Seorang pemuda tampang yang ramping dengan rambut keemasan, mata emas, dan kulit putih pucat berdirilah bangga di depan lorong utama rumah besar.
Usianya sembilan belas tahun.
Adatnya putih dan emas menanggapi cahaya lampu gantung di atas, membuatnya langsung menonjol di antara anggota Golden Circle yang lain. Di satu tangannya ia memegang secangkir kaca sambil sedikit mengangkatnya, tubuh tegak dengan yakin saat perhatian seluruh ruangan tertuju padanya.
"Itu Putera Aldric."
Seorang pemuda siswa tahun pertama Non-Noble berkata dengan semangat yang jelas.
"Aku hanya pernah melihatnya di Linsta dan siaran, tapi dia benar-benar mengagumkan dalam nyata."
Seorang gadis siswi tahun pertama bangsawan berkata dengan paling, mata punya takjinkan menatap Putera Ketiganya.
Bukan hanya dirinya saja.
Banyak dari siswa tahun pertama mulai berdatangan ke depan, ekspresi penuh kagum dan hormat saat memandang salah seorang dari lima orang yang memegang posisi tertinggi di dalam Faksi.
Namun, Aldric tak sendirian di antara kerumunian ini.
Puteri Kedua, Victoria Aethelmont, juga berdiri di posisi yang alami menarik perhatian.
Ia mengenakan gaun Victoria style putih dan kuning bersinar, warna-warna ini cocok dengan topi kuning kecil yang diletakkan di sisi kanan rambut kuningnya yang rapi terikat.
Victoria tersenyum lembut saat para anggota Faksi menyapa.
"Salam, Puteri Victoria Aethelmont."
"Salam, Puteri."
"Anda benar-benar rupa yang indah, Puteri Victoria."
"Terima kasih."
Victoria menjawab dengan tenang.
Ia tak kelihatan terganggu oleh semua perhatian.
Justru, ia terus menyapa para anggota yang mendekat dengan sopan Santun yang diharapkan dari seorang Puteri Britannia.
Tidak jauh dari Victoria, Leofirc Hawthorne juga dikelilingi oleh orang ramai.
Ia mengenakan jas ungu dan abu-abu yang cocok dengan rambut panjangnya berwarna ungu yang rapi tergantung di sisi kiri wajahnya.
"Salam, Sir Leofirc Hawthorne."
Seorang pemuda bangsawan kelas atas menyapa dengan tangan tepuk tangan.
Leofirc menjawab dengan beberapa kata yang segera membuat kelompok ketiga dari tiga orang di sekitarnya tertawa.
Ekspresinya tetap santai saat terus berbincang, jelas nyaman di tengah kerumunian.
Ada dua orang lagi dari kalangan bangsawan di antara orang yang mendapatkan banyak perhatian.
Ezra menelusuri mereka sebelum kembali ke lima orang yang berkumpul di tengah ruangan.
"Itu adalah anggota dewan atas dari Faksi ini."
Veda berkata sambil mengoyak lengan.
Ia memandang ke arah orang yang paling banyak mendapatkan perhatian.
"Lima orang."
Ezra menjawab dengan sederhana.
"Ya."
Veda mengangguk.
"Dua adalah tahun kedua, sementara tiga sisanya adalah ketiga tahun semua."
Ezra terus mengamati mereka.
Kelimanya jelas berbeda dari anggota Faksi yang lain.
Mereka bukan sekadar siswa yang populer.
Posisinya di dalam Golden Circle, status keluarga, dan peringkat akademis mereka cukup memberi pengaruh sehingga para siswa lain alami tertarik mengelilingi mereka.
"Aku tidak sabar untuk Young Lord kita menjadi anggota dewan atas."
Nickolas tiba-tiba bergabung dengan senyum licik.
Ia memandang bangga ke arah Veda.
Veda tertawa ringan.
"Ha ha..."
Ia mengangguk ringan.
"Bukan semudah yang kelihatan."
Ekspresinya beralih ke serius bermain.
