Benjamin chuckled upon seeing Alec's pale face, satisfied that his threat had hit home. Alec was a commoner. He probably knew what hunger felt like. He had probably expected to be able to gorge himself on the Academy's food for four years without paying a dime.
"Get on your knees and apologize, and I'll let you eat again."
However, Benjamin had underestimated Alec.
He was right. Alec knew what hunger felt like.
"You do not decide whether I eat or not, Benjamin Mason. You may control the ones who serve the food. But I do not need your permission to eat." But he wouldn't sacrifice his pride to someone like Benjamin. He would rather starve.
"Hoh? Where else are you going to eat, then? In the city? Good luck." Benjamin rolled his eyes. Alec first needed to obtain permission to leave campus, and then find a restaurant close enough for him to get there, order, eat, and make it back in time between classes.
"Apologize, and I'll consider letting you eat every other day," Benjamin offered with a smirk like it was a negotiation where he held the upper hand. He wanted Alec to give in. He wouldn't be satisfied otherwise.
"It's not just your eyes, apparently. Your ears are also for show, Benjamin Mason. Get out of my way." Alec glared at Benjamin, his eyes occasionally darting to the two students behind his shoulders, who helped him block the way. Alec couldn't leave.
"Hah? What makes you think you can order me around?" Benjamin demanded, his anger rising to the surface again.
"It wasn't an order. It was a request," Alec said simply, doing his best to keep his voice steady. "Depending on how you look at it, it could also be a suggestion.
"The Academy doesn't really enforce it, but one of its tenets is to shrink the distance between nobles and commoners. Right now, the three of you, all from reputable noble families, are harassing a lone commoner."
"Are you dumb? You walked into me. I can hold you here for as long as I want."
Alec shook his head.
"That's where you're wrong. You've already used your connections and familial background to punish me for that 'transgression.' You banned me from eating at the cafeteria. The scales have been leveled. Right now, though, you are abusing your authority and crossing the line.
"Are you sure that's what you want, Benjamin Mason? What about you, Claas Sura? And you Theo Vurus?"
"..."
"You might not get punished even if you continue down this current path. But people remember. Of course, how they act upon that memory is up to them. But a good reputation is everything for nobles, isn't it? Or maybe your families, as viscounts, have given up on the idea of rising through the noble social circles."
"You have a rapid tongue, peasant. Did you make a living scamming people before clawing your way into the Academy?"
"Ahem." Someone cleared their throat behind Benjamin.
"Claas, did you seriously—"
"I am not your minion," Sarah said coldly, cutting him off.
"I—" Benjamin's voice caught in his throat as he was face to chest with a beauty three years his senior. He recognized the design of her uniform as that of a fourth-year student. But the only insignia he saw was a 'W' by her collar. It wasn't the crest of a noble house, at least one reputable enough for him to memorize.
However, even if she was a commoner, she was still a fourth-year student. She was not on the same level as Alec.
"Are you not going to move out of my way?"
Benjamin stepped aside without answering.
However, instead of entering, Sarah grabbed Alec and dragged him out.
"Thanks to you, I've lost my appetite. Let's go, Alec."
Alec followed the library clerk from yesterday, a little surprised that she was willing to help him like that, despite seemingly not being a noble.
"Thanks. What's your name, by the way?" He asked.
[Appraisal] had revealed the names of Benjamin's underlings since he had read about their families in the library. He hadn't memorized the lineages of all the noble houses, but he had scanned them and taken note of the kids that were his age. Combined with the crests on their uniforms, [Appraisal] confirmed their identities.
However, [Appraisal] drew a blank on the clerk from the library. The only thing his skill told him was that she was a fourth-year student working at the library.
"Sarah Winters. Just Sarah is fine."
"I appreciate the help, Sarah, but are you fine making an enemy of the Mason family? It seems they control the cafeteria."
"It's fine. I am not as helpless as a certain first year student. And the Masons don't control the cafeteria. They just sponsor a large portion of the food, which gives them some influence. That said, you will probably have to find somewhere else to eat."
"You can't help me?"
"Even if I could, why should I?" Sarah asked.
"Good point. But then why did you help me now?"
"None of your business."
"..."
Sarah sighed.
"I see why the Head Librarian gave you special permission."
'All of a sudden?'
"Why?"
"You caught his attention with your answers to the entrance exam. He knew you would be a special student. Seeing as how you caused trouble before the first day is over, I can only express my admiration for the Head Librarian's insight."
'Hmm. My plan to lay low isn't going very well.'
"What can I say? I'm not one to take oppression well."
Sarah flinched and shied away from Alec with a frown. She looked at him for a moment before glancing around and making sure that no one had heard him.
"I don't know where you're from, but you should be careful with your words," She cautioned him.
Alec frowned.
"Is plunging me into starvation because I refuse to get on my knees not oppression?"
"SCHH!" She hushed Alec and clasped a hand over his mouth.
"Shut your fucking mouth, idiot!" She hissed.
'It seems I've made another mistake.'
"Keep that up and you'll be lucky to call starvation a blessing," She threatened—no, warned him. She gave him an intense stare until he nodded, after which she released the hold on his mouth.
She glanced around again before leading Alec to a more secluded location where they could talk undisturbed and without running the risk of someone overhearing their conversation.
Sarah whispered something Alec couldn't understand and flicked her wrist, flinging a few seeds around them, which soon grew into shin-high plants with green stalks and cotton-like balls up top.
Alec heard nothing from outside. He only heard his and Sarah's breaths. It was magic that gave them complete auditory privacy.
"I won't lie. There are bad apples among the nobles. Benjamin appears to be one of them.
"That does not give you the right to call their acts oppression.
"Every noble family currently serving the Kingdom has earned its spot fighting against other kingdoms and monsters. They have risked their lives for the peace and tranquility the rest of us enjoy. They burn their lives like kindling to protect our homes.
"In return, they are allowed privileges like wealth, private armies, and influence. Sometimes, that power corrupts people and turns them into insufferable assholes.
"Bear with it!" Sarah said sharply.
"It's not just because you have the nobility to thank you for your current life. You don't even have to care about the Academy and the privileged education you are receiving thanks to the nobility's sponsorship.
"Openly defaming the nobility counts as treason. Do I need to tell you what happens if you're accused of treason, Alec?"
Alec shook his head.
"Good. Now, get lost."