"Transgressions? Do you mean the pitiful way you all have been treating me since I arrived?"
The aged instructor froze. He could feel the anger in Atticus's voice. 'Is it too late?'
The forms of the other instructors and students alike bowed slightly deeper. They had assumed that Atticus was purely using connections to attend this sanctum, but now that they found out that it wasn't the case, many couldn't help but feel ashamed of themselves.
"You know, when I heard about the fire sanctum and the brave warriors that attempt to learn the ways of fire, I was looking forward to attending. However, this all shattered when I stepped into this place."
Atticus's voice was low and controlled, yet loud enough to be heard by all.
"Contrary to what you all think, I'm not angry about the way I was treated. I'm not angry about the hateful looks I was given, nor am I angry about how I was looked down upon,"
Atticus's voice suddenly changed, its tone becoming cold.
"Instead, I'm angry about something else. How dare you. How dare you all to think that my grandfather, our paragon, would stoop so low as to use his authority to break the rules and place me here if I hadn't deserved it."
The hearts of instructors and students alike trembled as a certain realization set in. He was right. Magnus had been the one to send Atticus here.
While it was true that their hate had been directed at Atticus, ultimately the one they had been accusing of such was Magnus, their frigid paragon!
"P-please forgive our ignorance!"
This time around, it was everyone in the area who screamed, some of their limbs trembling. The power of a paragon was absolute.
Atticus maintained his aura of calmness, his expression serious.
"I told you, I was never angry. I am not here to seek vengeance or to harbor grudges. I am here to learn, to train, and to honor the Ravenstein family always."
Hearing those words, the hearts of the people present couldn't help but grip. Not only were they being lectured by a 16-year-old, but to think he was so honorable! Those words didn't sound like the ramblings of a young boy; they sounded like those of a true warrior.
The aged instructor in charge of Atticus's group stood up from his bow, his expression having turned firm.
He walked closer to Atticus before abruptly stopping a few meters away. It was always the duty of the old generation to pave the way for the new generation. As he met Atticus' gaze, he could only see one thing: the future.
His right arm hit his chest hard before he sank to one knee. It took a second, but all of the other instructors joined along with some students.
No words were spoken, but at this point, words weren't needed. Actions spoke louder than words.
'Perfect. It wasn't as hard as I expected,' Atticus wasn't one who fancied talking too much. He had just given it a try and was glad it worked.
However, he made sure not to reflect the happiness in reality.
Atticus made sure to note the faces of the students who hadn't knelt down. It might be nothing, but it might come in useful in the future.
Atticus allowed the tension to calm down a bit before speaking,
"Get up, all of you. I understand your sentiment, and just know that everything we do is for the best of our family."
'I should leave; I'm almost at my limit,' he thought.
Watching each of them rise, Atticus turned to the aged instructor, "If I descend, would I have to take the test again?"
"Yes, young master," he responded respectfully.
Atticus was about to ponder about it for a bit before ultimately deciding to descend the stairs. 'The test on the second summit is definitely harder; I don't think I can get through it as I am.'
After saying some short goodbyes, Atticus turned and immediately descended the summit. The way down proved to be easier than the way up as the temperature kept on decreasing as he descended.
Atticus reached the bottom after a few minutes and immediately made his way back to his room to get some sleep.
A loud chuckle sounded across the space, and each of the instructors and students alike who were on the second summit turned their gazes towards the cause: Dekai.
It was very odd seeing the man smile, not to talk about laughing.
Dekai didn't seem to care about all this as he held his staff tightly. 'He achieved it in hours! Hours!! Amazing, amazing! To think fire is just one of his eight elements,'
Dekai's thoughts were racing. Even he had been skeptical when he heard Magnus's order, thinking it was a mistake. But ultimately, their paragon's words were law.
However, he never would have imagined that the boy had surpassed every single expectation he had. Not only that, Dekai saw what he did, using Magnus to appear honorable to the public. It was ingenious.
'Now word would spread across the sanctum, and the perception people have of him would change. How am I just finding out about this boy?'
The grin on his face widened. 'The others would freak when he attends their sanctums.'
Atticus slept for a few hours, and when he woke, he felt refreshed. It was one of the issues of overutilizing your bloodline. It would directly affect the stamina of the user, forcing them to rest to recover.
Atticus freshened up and then left his room, heading directly to the summit. It was late in the evening, and Atticus was glad that they were allowed to ascend the summit anytime they wanted.
Atticus received the usual stares as he walked, but he could feel a difference this time around. It wasn't only hate; awe and skepticism were mixed in.
Atticus acted as usual and ignored them.
He didn't waste time and approached the instructor before creating the image of Magnus in a few hours. After responding to some well-wishes, Atticus approached the stairs and started ascending up the flaming steps.