"Aku harus menjadi bagian dari Dewan Siswa Akademi, dan juga harus berada di antara lima belas besar di peringkat akademi tahunku untuk bisa mendekati posisi dewan atas di faksi ini."
Ia memandang Nickolas dengan tetap serius bermain.
"Tenang, aku yakin kamu bisa melakukannya, Young Lord."
Nickolas menjawab dengan yakin.
Tracy dan Linda berbicara hampir bersamaan.
"Kami yakin kamu bisa melakukannya."
Kepercayaan mereka pada Veda jelas.
Veda tersenyum lembut.
"Aku akan berusaha sekerah."
Di tengah mereka yang terus berbincang, Ezra tetap diam.
Perhatiannya tetap tertuju pada anggota dewan atas.
Ia mengamati mereka dari tempat berdirinya, memperhatikan orang-orang di sekitar mereka dan reaksi para siswa setiap kali salah seorang dari lima orang itu berbicara atau bergerak.
Ia tak berkata apa-apa.
Ia hanya mengamat dengan tenang, seperti biasa.
Lalu suara Aldric tiba-tiba memenuhi seluruh ruangan.
"Baiklah, semua."
Suaranya yang tenang dengan mudah menyebar melewati istana.
Perbincangan yang sedang berkobar di seluruh ruangan terhenti lagi.
Para pelayan yang sudah mulai bergerak dan melayani minuman juga melambatkan kegiatannya.
Musik turun hingga tak lain dari sekadar latar belakang yang tenang.
Semua orang membelokkan perhatian penuh ke arah Aldric.
Ia berdiri di depan dengan cangkir kacinya masih dipegangnya.
"Pertama-tama, aku ingin menyambut kembali kalian semua ke Rumah Besar Golden Circle yang kita banggakan."
Aldric berkata sambil tersenyum senang.
Beberapa suara sorak langsung menginggung dari kerumunian.
Beberapa siswa mengangguk sambil bertepuk tangan, sementara yang lain hanya memandang Aldric dengan ekspresi hormat.
"Golden Circle telah ada selama lama, sudah lima puluh tahun."
Ia berhenti sejenak.
Mata emasnya menelusuri wajah anggota Faksi sebelum ia melanjutkan.
"Pada awalnya tujuannya adalah untuk melawan tindakan jahat Royal Crest, namun seiring tahun berlalu, tujuan, nilai, dan aspirasi kita juga berubah."
Tonnya menjadi lebih kuat.
Perubahan itu kecil, namun kata-katanya terakhir terasa lebih berat.
"Sekarang, kita tidak hanya bertindak untuk menunjukkan kepada para anak yang sedang tumbuh di Britannia apa yang seharusnya dipelajari oleh seorang Bangsawan atau warga Negara Non-Noble yang baik di kerajaan ini."
Ia berhenti lagi.
Matanya mengarah ke anggota muda yang berada di hadapannya.
"Tapi kita juga mempertahankan satu keyakinan yang kuat."
Ruangan tersembuh sunyi.
Aldric mengangkat cangkirnya.
"Keyakinan bahwa kita, sebagai anggota Faksi ini, bisa membawa hal-hal baru yang indah dan menakjubkan untuk membawa kerajaan yang agung ini ke pertumbuhan yang terus-menerus."
Suaranya semakin bersemangat.
"Setiap generasi, hingga tak terbatas, kita dari Golden Circle akan selalu bekerja sama menuju cahaya yang terus menerangi Britannia."
Aldric mengangkat cangkirnya lebih tinggi.
"Untuk Golden Circle."
Suaranya penuh semangat yang langsung menyebar melewati anggota Faksi.
"UNTUK GOLDEN CIRCLE!!!"
Responsnya bersamaan dari hampir seluruh orang yang hadir.
Para anggota Faksi mengangkat cangkir mereka jika masih memegangnya, sementara yang tidak memegangnya mengangkat tangan ke langit dengan semangat yang sama.
Ezra juga mengangkat tangannya.
"Untuk Golden Circle."
Suaranya tetap sederhana seperti biasanya.
