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[i]Everyone[/i] possessed a Crest? That was news to him. Auberon supposed it explained the commoners' attendance, at least. His gaze veered blankly across the other Lions beside him. Perhaps Clarissa had a point in that he needed to get to know them better. 

[color=ffd700]"You should've said something,"[/color] The blond whispered innocuously in Derec's direction, careful not to sound accusatory - or worse, actively disrupt the lecture. It was just getting good, anyway. [i]Three hundred men[/i]. Even with a wyvern, that seemed an impossible feat. He wasn't one to give the Adrestians credit for anything, but that sounded like a scene straight out of the War of Heroes, and the emperor had to have accomplished it without a relic. Auberon was certain, of course, the greatest among the Galateas could burn a swath through scores of men from the back of a pegasus with Lúin in hand, but with nothing but a blade and that sad excuse Kayden calls a winning smile? Doubtful.

As Professor Malathice continued his classification of the Goddess' blessings, Auberon found his attention drifting back toward himself. His Crest was probably active. Even if it just kind of... happened sometimes. Then again, the nuances of it didn't really matter as long as Daphnel's blood did what it needed to for him. If this entire class was to be scholarly ramblings about theoretics and categorization, he didn't imagine he'd gain much from it. Aside from the bizarre realization that everyone around him was apparently a Crestbearer, anyway.

Professor Michail's prowess made quite a bit of sense once a Crest was brought into the equation, though it was a bit surprising nevertheless. Auberon knew, in theory, that plenty of his classmates were doubtlessly Crestbearing nobles, but he hadn't considered how their Goddess-given gifts had actually manifested. Usually it was everyone else around him asking [i]him[/i] about his ability, rather than the other way around.

Kayden could probably do something spectacular that Auberon hadn't even considered with the strength of his lineage. [i]Kellen[/i] could, even. It was a sobering prospect that all of his classmates were just as exalted in the grace of the Goddess as he was. Every step the Rose Unit made was under the highest auspices, no wonder they'd happened upon Luin village in its time of crisis. Rather than harrowed the the implications, Auberon was filled with an immense curiosity. A giddy little grin found its way onto his face for a brief moment before the Galatea heir smoothed himself back into practiced neutrality. No one questioned the way he carved through that bandit; he could've missed the supernatural talents of his classmates just as easily. Now he needed to know. At least in his own House - that was an important battlefield consideration, though he'd be lying if he claimed his motives were anything beyond the desire to witness the Goddess' blessings among the chosen elite with his own eyes.

Seriously, how did Professor Malathice manage to turn the splendor of holy blood and the work of the Goddess into something stuffy and boring? [i]Mages.[/i] It truly was a pity that the Archbishop couldn't attend.

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Across the room, one Rudolf von Bergliez was far less inspired. His eyes flicked back to the drawing of the Crest of Noa again and again as it loomed over him. Taunting him. It was rare that he saw the Crest actually depicted; only his immediate family and cousins on the Nuvelle side even knew he had it, and neither of them cared to adorn their heraldry with a Crest they held no public claim to. It kind of pissed him off, actually - it should just stay out of everyone's sight like he had to.

Professor Malathice's lecture finally morphed from senseless blabber to coherent words in the diminutive boy's ears the moment he heard the word 'stop'. Rudolf could [i]stop[/i] this? Just will himself into being treated like a human being and not a ghost? Easier said than done still meant it [i]could[/i] be done. Rudolf's head shot up, crimson eyes now widened and focused raptly on their teacher. Their [i]Crestologist[/i] teacher. His lips parted slightly, a question already forming on his lips only to be halted by timidity and Michail's interlude. Tomai would know. He had to know. Whatever asinine meditative exercise Rudolf had to do, he could do. It was just like magic, but with an actual purpose. Was it truly so wrong to put his willpower to use selfishly instead of slaving away over a spellbook to master the tools of petty warfare he wanted no part in?

Sudden dread sent his stomach plummeting when the professor arrived on the last type of Crest ability. Invisible. Without regard for the user. [i]Invisible.[/i] No mention of the word 'stop'. [i]Invisible. Invisible. Invisible.[/i] It was the only thing he could hear over the pounding of his heart in his ears. It was a small comfort that even his labored breaths of panic likely weren't loud enough to call attention to himself. Or maybe Veronica would stare at him funny. Who cares. She'd forget he existed in an hour anyway.

A shaky hand rose before the even-paler-than-usual Rudolf even realized he'd moved. [color=b300b3]"What bloodlines did these ungovernable- err, ungoverned Crests appear in? Like the inv-visiblilty one."[/color] He didn't wait to be called on before he stammered out his question; he had enough practice with tutors to know no one would notice him if he didn't talk. [color=b300b3]"Just curious."[/color] 

He already knew the answer. There would be no clear lines of inheritance that conveniently excluded Rudolf's entire family tree. These were surely freak occurrances with no rhyme or reason to them save the Goddess' whims - or ire - and bestowed only upon the exceedingly blessed and the exceedingly cursed. And, surely, Rudolf von Bergliez was both - an undeserving liar who guiltily reapt the rewards of virtue. Maybe he should finally take his brother's advice and tie a bell around his neck like a fucking cat.

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