"With the students already saying what was required, I guess me coming here was no different than a formality. Of course, unlike other geezers, I wouldn't continue and blabber on, repeating the same thing over and over again.
I will only congratulate you for entering the Academy and wish you luck for the upcoming years, I truly wish that you do well here, make a name for yourself, and achieve everything you desire.
I will now be ending this Induction by calling our esteemed guests, everyone please put your hands together to show your gratitude towards them.
"
With Octavius's words echoing throughout the Auditorium, cheers and claps were heard again as Astra and the other guests made their way to the Stage.
After that, the guests each took their turns to say a few words to the students, most of the students however, were only waiting for one woman to step forward and address them.
It was Astra Elysia Vesta, Vaan's mother.
The crowd almost erupted when the woman stepped forward, Vaan, however, was currently focused on a completely different thing… or person.
His eyes were still on Selene Rainwarden, the Student council president.
"Oi.
"
Suddenly, Vaan called out.
"What is it?" Vaelen turned towards him and questioned.
"That Selene…
What faction does she belong to?"
"It is the Church of Light."
Vaelen replied and Vaan narrowed his eyes.
"Church of Light huh…
Heh, well that was not hard to guess."
Vaan couldn't help but chuckle.
"No wonder I could smell the rotten smell of a pretentious person the moment she made her appearance."
Hearing those words, a frown appeared on Vaelen's face.
Noticing that frown, Vaan narrowed his eyes,
"What? Do you have a problem with what I said?"
"…"
Vaelen turned silent.
Vaan, however, wasn't planning on leaving the topic.
This was a big problem.
"You belong to the Vesta Family, Vaelen.
The Church of Light isn't exactly our ally."
"Ally, Enemies, do you not think that is quite a narrow-minded way to think?" Suddenly, Vaelen questioned as he looked into Vaan's eyes.
Vaan's frown deepened.
Vaelen, however, continued further,
"Do you know who helped us when Declan was coming after us?"
"…" Vaan didn't say anything but he could already guess the answer to the question.
"It was the Council President.
Declan wasn't planning on leaving us once we lost the Vesta House, he wanted to take away the place we all shifted to as well.
He wanted the Vestas to fall and live in the residential areas together with other students, he wanted to deplete our funds and put us in a position from which we would never be able to recover.
It was the Council President who came forward, not allowing him to challenge us any further.
She even loaned us the Academy Points required to stabilize without any interest."
"You loaned Academy Points from her…?" Vaan narrowed his eyes.
"We already repaid it, so it doesn't matter now." Vaelen was quick to defend himself.
"You also said she stopped Declan from continuing, how did she do it? I doubt the Council President has so much authority."
"You underestimate her influence.
Openly going against her makes you a public enemy. It would ruin your and your Faction's image.
If Declan continued further despite the President telling him to stop, he would have been labeled as narrow-minded, a label that would stick with him for the rest of his life. It might even affect his overall standing in the Academy.
"
Vaan raised his eyebrow in surprise.
The more he heard about this woman, the more suspicious he got.
Something was definitely wrong here.
Something wasn't adding up.
For a student to have enough influence to affect even the Faction behind the other students… and for other students to not even notice how wrong it is to give such power in the hands of a single person…
"Why did she help you?" Vaan questioned, wanting to know more about the situation.
No matter what, the Church of Light was still an enemy, the downfall of the Vestas would definitely be beneficial for them as well.
Then why would…
"This is the difference between the President and the rest of the students in the Academy. She doesn't play politics.
She only wishes harmony and peace inside the Academy.
'Competition is welcomed, however, once a competition turns into the humiliation of one party, things must stop.
The Academy is a place for the students to thrive, not be scarred for the rest of their lives.'
Those were her words when she came to me.
She helped us solely out of goodwill without asking for anything in return.
Heck, she didn't even mention helping us once the matter was settled, not even standing on the high moral ground she already had.
And this is also the reason why she receives the support she receives. We aren't exceptions in her eyes because we are the Vestas, her attitude is the same for all the students in the Academy.
Heck, there are even students who still haven't returned the Academy Points she lent them, yet despite that, she always greets those students with her usual smile and does not discriminate.
That is the type of person the Student Council President is.
"
Vaelen spoke up. Then suddenly,
"Don't you think all of this sounds familiar?"
Vaan questioned with a solemn look on his face.
Wanting to open Vaelen's eyes that were clearly filled with blind faith.
"What do you mean?" Vaelen frowned.
"What sort of power is the Church of Light known to be?"
Vaan questioned and before Vaelen could even answer, he continued,
"Gentle, Peace loving, helpful, Church of Light is a Faction that preaches all these words. Their image throughout the world is of people who will help you no matter who you are.
'God of Light is merciful and kind, pray to him and your worries shall disappear.'
This is what they go around shouting.
But despite that, they were the people who led the charge against the Vestas 5000 years ago when the God of Magic stopped blessing us.
The preachers of peace and tranquility started a War against a group that was already dealt a crippling blow.
Do you realize how ridiculous that sounds?
Shouldn't we, of all people, know what sort of place the Church of Light is?
It is full of hypocrites who try to act all nice and kind in front of the rest of the world. That Selene is no different.
She may look like the most lovely person you have ever seen in your life now, however, the moment she gets the chance, I promise you, she will show you her real face, the horrifying face the would give nightmares to all you people who blindly believe her."
Vaan spoke and in an instant, everything around him turned silent.
It wasn't just Vaelen, every student sitting next to him stared at him silently. The only good thing was that since most people here were from the Vesta Family, they could still somewhat be controlled.
Of course, Vaan didn't care about it anyway.
He wasn't scared of others.
No matter how intently they stared at him, he would stick to his words.
Selene was a Hypocrite and he would prove it.
"Vaan, I do not know what happened 5000 years ago, and don't act like you do either. The circumstances then might have been different than what we believe them to be.
The only reason we even consider the Church of Light as our enemy is because of what we read in our history books.
Never once has the Church of Light taken any actions against us, or anyone else regarding that matter.
Don't you think it is foolish to base our thoughts on something that happened 5000 years ago? Something we do not even know the details of?"
Vaelen questioned and Vaan narrowed his eyes, "Are you doubting our family history?"
"I am a Mage, Vaan. It is what I do.
I seek the Truth, and to do that, even if I have to doubt my own existence, I would do it without hesitation.
Other than what we were told about what happened 5000 years ago, we have no other incident that portrays the Church of Light in a negative way.
On the contrary, I could name countless things the Church has done that would lead people to see them in a positive light. Heck, coming to save you when you lost your memories despite our relationship was one of those things.
Let us assume that what was written in our history was indeed the truth, 5000 years have passed, Vaan.
Do you really think holding the grudge of something that happened all those years ago till now makes sense? Heck, the people who influenced the Church in those days aren't even alive now.
Who do you think is acting narrow-minded here?
The people who are seeing recent events to base their judgments on,
Or us, who simply treat the Church as our enemy because of one single incident?"
Vaelen questioned and this time,
Vaan had no answer.