Ia mengucapkan kata-kata itu hanya karena semua orang mengatakannya, tanpa meniru tingkat keseruangan yang sama.
Setelah beberapa lama, Aldric menurunkan tangannya.
Para anggota Faksi pun menurunkan tangan mereka.
"Sekarang..."
Suara wanita yang tenang mengikuti.
"Semua siswa tahun pertama, silakan berkumpul di depan."
Patricia Hawthorne berdirilah dengan anggun sebagai anggota dewan atas dengan ekspresi tenang.
Para siswa tahun pertama mulai bergerak ke depan.
Beberapa berjalan dengan yakin.
Yang lain sedikit canggung sambil merasa pandangan para siswa senior tertuju padanya.
Setelah semua siswa tahun pertama terkumpul di depan, Patricia memandang ke arah para pelayat.
"Dan para pelayat, silakan memberikan minuman kepada semua siswa tahun pertama."
Para pelayat segera berlari.
Mereka mengangkakan piring menuju para siswa dan mulai memberikan gelas kepada mereka yang belum memilikinya.
Satu per satu, para siswa tahun pertama menerima minumannya.
Para anggota dewan atas berdiri di depan mereka, menyaksikan dengan ekspresi senang.
Leofirc mengintip Veda di antara sekian banyak orang.
Ia mengangkat satu tangan dan melambai ringan.
Veda merespons senyum tenang.
Aldric kemudian memandang ke arah kelompok para siswa tahun pertama.
"Siswa tahun pertama dari Royal."
Suaranya tenang, namun cukup mengandung otoritas untuk membuat semua orang langsung tegak erat.
Para siswa tahun pertama pun berdiri dengan benar.
Beberapa masih memiliki ekspresi excited di wajah, sementara yang lain berusaha sekuat-sekuatnya untuk tetap tenang di hadapan para anggota dewan atas.
"Kamu telah mendengar apa yang kujelaskan sebelumnya."
Aldric tersenyum.
"Dan semoga kalian semua akan menggunakan sepenuh konsentrasi untuk menunaikan tujuan Faksi ini."
Senumnya semakin hangat.
"Sekali lagi, selamat datang di Golden Circle."
Ia menyeratkan cangkirnya.
Para siswa tahun pertama mengikutinya.
Mereka menyiapkan cangkir ke depan, banyak dari mereka tersenyum saat mengikuti upacara ini.
Mereka lalu mengucapkan motto Golden Circle bersama-sama.
Kata-kata ini memenuhi seluruh ruangan.
Beberapa siswa senyum lebih lebar saat mengatakannya, jelas senang secara resmi menjadi bagian dari Faksi.
Setelah upacara selesai, para pelayat membawa piring berisi slendang dan lencana.
Setiap slendang menggunakan warna-warni yang dikaitkan dengan Golden Circle, sementara lencana bearangnya menampilkan
A charming-looking young man with blonde hair, golden eyes, and pale skin stood proudly at the front of the mansion hall.
He was nineteen years old.
His white and gold suit caught the light from the chandeliers above, making him stand out immediately from the other members of the Golden Circle. He held a glass cup in one hand and raised it slightly, his posture straight and confident as the attention of the entire hall settled on him.
"It’s Prince Aldric."
A first-year Non-Noble male student spoke with clear excitement.
"I have only seen him on Linsta and broadcasts, but he’s really charming in person."
A first-year noble female student spoke in a daze, her eyes remaining fixed on the Third Prince.
It wasn’t only her.
Many of the first-years began gathering closer to the front, their expressions showing admiration and respect as they looked at one of the members who held the highest position within the Faction.
However, Aldric wasn’t the only person standing out among the crowd.
The Second Princess, Victoria Aethelmont, also stood in a position where she naturally attracted attention.
She wore a dazzling white-and-yellow Victorian gown, the colors matching the small yellow hat resting on the right side of her neatly tied yellow hair.
Victoria smiled softly as members of the Faction greeted her.
"Greetings, Princess Victoria Aethelmont."
"Greetings, Princess."
