He jumped up on a chair, "So! To recap! To look at anyone who was there that night, or is a supporter of the first, second, or third prince, twists my stomach into knots and makes me want to vomit every time I hear your name or see your face." He held a single finger and panned the room with it, "But I don't take it personal. I've been chosen by the gods to save your sorry asses and I will do just that. Yes, you all collectively stabbed me in the back and broke it off, but hey, details!" He hooked a thumb at himself and spoke in an oddly happy tone, "I'm a hero. I fight for truth, justice, and the Lyonesse Way! Saving lives, even if they have been shitting on me for years, is just part of the job. I knew this when I signed up."
Everyone started looking at each other and then at Ryan who cheerfully continued, "So don't worry about it. You all can go right on hating me and making fun of me behind my back, I won't let it affect my job performance one iota." He let his smile disappear, "And I will go right on seeing all of you as egotistical, monomaniacal, self-centered brats who all enjoy feasting on the suffering of others because you lack even a single honorable bone in your soulless bodies."
At that, the room went completely silent.
Finally, The first student he had singled out shouted at him, "And what makes you so righteous that you can judge us?"
Ryan started counting off on his fingers, "I create items to improve the lives of the staff here at the college. I have created a program that will improve the food production capacity of the entire country to help alleviate hunger among the poor and improve the standard of living for everyone. I have created a series of advanced weapon systems to outfit our national defense force. I have created groundbreaking research into mana and freely given away said knowledge to anyone who wants to study it. I saved the king and most of your lives."
He continued on his other hand, "I volunteer down at the orphanage where I teach children how to read. I donate my money to said orphanage as well as multiple churches. I wander the streets of the capital looking for people in need of help and volunteer my assistance without thought of compensation. I donate excess healing potions that I have created to the local herbalists on the condition they give them to those who would die without immediate medical attention, free of charge. I created a medication that can be created WITHOUT using mana which can cure most bacterial diseases and prevent infection in wounds so we can make sure our soldiers survive wounds on the battlefield that would normal claim their lives."
He looked at his two hands with all ten fingers held out, then held them up to the guy who confronted him, "Shall I go on?"
The student sputtered a bit and looked away to avoid Ryan's gaze, "Well, i-if I was blessed by a god, I could do all that as well!"
Ryan nodded slowly, "That’s true... but even without a god's blessing I'd still could do several of those things without his help. Hell, I can do quite a number of things without even using my mana." Ryan jumped off his chair and started walking closer to the student, "Tell me, you with the power of magic at your fingertips, born into privilege with pure noble blood, possessing the very best education the kingdom has to offer..."
Ryan came to a stop, folded his arms, then looked up at the student. However, when he spoke, it was clear he was addressing the entire room, "What have YOU done to make the world a better place than you found it?"
The student froze, staring down at Ryan. He looked away and scratched the back of his head, "I... how can... you expect me to do anything when I haven't even graduated yet?" He sounded like he didn't even believe his own excuse. Not a sound came from anyone. You could have heard a pin drop. Ryan glanced around and not a single person met his gaze.
Ryan unfolded his arms and spoke in a soft, almost kind voice, "Well then, noble sir... I expect great things from you in the future." He looked over at his table, "You know what guys, I lost my appetite." Then turned and walked out of the dinning hall.
Eventually everyone went back to eating, but it was a long time before anyone said anything.
