guarantee what regrettable actions the members of your guilds might take."

The veiled threat gradually silenced the commotion.

"Truly a flock of timid lambs."

On the viewing stand, seeing this scene, Xil could not help but chuckle.

"Would you be willing to stand up and be the brave one to resist?" Xiaolan said indifferently beside him.

The cold blades in the hands of the Blood Banner Guild members outside glinted in the sunlight, and Xil shook his head. "I have no reason to stand up, besides, I have no interest in offending a group of irrational madmen."

"Perhaps they share your thoughts," Xiaolan said.

"But they have their reasons to stand up," Xil said, glancing at the nobles around him.

"They are not you, so they cannot do what pleases you," Xiaolan said.

"Perhaps," Xil sighed, no longer dwelling on it.

Everyone has their own independent thoughts and actions; sometimes, forcing others to agree with your thoughts is not necessarily a good thing.

The circle of nobles in the capital is neither large nor small; within it, everyone's relationships are intertwined, and there are always personal connections.

The members of the Blood Banner Guild are not lacking in the children of the nobles in the capital. The nobles thought they could easily overwhelm the opposition with the influence of their fathers, but the lesson of Keha was right before their eyes.

Every circle has its bottom line, and they had crossed it, so they dared not act rashly again.

After hearing the student's words on the ceremonial platform and seeing the members of the Blood Banner Guild who were fanning the chaos, they needed to calm down, for their enemies had already lost their reason.

A single madman is not to be feared; what is terrifying is a group of fanatically united madmen.

The students on the square were even less reliable, the friendship among classmates seemed to have vanished in this moment. They perhaps understood the madness of the Blood Banner Guild members in this chaos even better.

Their swords were not for decoration.

They used blood to warn those who dared to resist.

Swordsmanship is a required subject in the curriculum of the Royal Central Academy.

Both literary and martial skills are cultivated, and both knowledge and ability are pursued.

Perhaps the swordsmanship education does not match that of the Royal Military Academy, as their educational paths differ.

But every student who graduates from the Royal Central Academy undoubtedly has sword skills superior to the average person.

The nobles who came to the ceremony and the festival perhaps never worried about safety, for this was the Royal Central Academy.

So, their guards stayed outside when they entered the academy, and it is unknown whether they now regret it.

"Is it strange? Is it surprising? Is it hard to believe?"

In the calmed scene, the student on the ceremonial platform suddenly smiled.

Isn't it strange, surprising, and hard to believe?

Countless eyes were fixed on him, for they wanted to know the answer.

The student showed no fear at this moment. He closed his eyes and took a deep breath.

He felt a sense of beauty.

Deep in his heart, it was as if a flame was burning fiercely.

He opened his eyes and looked at everyone.

"Each person has their homeland, each person has their country."

He spoke slowly.

"From the moment we were born, our flesh and spirit have been deeply tied to this land. In the future, no matter where we are, this will always be our home."

"Because this land is our mother in our hearts."

"Many times, many people silently protect this mother, for they do not want to lose her, nor do they want to lose the last haven in their hearts."

"Living is not just about personal satisfaction."

"When I began to have my own thoughts and gradually grew up, one day I realized something, the first thing I deeply understood."

"Your, my, his, the mother of all who nurture this land is sick."

"Yes, it is our country, the Adria Kingdom established by Emperor Lukni four hundred years ago!"

"Long and enduring, this land has given birth to countless children. Some choose to repay and protect, but others betray and erode it bit by bit."

As he spoke, the student drew his long sword from his waist and pointed it at the sky, his tone becoming more passionate.

"From that day on, my heart told me that I must protect this country, I must save this country!"

"The dream is grand and cruel, the power of one person is always limited. Perhaps one person cannot achieve it, but this land has countless people who share my ideals and the same dream, for we are all the children who love this mother the most!"

"At the time when this country needs help the most, we appeared, but what are you doing?"

The long sword pointed at the countless nobles on the viewing stand, and the student sneered.

"Several years ago, when many ministers proposed reform plans to save this mother, it was you who deeply stifled everything!"

"In your view, your interests far outweigh the interests of the kingdom. To protect what you have, you are willing to eliminate all who threaten your interests."

