Chapter 14 || A Leader’s Secret

Chapter 14: 14 || A Leader’s Secret

’I don’t know how I was supposed to feel after receiving that message.’

Riven sat in his seat, staring at his phone.

[Congratulations, you have been given a new title.]

He swiped up.

[Welcome to Ordinis Academy, Master of the Grents.]

Riven’s eyes widened.

’Master of the Grents...?’

He looked toward his classmates, who were busy talking with Code 11.

His gaze slowly fell back to his desk.

’After seeing the privileges that came with being a Master, I... I didn’t know what to say. I didn’t want to be the their master. I wanted to be... Something else.’

He powered off his phone and slipped it into his pocket.

’I wanted to give the position away, if I could. Or maybe just pretend it never happened.’

But he couldn’t.

Being given that position felt like a responsibility. And running away from it didn’t feel right.

Riven lowered his phone.

He didn’t want to control the Grents. He didn’t want to order them around or take advantage of them.

But if he had been given the position for a reason, then perhaps there was another way.

’So maybe I don’t have to be their Master.’

Riven slowly raised his head.

’Maybe I can do things differently.’

He could be the one who calmed everyone down. The one who organized the class and took responsibility when something went wrong.

Not as their Master. But as their leader.

’I wanted to lead the Grents higher.’

Riven stood up, his expression becoming calm.

"Everyone, calm down!" he called out, his voice cutting through the noise.

"We can get through this together! Even if we’re not from the same generation, we’re still here for the same reason. We understand each other’s struggles... so let’s work together as a team."

’I proposed that we work together.’

His gaze moved across the classroom.

’But I was still keeping a secret from them. I had hoped the truth wouldn’t come out sooner. Or at least, if it did... Maybe they would have already gotten somewhere.’

...

Riven sat in his room, staring at his phone.

[You’ve been added to the Master’s group.]

He scrolled through the chat.

There were Masters from different years, each representing their respective rank.

’I knew I should tell my classmates the truth.’

His thumb stopped moving.

’But I was scared of how they would react when they found out I was their Master.’

They already had enough problems to deal with.

He didn’t want to add another one.

’But I knew I had to tell someone. Someone who would understand him. And that’s why... I...’

Knock. Knock.

A knock came from outside his door.

Riven kept his head lowered. "Come in..."

The door opened, and someone walked into the room.

Riven raised his head.

"Hey, Juro..."

...

Minutes later—

Juro tapped Riven on the shoulder.

"I think you made the right choice by telling me, Riven."

Riven looked up at him. "Really?"

Juro nodded.

Riven let out a small breath. "Since you don’t think much of it, maybe the others will also—"

"I don’t think that’s a wise thing to do, Riven."

Riven froze. " ...Wh-what do you mean?"

Juro walked over and sat down on Riven’s bed.

"The only reason I’m not freaking out is because we’ve known each other since before we even stepped foot into Ordinis. I know you’re not the type of person who would steal the class’s coins for yourself."

"If you know that, then the others will as well."

Juro shook his head. "Don’t you think it’s too late to tell them at this point?"

Riven froze.

Juro continued.

"Look at what you’ve done, Riven. You brought up the idea of working together as a team. You’re already taking control of the class and trying to solve every problem."

He adjusted his glasses. "You’re acting just like a class leader would."

Riven remained silent.

"Riven, I know no one has said it yet, but I’m sure they’re already thinking about making you the class leader officially."

Riven stood up. "That’s why we need to tell them the truth, so t—"

"They won’t understand you."

Riven stopped.

Juro stood up as well.

"They haven’t seen the whole you, Riven. And they can’t understand someone completely after just one or two days. It takes time."

Riven’s voice became quieter.

"So you’re saying we should keep the truth from our classmates?"

Juro walked over and tapped him on the shoulder.

"Yes. But only for now."

He looked directly at Riven.

"Let’s get to know each other first. Let them get to know you. Then, when you finally tell them the truth, maybe they’ll understand that you actually had good intentions for the Grents."

Riven lowered his head.

Juro adjusted his glasses.

"We’ll need to save up if we want to ascend to the fourth floor."

He looked at Riven.

"You should probably stay away from anything involving the class’s coins. If you don’t, they might start doubting your intentions later."

