His knees bent, groaning in annoyance because he realized he couldn't move an inch.
Professor Anara immediately stopped our fight, although for a moment she was silent because it seemed like she didn't think a noble could be defeated. And I saw that he smiled a little afterward.
The class ended with the victory of the nobles, only I was able to win the fight against them and also Steve who, even though he still lost, was able to put up a good fight with his fighting spirit.
At the end, when Professor Anara dismissed the class, he gave words to motivate his students and explained the reason why he divided the class into two opposing groups. Apart from seeing how big the gap in abilities is between the nobility and the common people, he also wants to see how big our courage and fighting spirit is against the huge gap in abilities.
Have you decided to give up? Or keep trying even though the result is still losing?
"Meet me after school ends!" Professor Anara ordered after everyone left.
I just looked at his face and just smiled back. But on the verge of entering the academy, David, who was leaning against a wall waiting for me, looked at my face with an annoyed and angry face.
"Why did you do it?" David asked.
I looked at him and asked. "Why do you say that? Do you just want to be oppressed by them forever?"
"I told you, didn't I? It's not as simple as you think."
"You're the one who makes it complicated David. In real combat, no matter where you come from, no matter how lowly your position, if you feel that you are a knight, you must not abandon the fight. To me, people like that are just cowards!"
"There are times when you have to think more wisely, instead of being busy with innocent thoughts about your knights!"
Honestly, I really understand the problem David is referring to. I respected him because he did not act only for himself, hiding his resentment for the welfare of the oppressed. If our positions were reversed, I would also definitely do what he did, but with a thousand apologies I can't do it.
"I don't care about those of you who always remain silent when accepting the oppression that is often carried out by them, I understand the reason for your silence. The most important thing for me is whether I will just follow you or try to go against the flow with my own feet?" I said, quoting a famous rebel who succeeded in revolutionizing his country alone. "If I stop standing straight and start lowering my head, then forever, in any generation, the equality we long for will never be realized. But on the other hand, if I keep my body upright, even if I'm alone, then believe me that day will come."
"Don't quote Ernesto's words easily. He has a different capacity than you."
"I know, but we are all created differently, right?"
David sighed listening to my selfishness, "Did you grow up in the North? or do you have some kind of special relationship with them?" he asked.
"No, why?"
"I'm just asking." David let go of his leaning back, walking with me following him from behind. "Our next class is history class. There maybe we will study the histories of our country and the world. But what you need to know Isaac, history is always written by the winners."
"Then isn't it our duty to find out the truth?"
We had class peacefully. There was no repression carried out by the nobility, because the nobility were not too interested in history class and this could be seen from the many rows of empty chairs in their place.
I only found out when David said that the nobles had the right not to attend certain classes and instead they had to attend two mandatory classes; magic class and military class.
The professor in front of us was explaining the history of the holy knights in the Beau kingdom. It was interesting to hear because it turned out that the reason the knight group was formed was the death of Joselyn, who was believed to be a virgin girl who tried desperately to protect her homeland alone against the barbarian troops from the North led by Elias Lothbork.
Joselyn's death was caused by the King of the Beau Kingdom at that time who gave orders to his generals to kill Joselyn because he was considered a heretic. Joselyn at that time always said that she acted and fought not only for the kingdom, but for the grace of the Goddess who told her that she was destined to become a knight. And the title of virgin was crowned by Charles Benoparte as a form of respect for his dedication in continuing to fight for his kingdom even though he had been betrayed by his own kingdom.
Even the son of Elias who participated in the war, Carr the Boneless, said that there was no opponent who could be given respect other than the woman who continued to defend the place where she was born, no matter how they (Joselyn's birthplace) treated her.
"And because of Joselyn's death, a massive revolution occurred in the Beau kingdom," said Professor Ludwig. "Do any of you want to ask about the history of the holy knight or Joselyn?"
A woman from the noble ranks raised her hand to ask. "Professor is that incident also the reason why nowadays women can become knights?"
Before giving his answer, the Professor shook his head. "No, the reason why today women can become knights is because the former 2nd Commander of our country changed public sentiment towards women's rights."
"What do you mean, Commander Margaretha Kartini?"
Margaretha is a former commander? I just found out. Oh goddess, if I think back, I actually got to know people who have an extraordinary history. Einar as the former king and Margaretha as the 2nd commander. Is it possible that Donovan also has the same past as the two of them?
