The desperate declarations overlapped, a cacophony of privilege and threatened revenge. Sebastian listened to it all with contempt twisting his features."Your fathers?" he asked quietly, dangerously. "Your powerful families?" He laughed—a bitter, hollow sound. "They should have taught you that power without honor makes you nothing but well-dressed monsters.""Wait!" Professor Marcus fell to his knees, abandoning all pretense of dignity. "Please! We'll do anything! We'll confess our crimes, accept punishment—""You'll confess to your deans," Sebastian said coldly. "When you meet them in whatever hell awaits murderers."The color drained from Marcus's face. "Our deans... they're already...?""Dead. All of them." Sebastian's smile was cruel. "Did you think the Empire's schemes would spare anyone? You're all pawns in a game far beyond your understanding."He raised both hands high. The Flame Emblem beneath the trapped crowd pulsed with gathering power, the symbols glowing white-hot."No!