"You look really beautiful, Princess Victoria."
"Thank you."
Victoria replied calmly.
She didn’t appear bothered by the attention.
Instead, she continued greeting the members who approached her with the calm manners expected from a Princess of Britannia.
Not far from her, Leofirc Hawthorne was also surrounded by people.
He wore a violet-purple and grey-black suit that matched his long violet hair, which hung neatly toward the left side of his face.
"Greetings, Sir Leofirc Hawthorne."
A noble male upperclassman greeted him with a handshake.
Leofirc replied with a few words that immediately made the group of third-years around him laugh.
His expression remained relaxed as he continued talking with them, clearly comfortable in the middle of the gathering.
There were two more upperclassmen among the people receiving a large amount of attention.
Ezra’s eyes moved across them before returning to the five students gathered in the center of the hall.
"Those are the high-board members of this Faction."
Veda said while folding his arms.
He looked toward the people receiving the most attention.
"Five in number."
Ezra replied plainly.
"Yeah."
Veda nodded.
"Two are second-years, while the remaining three are all third-years."
Ezra kept his eyes on them.
The five students were clearly different from the other members of the Faction.
They weren’t simply popular students.
Their positions inside the Golden Circle as well as their family status and academic ranking gave them enough influence that other students naturally gathered around them.
"I can’t wait for our Young Lord to become a high-board member."
Nickolas suddenly joined the conversation with a smirk.
He looked proudly toward Veda.
Veda gave a light laugh.
"Haha..."
He shook his head lightly.
"It’s not as easy as it looks."
His expression became playfully serious.
"I have to be part of the Academy’s Student Council, and I also have to rank amongst the top fifteen overall in the Academy’s ranking of our year to even get a sniff of a high-board position in this faction."
He looked at Nickolas while maintaining the same playful seriousness.
"Well, I know you can do it, Young Lord."
Nickolas replied confidently.
Tracy and Linda also spoke at almost the same time.
"We know you can do it."
Their confidence in Veda was clear.
Veda smiled softly.
"I’ll try my best."
While they continued talking, Ezra remained quiet.
His attention stayed on the high-board members.
He studied them from where he stood, paying attention to the people around them and the way other students reacted whenever one of the five spoke or moved.
He didn’t say anything.
He simply just watched quietly, as usual.
Then Aldric’s voice suddenly echoed through the hall.
"Okay, everyone."
His calm voice carried easily across the mansion.
The conversations that had been taking place throughout the hall stopped again.
Even the servants who had begun moving around and serving drinks slowed down their work.
The music lowered further until it became little more than a quiet background sound.
Everyone turned fully toward Aldric.
He stood at the front with his glass cup still in his hand.
"First of all, I would like to welcome you all once again to our proud Golden Circle Mansion."
Aldric spoke with a pleased smile.
Light applause immediately rose from the crowd.
Some students nodded while clapping, while others simply watched Aldric with respectful expressions.
"The Golden Circle has existed for a long time, passing fifty years."
He paused.
His golden eyes moved across the faces of the faction members before he continued.
"The goal at first was to go against the wicked acts of the Royal Crest, but as the years passed, so did our goals, values, and aims."
His tone became firmer.
The change was small, but his final words carried more weight.
"Now, we don’t just act to show the rising children of Britannia what a proper Noble or Non-Noble citizen of this Kingdom should look like."
He paused again.
His eyes moved across the younger members standing before him.
"But we also uphold a powerful belief."
The hall remained quiet.
Aldric raised his glass slightly.
"A belief that we, as members of this Faction, can bring new, beautiful, and wonderful things to take this glorious Kingdom of ours toward continuous growth."
His voice became more energetic.
"By every generation, until infinity, we of the Golden Circle will always work together toward the light that keeps illuminating Britannia."
Aldric raised his glass higher.
"To the Golden Circle."
His voice carried a bright energy that immediately spread through the members of the Faction.
"TO THE GOLDEN CIRCLE!!!"
The response came from almost everyone at once.
All the faction members raised their glasses if they were still holding them, while those without glasses raised their hands into the air with the same bright energy.
