The first light of dawn streamed through the broad windows of the dining hall as the heirs began entering one by one. Ethan, still weary from the excitement of the previous evening, suddenly noticed a truth he had overlooked. Every footstep echoed eerily through the empty tables, emphasizing the vastness and emptiness of the room. In a hall that should have been crowded, almost complete silence reigned; only the faint whispers of a few heirs could be heard.
Ethan squinted, studying his surroundings carefully. The emptiness unsettled him. Noticing Ethan's curious gaze, Harry lifted his head from the empty plate beside him and spoke softly, "There aren't many of us, are there? There used to be far more heirs in this school. Small kingdoms disappeared over time, or were conquered by the larger ones. Now, only a handful remain. But this academy was built to train countless heirs back in the day."
Ethan heard Harry's words with concealed surprise. He did not want his new friends to see him as ignorant. The past two to three years in Ravenna had taught him many things—one of them being the art of keeping secrets. I've known I was a prince for almost two and a half years, he thought. But I have no intention of telling anyone here.
Lost in these thoughts, Ethan's attention was drawn to a gilded sugar bowl sitting in the middle of the table. After staring at it for a moment, his curiosity got the better of him. "Is there no headmaster at this school? Shouldn't someone give a special speech before classes start?"
Lydia raised her eyebrows, surprised. "Are you joking, Ethan? If this school had a headmaster, they'd be accused of favoritism toward their own kingdom. That's why there's a sort of council instead. They have to remain impartial, which is why the system is set up this way."
As Lydia's words echoed in Ethan's mind, the massive wooden doors of the dining hall creaked open. Three figures entered, instantly drawing every eye. Their sharp, piercing gazes, combined with black hair that seemed to cast a shadow over them, gave an almost menacing aura. Their pale, angular faces hinted at something dark and powerful.
Their eyes swept across the hall before settling on Ethan. He felt a lump rise in his throat, the tension of an unexpected confrontation making his chest tighten. Harry and Lydia, sensing the same danger, fell silent, their attention fixed on the intruders.
The trio approached swiftly, the room falling into an ominous silence as they neared the table where Ethan, Lydia, and Harry sat. The girl in the group tilted her head slightly, a mocking smile playing on her lips. "Do you know who we are, heir of Ravenna?"
Ethan felt a chill run through him at the disdain and implication in her voice. He drew a deep breath, trying to maintain his composure, yet found himself momentarily at a loss for words in the face of these unknown adversaries.
One of the boys slammed his hand on the table, laughing harshly. "What's the matter, sailor? Seasick already, rookie?"
All three burst into loud laughter, the sharpness of their voices echoing in Ethan's mind like waves crashing against jagged rocks.
Lydia, unable to tolerate the ridicule, spoke firmly. "He is an heir, Jupiter!"
But the boy named Jupiter only laughed harder, his tone dripping with mockery. "Did you hear that, Kaida, Elvis? He's an heir!"
Kaida and Elvis, the other two black-haired youths, joined in, responding in unison: "Yes, we heard."
Kaida's gaze met Ethan's, cold and piercing. Her voice, calm and deliberate, carried an unnerving weight. "Didn't your friends tell you, Storm? Perhaps we should leave you alone to talk. Ethan has some things to tell you."
The words settled over Ethan like a heavy weight. Without another word, Kaida, Jupiter, and Elvis silently exited the hall as quickly as they had entered.
Ethan looked around at the curious heirs who had witnessed the scene, his breath quickening. Struggling to regain his composure, he said in a steady voice, "I've lost my appetite. I think I'll take a walk. See you in class." He hurried from the dining hall, hoping to find a restroom to steady himself.
Ten minutes later, he was in a stall, trying to calm his pounding heart and catch his breath. How could this have happened? How had Kaida, Elvis, and Jupiter known? Worse, how many others had seen?
Until the bell signaled the start of class, Ethan remained in the restroom, gradually regaining his composure. When he finally emerged, he followed a random student down the corridor and stumbled upon a large classroom. It seemed clear that this school year would be challenging in ways he had yet to imagine.