Riven thought for a moment before answering quietly.

"Okay."

"I’ll take charge of the class’s coins if the need ever comes."

"...Thanks."

’That was supposed to be the plan. But it didn’t work out.’

...

At the classroom—

Ivy faced the class.

"And as such, I have come to a conclusion that we should each donate a certain amount of coins we want to save to a student we trust who is capable of keeping the whole class’s coins."

Lily turned toward Ivy, her brows slightly furrowed.

"...But Ivy, who will be that person? We barely know each other as classmates."

Ivy lowered her head. "...True."

A brief silence filled the classroom.

Then—

"I will take full responsibility for the class’s coins."

Everyone froze.

Ivy raised her head.

It was Juro.

Juro stood up, adjusting his glasses as he looked around the classroom.

"I believe I can keep the class’s stars safe."

Riven, standing beside his seat, felt relieved.

’Juro’s got it covered after all.’

He quietly smiled.

’Thanks, Juro.’

Sena looked at Juro skeptically.

"You? Weren’t you the one who brought up the possibility of being tempted by your savings in the first place?"

Juro frowned.

"I wasn’t referring to myself. I was speaking for the whole class. I obviously have enough self-discipline to control myself."

Meira continued pressing on her phone without even looking up.

"Well, it would’ve been better if you could wear all that self-discipline. Maybe then we could’ve taken your word for it."

Riven lowered his head.

’But it didn’t work out after all.’

Yua glanced around the classroom. "Then who can we trust to keep our savings?"

Ivy spoke first. "Riven..."

Riven froze.

He looked up, shocked.

Ivy continued. "If you’re up for it, I think you should be the one to keep our savings."

Kira looked toward Riven and nodded."Yes... that’s right. Riven should be the one."

Juro froze. "What ? Why Riven?"

Ivy turned toward him.

"Riven has been the one trying to organize the class. He was also trying to calm everyone down and take responsibility for our actions. So I thought... we could at least trust him to keep our savings."

Riven lowered his head.

’This shouldn’t be happening.’

...

Aria placed both hands on her desk and stood up.

Her chair scraped against the floor.

She looked at the class.

"Everyone... Riven is the Master of the Grents."

She turned toward Riven.

He had raised his head, a shocked expression on his face.

"Isn’t that right, Riven?"

Riven gritted his teeth before lowering his head.

The entire class was dumbstruck.

Yua stared at him in shock. "R... Riven is the Master of the Grents?"

Ivy’s voice came out quietly. "Riven ... Is that true?"

Riven didn’t answer.

Caden’s eyes widened. "I can’t believe it."

Riven tightened his fist.

’I just couldn’t stop the secret from being revealed.’

He lowered his gaze.

’After listening to all of Ashir’s frustrations... there was nothing left to do.’

It was simply time.

Riven walked toward the front of the class without raising his head.

Code 11 walked down the stairs and approached him.

She stopped behind Riven and placed both hands on his shoulders.

"Come on, Riven. Tell your classmates the truth. They deserve to know."

Riven’s fist tightened.

Her voice rang in his ears like a siren.

"Now... Speak up, Riven."

His fingers slowly loosened.

’Miss 11 is right.’

He took a breath.

’Juro might have been wrong...’

Riven slowly raised his head and looked at his classmates.

His expression was calm.

"Yes... I’m the Master of the Grents. Riven Halden."

The entire class froze.

For a moment, nobody said a word.

Then—

Sena yelled. "You’ve got to be kidding me!"

Torin spoke up. "Why did you keep it a secret from us?"

Riven lowered his head.

He had no answer.

Ashir spoke again.

"What else can he say? He’s been exposed. All that talk about working together was just a facade. If you simply wanted the money, you could’ve just cut to the point."

"Everyone..."

Riven’s voice was quiet.

"I... I..."

Then—

"? London Bridge is falliiiing down... ?"

A voice sang melodiously.

Riven raised his head in shock.

Huegene sat in his seat with his arms folded and his eyes closed, a wide smile spread across his face.

Riven stared at him.

’But after seeing what was happening in front of me, I realized something.’

’No one understood me yet.’

His gaze dropped.

’And the small amount of trust I had gained from my classmates... was gone.’