"Yes, you are right. The many achievements he achieved both on the battlefield and within the country, made Abigail Curva, who at that time served as president of our country, decide to appoint her as a commander." Before the woman asked again, Professor Ludwig answered again as if he knew what she was going to say. "Even though at that time public sentiment was very bad towards women, but his speech at that time during his inauguration, I'm sure it touched the hearts of everyone who heard it, even me."
I raised my hand to ask out of curiosity. "Then why did he stop being a commander?"
Now Professor Ludwig's eyes were focused on me, "No one knows the real reason why Margaretha, who at that time was considered to be in her prime, chose to relinquish her position as commander. But there are various theories which say that the reason for Margaretha's decline was due to pressure from above. Yes, although up to now no evidence has emerged to confirm this theory," explained the Professor.
"Then why did he choose to become an adventurer together with Einar, King of all the north?"
"Have you ever met them?"
I don't know why Professor suddenly asked like that. "Yes, I've met them in my hometown. Why, Professor?"
"No, it's just that until now no one knows what Margaretha did after resigning from her position. Hearing that you said that Margaretha is now an adventurer and formed a group with Einar provides new information for all of us." Professor walked closer to me. "That necklace? do you have a close relationship with her?"
"You could say that, because she was the one who taught me about magic."
""Extraordinary, this is very, very extraordinary," said the Professor very loudly. Different from before who looked dignified, now he looked more like a child who had managed to get something that he could show off to his colleagues. And in the midst of his excitement, he drew himself closer to me again, saying something quietly. "It's an honor to meet Miss Margaretha's student."
I could hear people whispering around me. That was the reaction I had expected, considering how great Margaretha's travel record was.
""I didn't know you were a student of such a great person," said David in a low tone that only I could hear. "No wonder you can bravely fight against the nobility."
I dared to fight them not because there was someone behind me. That's what I wanted to say to David, but I didn't, because arguing with him was really troublesome. But as soon as history class ended, for some reason when I was walking in the school hallway, everyone who passed me looked at me with strange eyes. It was strange enough that I didn't know the reason why they were looking at me that way.
In the hallway I saw the yellowish sky through the large window. Looking at my next schedule, now is the time for the new kids to choose club activities and the seniors are vying to find skilled new students to include in their clubs. Actually, I'm not interested in joining any clubs, and prefer to go to the library to look for books about magic.
"What club would you choose, David?" I asked..
"Don't know, I'll take a look first," he answered casually. Somehow now his anger has begun to subside. "How about you? Which club will you choose?"
"I'm not interested in joining a club. "I'll just go to the library to read a book, until school ends."
"Don't you want to look at it first with me?"
"No, it's just a waste of time."
David stopped walking as soon as we were in the middle of the intersection. "Then we have to part ways here. We'll meet again at the dormitory after school ends!"
"Yeah have fun David!"
It didn't take long to get to the library which was to the west of the academy, completely opposite to the dormitory area which was further to the east. The first time I saw how magnificent and luxurious the library building was, with a big smile I couldn't wait to go inside and read the sea of information from books that I would probably never get from buying them in any shop. With a room that has a noble feel, the cupboard shelves are filled with books neatly arranged according to their own categories. I don't know where to start reading it.
From the first shelf to the last shelf, there were lots of books that I had never seen or read. But after going around several times, there was a book that caught my attention, not because of the category or title that interested me, nor because of the unique cover design. But because the author's name written on the front cover of the book looks familiar to me.
King of stupidity - Albert Camui.
That was the name of someone I accidentally met on my way to the academy. At first I thought it was just a fairy tale made for children, but after reading the first part of the book, it completely shattered my expectations.
The sentence is so complicated. The essay in the book explains how a king was punished by the gods for his arbitrary actions towards his position and was punished by the gods for pushing a rock up a hill.
For a king it was a punishment that seemed easy, but the god was not that stupid. This punishment, which seemed easy, was actually designed to be very impossible. Every time the stone that the King pushed was about to reach the top, it turned out that the stone would fall back down and repeat itself without stopping. But strangely the King also realized that what he was doing was just a waste, but for some reason the King didn't stop and continued trying to push the rock until it reached its peak.
I'm starting to understand why the book is entitled King of Fools. He already knew that the rock would never reach the top, he was aware that his efforts to push the rock all this time would only end in failure, but stupidly he still did it.
After reading it to the end, I theorized about the reason why the King kept pushing the rock towards the top. Firstly because it was his punishment and secondly because he was afraid of God. However, one thing that confused me was the statement at the end of the book which said that we should see the King happy.
"That's not a book someone your age should be reading!"