Seeing the teachers and students below sink into thought, Annan smiled. "You think I'm going to say we're the tortoise?"
Everyone froze. Wasn't he?
Annan spread his hands and declared, "How can those foolish, ignorant nobles compare to us?"
Evelyn, seated below, lit up with excitement. Finally, something juicy! It might be awkward to publish now... but she could save it for later!
"While we're running, they're asleep. Their advantage is that they started before us, but we have an advantage too..."
Annan thrust his fist upward, rising with the motion. "This race is still long. So long that no one can see the finish line."
"Long enough for us to catch them!"
Annan's words set the students' blood racing. Soren clapped until his palms turned red, and Cathy nearly climbed onto her chair to cheer.
But Cathy was annoyed that Ivana barely reacted. "Don't you feel anything?"
"Lord Annan is deliberately stirring our emotions. It's too... basic."
"You're too grown-up for your own good!"
Cathy gave up on her. Ever since Ivana had started spending time with the adults at the Mage Tower, she'd acted like Mr. Swaro most days...
Annan changed tack. "Some say that when the grains of sand from progress fall on ordinary people, they become a crushing mountain."
"I say that's bullshit!"
"If you're born poor, you'll want a comfortable life. If you're born with every luxury, you'll worry that you aren't strong enough."
"That's the kind of animal we are: never satisfied!"
"The poor want to strike it rich, and the rich want to stay rich. Everyone has their troubles. So why don't we accept the disadvantages we were born with and start from zero?"
"The real scenery appears the moment you set foot on the road."
"You are the morning sun at eight