Resentful Ceremony

At the school's gates, a fleet of escort cars arrived. The arriving fleet was heard from afar by the idle camera crew who was sleeping the night away in the parking lot. They promptly turned on their cameras. One of the cars came to a standstill, and the back door opened a notch.

Two young men dressed in casual clothing emerged and rolled out a red carpet across the pavement leading to the gates. The automobile then moved forward, making room for a limousine to enter the scene smoothly.

The camera team fought for a good view of the gorgeous vehicle from both sides of the spread carpet. It came to rest exactly on the carpet, and the front doors opened, revealing two bodyguards. They dashed to the back of the vehicle and cautiously opened the back door.

A lovely leg, adorned with pricey stilettos and a stunning gown, stepped out of the automobile and onto the carpet. The bodyguard extended his arm, and a feminine hand reached out and clutched it for support. The cameras began to click frantically, and murmurs began to emerge.

Exiting the car, the woman ran her fingers through her luxurious brown hair, the strands cascading over her bare shoulders with a flourish. A radiant smile graced her lips as she faced the cameras, revealing her gleaming white teeth and captivating charm.

Her eyes danced in the spotlight's glow, while her gown elegantly emphasized her figure. Stepping onto the red carpet, she moved closer to the cameras, each step exuding confidence. Following her grand entrance, the king himself emerged from the limousine.

Clad in regal purple and black attire, he held an ornate walking stick - a prop more for the show, considering his youthful vigor. Waving to the photographers, he approached the elegant lady, encircling her waist with his arm. Together, they strolled toward the school's entrance gates.

Awaiting them was Luciana who observed their approach with a mixture of resentment and reluctance. How could he bring his paramour, his mother's successor, to such a widely televised event? Her own mother's place had been usurped, and the sight was hard to bear. She contemplated escaping, avoiding the need to interact with them, but it was too late; her father had already noticed her presence.

"Aha! Look who's here, everyone," he exclaimed, striding over to Luciana. "Meet Luciana Vonner, the upcoming champion of Ithea, my daughter!" he announced, draping his arm around her shoulders. The woman beside him clapped with enthusiasm, and several camera crew members in the vicinity followed suit. Applause rippled through the crowd, mingling with the rhythmic clicks of camera shutters.

Luciana recoiled at the unmistakable scent of alcohol on her father's breath. How could he attend such a significant event in such a state? Barely audibly, she muttered, "Father, please stop." However, her plea fell on deaf ears; the king relished the limelight, thriving on being the center of attention. Liberating herself from his grip with a sudden, jarring motion, Luciana's action bordered on defiance.

Yet, her father, oblivious to her discomfort, remained unaware of the tension. It was the woman by his side who intervened, guiding him back onto the school grounds where they disappeared from view. The gate stood empty again, and Luciana was left to contend with her mingled emotions in the aftermath of the scene.

The cameramen kept snapping images of Luciana until she gave them a death gaze, which caused them all to retreat. They returned to their vans and awaited the end of the event.

The king's arrival was greeted with cheers inside the school. Many of the meeting's noblemen and notable visitors crowded around him to greet him and welcome him to the event.

He expressed his gratitude by saying, "Thank you all; I am privileged to be here today." He was intoxicated, yet he kept his cool so effectively that it wasn't even evident unless you got near enough to smell the alcohol in his body. The crowd, on the other hand, seemed to embrace his zeal.

They walked past him one by one, shaking his hand and congratulating him on making it to the event as if it were a huge accomplishment. When he spoke, he walked over to the podium and took up the microphone, wanting everyone to hear him.

"Good morning, everyone. I'm very delighted you were all able to attend the ceremony. I'm glad to see so many of you here to offer your support and gratitude for our departed hero. Please, when a hero has left us, we must treat him with the respect he deserves, especially in Rhaizen Gale's case.

He had greater promise because he was still young and had so much more to do in the name of the kingdom. As a result, we will do everything we can to honor him. Let us gather the rest of the students and gather on the school grounds to remember him and bid him farewell before he is laid to rest," he said.

The audience erupted in graceful applause. But, to be honest, none of the noblemen gave a damn about Rhaizen Gale. They despised him for who he was more than what he accomplished. The post of champion of Ithea was seen by the kingdom's officials as a privilege reserved for noblemen.

They felt the position's prestige had been soiled when they learned about Rhaizen Gale and his peasant family origins. That is why they were happy when they learned of his death.

That is why, rather than being a day of grief, the viewing of Rhaizen Gale's body was a display, a celebration. Locals and peasants on the opposite side of the venue, on the other hand, were visibly dejected and depressed. The atmospheres of the two places were opposed to one another.

Rhaizen Gale's humanitarian disposition was well-liked by the villagers. They admired his outgoing attitude and the charity with which he treated the less fortunate members of society. The nobles were irritated because he made it a point to acknowledge them in everything he did.

The monarch instructed everyone to assemble at the school grounds, on an open field large enough to accommodate both factions, but the aristocratic men made sure there was no confusion between them and the locals. They didn't want to mix with them, so they created an invisible barrier between themselves and the peasants. The peasants and noblemen were quickly separated by bodyguards who stood across the field.

The king ascended the stairwell and onto the podium, which had been built for public speaking. He stood next to Rhaizen Gale's body, which was encased in a clear glass casket. Before starting to talk, he cleared his throat.

"My people. We've all gathered here today to remember the hero who embodied the kingdom's virtues. Rhaizen Gale was one of my closest friends. His death has left me heartbroken. The kingdom swears to see that he receives the justice he deserves.

His killers are still on the loose, and we'll keep looking for them, day and night until we find them and bring them to justice. We all wish Rhaizen Gale's family a calm time, as we know how difficult times like this can be for the bereaved.

Because they may still be in danger, the kingdom has provided them with the protection they require. That is why they were unable to attend the event today."

"What a pitiful lie!" "Judy Ben Mor explained. She'd slithered her way into the spot where Luciana, Jalon, and Norval stood. They were taken aback and looked at her.

"The kingdom doesn't give a damn about his family; they're still in their hamlet, and they've turned down invites to attend this charade," she continued.

The students finally remembered who she was after a long time.

"Why are you following us? " Luciana inquired.

"I'm sorry if I scared you. "Hi, my name is..."

"Yeah, I know who you are Judy Ben Mor, a nosy reporter everyone hates, or so I've heard. Why do you keep following us, you know I can just call security on you this instant," Luciana said.

"I wouldn't say everyone despises me; don't you think that's a little exaggerated? "

"Listen, I'm giving you this one chance to get away from us or I'm going to call security," she said.

Judy was deafeningly quiet for a few moments, exchanging looks with the candidates.

"Did something happen at this school? Something that caused Nelanian and Cecily to withdraw from the trials. I'd like to know what that was,"

"Listen, if you are not here for Rhaizen Gale's funeral then just leave. We're trying to say our goodbyes to our master in peace, and we don't want the media in our way, so I advise you to find your way out, or I'll contact security to assist you," Luciana replied, her tone caustic. Judy knew when to back off if she felt she was being overly assertive, and she did so.

She sank back into the crowd, her trusty notepad in hand. She worked on it for a long time, and by the time she finished, the monarch had already concluded his speech, and people had formed a queue to examine the body on the stage.