The Empire of Reimia (3)

— Moriner! — This time, she approached the most successful student in her class and sharply tapped him on the shoulder with the same pointer. — What is with that bored expression on your face?

— I apologize, Miss Grace. — Moriner rubbed his sore shoulder and tried to replace his indifferent expression with a more serious one.

But his thoughts were still far away, and no matter how hard he tried, neither the Empress's arrival nor the obvious troubles associated with it could capture his attention enough. He had changed little in the last six months, grown little as a person, and achieved little. Both when he entered the academy and now, he was still drifting along with the current of fate, even though its turbulent waves were carrying him towards certain death.
In fact, only the motive for his agreement had changed: just as before, he still did not want to go to war, did not want to become a useless victim of other people's ambitions and vanity, but if then his agreement was driven solely by fear and indecision, today he was taking the oath for a completely different reason. Today, instead of the Empress's speech, Moriner only heard the words of his dying father, and he nodded his head diligently, not to her empty slogans, but to his father's important instructions.

— I, Moriner Leveristos, swear that in life and in death I will be eternally loyal to the Empress and her land, I will defend the interests of the Reimy Empire and will not disgrace its name. Enemies may destroy my body, but they will never be able to conquer my will. The Empire is above all, long live Her Majesty Rinze Reim!
He said this in an ordinary, slightly quiet, but confident and resolute voice, without making a single pause or hesitation. Before his eyes, the flags of the Reimy Empire were not waving, and the face of Rinze Reim was not shining. Before his eyes, he saw his old father and the legacy of his family, which he would carry with him, even through death.