The Speech

On the day of the memorial ceremony, the Royal Magic and Martial Arts Academy was a sea of somber activity.

Although several teaching buildings were still undergoing repairs, the main thoroughfares and the areas surrounding the martial arts arena had been restored to their original state. The gardens, greenery, and other landscaping had also been largely fixed.

Black ribbons were draped across the trees lining both sides of the path from the main gate to the arena, casting a heavy atmosphere over the grounds.

Many people had gathered today, and they were not just students or faculty.

Nobles of the kingdom, academy staff and students, representatives of the City Guard, families of the fallen, and even commoners who had been rescued during the attack were all present.

Everyone arrived early, dressed in plain, somber clothing.

Even the usually rambunctious students were noticeably quiet, the typical scenes of play and laughter replaced by hushed conversations.

The memorial ceremony was to be held at the martial arts arena.

The arena stage had been converted into a temporary high platform, with rows of white bouquets placed at its front. Behind it stood a black flag, emblazoned with a large Kingdom Eagle Crest at its center.

The old King stood on the stage. Today, he wore dark robes, his expression far more solemn than usual.

Hogg stood behind the King, his expression equally heavy. Perhaps the surroundings reminded him of those who had sacrificed themselves, stirring up unpleasant memories.

Below the stage, the audience looked up in silence at the King and the Royal Preceptor.

After a moment, the old King's voice rang out across the entire arena through amplification magic.

"In this disaster, we have paid a heavy price in sacrifice and blood."

His voice was steady and firm, every word enunciated with absolute clarity.

"Among them were nobles and commoners, parents and children..."

Many in the crowd lowered their heads, their eyes reddening. The bouquets in their hands trembled as the King spoke, but everyone did their best to maintain their composure.

The old King's speech was deeply moving. Some began to weep openly, and the sounds of sobbing could be heard throughout the plaza.

The speech did not last long. After twenty minutes, the old King reached his conclusion, his gaze sweeping over the crowd before he ended with an announcement.

"Therefore, the Royal Family has decided to build a permanent memorial monument beside the academy's martial arts arena."

The crowd looked up. The old King's voice was now even steadier and more resolute than before.

"On this memorial monument, the names of all those who sacrificed their lives during the Blood Moon Cult incident will be engraved. Regardless of status or position, anyone who died in this disaster will have their name carved upon it."

After a brief silence, the crowd erupted into thunderous applause.

Some shouted "Long live the King!" with emotional fervor.

Others cried out the names of their lost loved ones, weeping loudly.

Applause, sobbing, and shouting mixed together, plunging the scene into a moment of chaotic emotion.

The old King stood his ground, quietly watching the people below, his eyes filled with a sense of gratification.

Hogg, however, lowered his eyes slightly, his expression complex—this decision had not been part of the original plan.

It was a sudden decision made by the King at the very last moment.

In the initial proposal provided by the Ministry of Internal Affairs, the memorial monument was only intended to list those who had made significant contributions—fallen academy teachers, students, and members of the City Guard.

As for the other ordinary tourists and commoners, a separate, smaller memorial plaque was to be established in the Outer City.

After reviewing it, the old King had remained silent for a long time. Finally, he had said—

"They died in the same disaster; they should be on the same monument."

Naturally, this had met with unanimous opposition from almost everyone.

But he had subsequently overruled all objections with unprecedented determination, even threatening to pay for the monument himself. This had immediately left the assembled ministers and nobles speechless.

Thus, the plan was redrawn according to his wishes... though the Royal Family would still bear the cost collectively. Looking at the reaction of the crowd now, it was clear the decision was the right one.

The deceased needed to be remembered; their deaths were not just numbers that could be adjusted at will... they never were.

The memorial ceremony continued for over an hour, consisting of the laying of flowers, moments of silence, and the reading of the names of the fallen.

Setis stood at the front of the student body, her hands clasped before her, her expression far more subdued than usual.

Mila stood behind her. In this solemn atmosphere, she surprisingly refrained from making any jokes.

Thor also kept his head down, his eyes behind his glasses looking slightly red.

The attack had happened some time ago, but for many, the true farewell was only just beginning today.

Once the memorial ceremony concluded, the award ceremony began.

The black flag on the stage was slowly lowered as a final farewell, replaced by several blue-gold flags.

The atmosphere lightened slightly. The old King returned to the main seat, and Hogg walked to the edge of the platform to serve as the master of ceremonies.

Naturally, the one chosen to speak as the student representative was Setis Anna, a decision that had been set from the start.

When her name was called, a few muffled cheers came from the Second-Year Special Class. A small stir rippled through the rest of the crowd, but it quickly settled back into silence.

Setis soon appeared on the high stage.

Today, she wore the formal academy uniform, her long golden hair tied back, her stride steady and composed. She was a far cry from her usual willfully assertive self; instead, she possessed a poise that perfectly suited her status.

She stood before the podium, her gaze sweeping over the audience. After taking a deep breath, she began to speak, her voice clear and stable.

"I once thought nobility was just a status."

The crowd fell silent.

"I thought it was bloodlines, family crests, and the 'von' that could be written into a name."

She paused for a few seconds, scanning the crowd below before continuing.

"But on that day, I saw many people without family crests shielding others. I saw teachers maintaining barriers until their mana was exhausted, never giving up. I saw the City Guard charging into the flames despite knowing they might die, and I saw students using their unpracticed magic to protect those in danger."

Her voice wasn't loud, yet it was deeply moving.

"From that moment on, I realized that nobility shouldn't just be a status. And 'Noble' shouldn't just be a common honorific found in the Kingdom's Legal Code."

Setis looked up.

"Nobility means responsibility, and it represents duty."

As she continued, Setis's voice echoed across the plaza. Many of the nobles below turned solemn.

Duke Sebas looked more serious than ever, while the Duchess dabbed her damp eyes with a handkerchief.

Reinhardt stood beside them, his eyes full of pride.

"When facing death, everyone has the right to be afraid."

"But fear is no reason for us to retreat."

"And I simply fulfilled the duties and responsibilities expected of a noble."

She took a deep breath and bowed slightly to the audience.

"May the departed rest in peace."

"May the living remember."

"And may we still have the courage to fight when the next danger arrives."

"Finally, may our Kingdom endure forever!"

After a few seconds of silence, applause broke out.

And this time, the applause was even more enthusiastic than during the memorial ceremony.

Setis took a step back, gave a final salute to the crowd, and concluded her speech.

She then bowed to the old King and Hogg before walking off the stage with a gallant stride.