"Are your brains filled with pig's feed? Don't you know that when the entire kingdom collapses, everything you have will be nothing but a memory?"

"No, you understand, but you cannot let go of what you have! Short-sighted people, no one will save you in the future, for you cannot escape the sin of harming this country!"

While the student was recounting the difficulties the country faced, Xiaolan sat quietly in his chair, a doubt in his heart.

"Do you know what happened several years ago?"

Xil looked at him in surprise. "You don't know? Aren't you from this country?"

"No, I just forgot," Xiaolan said.

Forgot?

Xil found it hard to believe, but out of respect for his question, he sighed and explained, "It was about four years ago. At that time, many ministers submitted reform proposals to the king, because after the war with the Ossau invasion, many problems within the kingdom were exposed. If they were not resolved, if one day the Ossau barbarians and the Surogol undead invaded together, the entire kingdom would be powerless."

"The reform proposal failed?" Xiaolan asked.

"Yes," Xil said, looking at the student on the platform who was passionately recounting the kingdom's problems. "Actually, many ministers knew about this, but only a few supported it. If the reform proposal had been passed, it would have inevitably led to internal conflict within the kingdom. The reform touched on the interests of all the nobles too deeply."

"What was the result?"

"The result?" Xil said helplessly. "The ministers who proposed the reform were all stripped of their titles and reduced to commoners, and the matter was left unresolved."

"It seems this country is beyond saving," Xiaolan said, shaking his head.

"No," Xil said firmly. "As long as this country has people like them, it will always exist."

"Exist in the heart?" Xiaolan said sarcastically.

"Now I am increasingly doubtful that you are from this country," Xil said, looking at him strangely. "Or perhaps you do not like this country."

Do not like?

Xiaolan shook his head. "The country is not the limit of my existence."

"Is your world the entire Eldran?" Xil could not help but laugh.

Where is my world? Xiaolan did not know, so he did not answer.

Seeing his silence, Xil turned to look at the student on the platform.

"Today, we have stood up, we have taken action."

After finishing his talk about the kingdom's internal problems, the student looked up at the sky, which was clear and blue.

"Crushed and trampled dreams, disappointed prayers, but the inner belief has not faded, unwilling to remain dormant, if there is a change, we must rise and fight!"

The long sword was raised high, its silver light flashing.

"Belief and dreams make us raise our sharp swords, this will tramples the enemies who mock us, and we fight to the death!"

"We will not hesitate, even if we cannot see the road ahead."

"We will not escape, this is the path we have chosen."

"Even if coerced by violence, we are willing to bear all the consequences."

"The fiery impulse burns, the unyielding dream remains eternal."

"For us, resistance or surrender is not a sin, so why not embrace the sin of resistance and change more boldly!"

"Success or failure!"

"Life or death!"

"Sin or punishment!"

"The mad howls at the end of the road that blocks us! The will of belief and dreams accompanies the long sword in our hands, constantly slashing!"

"Mother Adria! Please let us save you!"

The atmosphere was charged, and the fire in their hearts surged.

"For belief and dreams, we fight!"

Countless swords pointed to the sky.

Their faces were resolute, their eyes moist.

Among the students surrounded on the square, some raised their arms, and more and more people joined.

They shouted their hearts' voices together, for they, too, deeply loved this country.

The closed hearts and timid thoughts seemed to vanish in this moment.

"All mad! Mad!"

On the viewing stand, a noble, facing this scene, trembled all over. He clutched his head, pointing at the madness he could see.

A deep weakness in his heart was sharply and painfully exposed, the conflict between past and present thoughts was intense.

He began to laugh, the madness in his laughter causing those around him to worry and distance themselves.

"You are all madmen! You are courting death!"

Saf lowered his sword, his eyes burning with intense passion, and he stepped forward.

"Yes! We are fighting for the belief in our hearts, even if it means death!"

The sword pierced flesh.

The noble, seeing the cold blade pierce his chest, suddenly clutched it tightly.

He looked at Saf, his face twisted in a smile.

"Good luck to you."

With that, his body fell, landing at Saf's feet.

The blood on the sword dripped.

Saf laughed loudly, like a demon.