Ezra also raised his hand.
"TO THE GOLDEN CIRCLE."
His voice remained plain as usual.
He said the words because everyone else was saying them, without matching the same level of excitement.
After a while, Aldric lowered his hand.
The faction members slowly lowered theirs as well.
"Now..."
A calm female voice followed.
"All first-years, please make your way to the front."
Patricia Hawthorne stood elegantly as a high-board member with a calm expression.
The first-years began moving forward.
Some walked confidently.
Others looked slightly nervous as they made their way through the crowd while feeling the eyes of the older students on them.
Once all the first-years had gathered at the front, Patricia looked toward the servants.
"And servants, please hand all the first-years their drinks."
The servants immediately moved.
They carried trays toward the first-years and began handing out glasses to those who had yet to receive one.
One by one, the first-years accepted their drinks.
The high-board members stood in front of them, watching with pleased expressions.
Leofirc noticed Veda among the first-years.
He lifted one hand and waved lightly.
Veda returned the gesture with a calm smile.
Aldric then looked toward the group of first-years.
"First-years of Royal."
His voice was calm, but it carried enough authority that everyone immediately straightened their backs.
The first-years stood properly.
Some still had excited expressions on their faces, while others tried their best to remain calm in front of the high-board members.
"You have heard what I said before."
Aldric smiled.
"And I hope you will all use all your focus to fulfill the goals of this Faction."
His smile became slightly warmer.
"Once again, welcome to the Golden Circle."
He placed his glass cup forward.
All the first-years followed.
Their glass cups were raised toward the front, many of them smiling as they joined the ceremony.
Then they recited the Golden Circle Faction motto together.
The words echoed through the mansion hall.
Several students smiled more widely as they spoke, clearly pleased to officially become members of the Faction.
After the ceremony, servants brought out trays containing mufflers and badges.
Each muffler carried the colors associated with the Golden Circle, while the badges had the Golden Circle crest clearly imprinted on them.
The servants handed them to the first-years one by one.
Once everyone had received their items, the formal part of the gathering ended.
The music rose again.
The conversations resumed.
The Golden Circle Welcome Party continued.
"Looks good on you, Ezra."
Tracy said with a smirk.
She looked at the muffler resting around Ezra’s shoulders.
Ezra looked at her plainly before adjusting the muffler slightly.
He knew what she was getting at, but he wasn’t in the mood to give her the benefit.
So, he stayed silent as usual.
"You haven’t even taken your drink yet."
Nickolas pointed out.
His eyes moved toward Ezra’s glass, which remained completely full.
Ezra looked down at it.
"Do you want it?"
He moved the glass slightly toward Nickolas.
"Of course not."
Nickolas immediately replied.
His expression showed that he was almost offended by the suggestion.
Celestina, who stood beside him, laughed lightly.
Ezra lowered the glass again.
"It’s because I just don’t like cold drinks."
He said calmly.
His eyes rested on the fruit wine inside the glass.
Several pieces of ice floated near the top.
Ezra had no interest in drinking something that cold.
"Then, let me warm it for you."
A calm male voice suddenly came from in front of him.
Ezra’s eyes immediately lifted.
Leofirc stood before him.
He looked at the glass in Ezra’s hand.
Then he reached forward and placed one finger against the body of the cup.
Ezra watched him carefully.
Cognis began flowing through the veins of Leofirc’s arm.
The Cognis traveled toward his finger before passing into the glass.
The change happened almost immediately.
The cold air surrounding the glass began to disappear.
Warmth spread through the cup as Leofirc carefully controlled the amount of Cognis entering it.
The ice inside began melting.
Ezra looked at the glass, then at Leofirc.
The warmth continued spreading through the fruit wine.
Leofirc gave him a small smile.
"There."
He said calmly.
"It should be warm enough now."
Ezra stared at the cup for another moment.
Then he looked back at Leofirc plainly.
Komentar Chapter (0)
Login buat ikut berkomentar.
Belum ada komentar di chapter ini. Jadi yang pertama!