(Reed is an Alias for Ryan. They are the same character)
Lilith looked like she was barely containing herself, "This IS your fault."
Aldelmo shook his head and spoke up in Ryan's defense, "Reed didn't do this. Norbert was the murderer. This didn't need to happen, that's true, but in the end, we're the victims here."
Lilith approached Aldelmo with a measured pace, speaking in a composed manner as she closed in. "Not you, Aldelmo. You aren't to blame. You are the victim in all of this. Ultimately, there was nothing you could have done to prevent it. In fact, you have consistently been doing the right thing. Maybe the only one."
Ryan took a step towards Lilith so he stood out alone as he squared off against her, "And I haven't been?"
Lilith came to a stop in front of Ryan and looked down at him, "No. You haven't. I've let this go far too long, but someone needs to stop you. Someone needs to tell you to your face what's wrong and everyone else is too scared to do it."
"Why would anyone be afraid of talking to me?" Ryan folded his arms, "I think I've made it clear I am willing to listen to anyone regardless of rank or status."
Lilith nodded, "Exactly."
Ryan frowned, "Huh?"
Lilith pointed a finger accusingly. "And that's precisely the issue. Since you transformed into..." She motioned towards Ryan with the back of her hand, "This, whatever you are, you've become a barbarian. Disregarding rules, protocols, traditions—everything that defines civilization—you dismiss it all as if it holds no value. You spit on it like nothing matters."
Ryan dropped his arms to his side and gave her a little bow, "Why thank you."
Lilith raised her head slightly so she could look down her nose at Ryan, "Yes. You would think that was a compliment. But unfortunately, that is exactly why Finella is dead."
Ryan straightened up and raised an eyebrow, "Come again?"
Lilith's scowl increased, "You can try and blame Aldelmo, or the headmaster, or point to anyone else, but in the end, if you had but acted as a noble, none of this would have happened."
Ryan blinked then cleaned out his ear with a pinky, "Run that by me again?"
Lilith clenched her teeth. "Society exists for a reason. Our way of speaking and behaving serves as a means of identification, distinguishing who belongs and who doesn't. It establishes boundaries of what is acceptable and what is not." She pointed directly at Ryan. "By disregarding the rules and disrespecting society, you forfeit its protections. If you show no respect, don't expect any in return."
Ryan rubbed his eyes briefly, taken aback. "Wow. What you're saying is true, but I'm struggling to see the connection." He raised his hand to run his fingers through his hair, "So what if nobody respects..." He blinked, as if a revelation had struck him. "Me?"
Lilith's eyes widened. "Are you starting to understand? Let me explain in detail." She began gesturing, using her hands to emphasize her words. "When you initially came back, three of your classmates confronted you. Instead of handling it in a dignified manner like a noble, you severed someone's fingers." She wiggled her fingers for emphasis. "Even then, you had an opportunity to turn the situation to your advantage, but instead of annihilating your adversaries, you simply let them go."
She swept her arm to the side, "You were threatened in your classroom and instead of acting like a noble, you fractured Charles' hand." She swept her arm the other way, "When you were humiliated at the dance, instead of getting revenge, you just let..."
"It..."
"Go."
Ryan's eyebrow furrowed as he tried to follow what Lilith was saying.
"That was the moment you made it clear to everyone that they can do whatever they please to you, and the only way you would retaliate is through physical aggression," Lilith explained, tilting her head to the side. "And healing potions are cheap." Slowly turning her head back, she continued, "As a result, Baron Akar targeted your friends." She flicked her hand to the side. "Sure, you and Aldelmo dealt with him, but that's not the issue. If you had commanded his respect, he would never have attacked the orphanage in the first place."
Lilith pointed into the distance. "And so Finella foolishly believed it was acceptable to take a cheap shot at you. Norbert supported her and if the demons hadn't attacked, it would have ended there." She shook her head. "I wish she had approached me first, because they believed they were simply messing with you, without realizing they were also insulting the Headmaster."
She forcefully stabbed her finger towards the floor, "The Headmaster had no choice but to punish Norbert. If he didn't, it would signal that the headmaster could be targeted without consequence." She pointed her finger directly at Ryan's chest. "Do you think this is all about YOU? If you had conducted yourself as a proper noble from the beginning, none of this would have ever happened!"
Lilith began counting off on her fingers. "Aldelmo was hurt, the orphanage was harmed, and even the headmaster suffered. The only one who emerged unscathed was you." She closed her eyes and slowly shook her head. "If Norbert had conducted himself as a noble, he could have withstood this ordeal. But his pride was too deeply wounded. Like you, he preferred to blame others for his mistakes."
Lilith's eyes snapped open, fixing a piercing gaze on Ryan. "In the end, Norbert bears responsibility, but if you want to know how this could have been prevented, that's simple." Her lip quivered as she struggled to speak while keeping her emotions in check. "If you had just—" She abruptly halted herself, tightly clenching both her fists. "Why?"
Lilith advanced towards Ryan, her hands outstretched as if she desired to throttle him. The frigid composure she had maintained shattered as her simmering rage surged to the forefront. "YOU ARE BETTER THAN THIS!" she exclaimed. "I have witnessed it! I know there is greatness within you! Tell me, WHY? Why do you persist in being like this?" Her gaze swept over him. "Why can't you embrace your nobility? Why must you demean yourself? Why must you make everyone hate you?"
Ryan said nothing.
Lilith slapped herself on both sides of her face simultaneously, then slowly dragged her hands down while keeping her gaze fixed on Ryan. "I don't understand. I just don't. It would require such little effort from you, and yet you insist on—" She reached out into the air, clutching at nothing, and tightly closed her eyes before abruptly throwing her hands to the side and letting out a cry of frustration. "WHAT? Do you just hate nobles? Is this revenge? Do you believe you are causing us harm?” She pointed a sweeping finger at her friends. "Because while it may be true that the longer you fight society, the more things will break, I can assure you of this; In the end…"
"NOTHING WILL CHANGE."
Ryan maintained a stoic silence, apparently unmoved by Lilith's outburst and impassioned rant. As she stood there, catching her breath and slowly realizing she had likely crossed a line, she came to a sobering realization. This was not an appropriate display in a public setting. She had reached her breaking point without even realizing it and lost control. Unfortunately, everything she had just said could never be taken back, and she was acutely aware of this fact.
Ryan cast his eyes to the floor when he finally spoke, "You have given me much to think about." Ryan looked genuinely hurt as he turned and walked out of the cafeteria. His pace was not rushed, but not slow either. Perhaps dazed might be the word best to describe him.
Everyone silently watched him leave.