October had passed in the blink of an eye. At the Heirs' Academy, cliques were becoming increasingly apparent. At the center of these divisions were the heirs of the Draconis Kingdom: Kaida, Jupiter, and Elvis.
The trio excelled not in their lessons, but in gossip, and their second talent was driving people against one another. Thanks to this, they had succeeded in turning many students against Ethan.
The latest letter from his parents had shaken him deeply. In it, they emphasized that Elvis, Kaida, and Jupiter were heirs of the Draconis Kingdom, and he should maintain a cordial relationship with them.
Though Ethan knew that Draconis was Ravenna's greatest ally, he was uncertain how to approach these heirs. His friends constantly reminded him not to pay attention to what the Draconis heirs said.
Yet the letter weighed heavily on him, and he decided not to mention the Draconis heirs in his future letters.
One day, during Justice class, the atmosphere in the classroom was tense.
The lesson was taught by Mr. Wright, one of the school's most respected teachers. He often emphasized that understanding justice was one of the fundamental virtues an heir must possess.
Ethan followed the lesson intently. Yet, his classmate Hugo, the arrogant and self-absorbed heir of the Valoria Kingdom, couldn't resist taunting him. In a condescending tone, Hugo sneered, "I don't understand why you're even taking this class, Ethan. What could a pirate possibly know about justice?"
A sudden hush fell over the classroom. Everyone waited, curious about Ethan's response.
Ethan took a deep breath, forcing himself to control his anger. Though he tried to appear calm, the fire in his eyes betrayed him. "I'm not a pirate," he began, his voice firm. "And someone like you wouldn't even understand the meaning of this class. Just yesterday, weren't you bullying your brother Isaac? What justice are you talking about?"
His words stirred murmurs through the classroom. Hugo's face flushed, but he couldn't respond.
Mr. Wright intervened before the argument escalated further. "Enough!" he said, his voice stern yet fair. "Justice class exists to teach you to be fair to one another—not to argue. Everyone should focus on their own behavior and work on improving themselves rather than belittling others." His authoritative presence silenced the room.
Hugo sank back into his seat quietly, while Ethan tried to calm himself, turning his gaze to the board. His left hand trembled slightly from the tension. Pamela, sitting beside him, whispered softly, "Stay calm."
Ethan noticed Hugo glancing at him with a sly smile. He gritted his teeth, determined not to lose his temper. He faced forward and forced himself to concentrate on the lesson.
For the rest of Justice class, the classroom remained quiet. Mr. Wright continued with his lecture, but Ethan's mind wandered. Hugo's irritating smirk and words kept echoing in his thoughts.
No matter how hard he tried to focus, Hugo's provocations gnawed at his patience.
As the lesson neared its end, Mr. Wright asked students to share their thoughts one by one. When it was Ethan's turn, he took a deep breath and stood.
Keeping his voice calm, he said, "Justice requires treating everyone equally. In a system where the strong crush the weak, justice cannot exist. Justice is not only about laws but also about the virtues we carry in our hearts."
Mr. Wright nodded approvingly at Ethan's words, clearly satisfied.
When class ended, students began to leave.
As Ethan gathered his notebook, Pamela turned to him and smiled faintly. "You did really well today," she said. "You didn't let Hugo get to you and spoke what was right."
Ethan felt slightly relieved by her words, though his unease hadn't entirely faded.
Stepping into the corridor, Ethan saw Hugo's retreating figure disappear into the distance. He exhaled deeply and joined his friends. Harry, Lydia, and Pamela walked beside him, chatting about the next lesson. Yet Ethan kept replaying the confrontation with Hugo in his mind.
"You can't keep letting him get to you, Ethan," Harry said, his tone serious. "Hugo only wants to make you angry. If you let him succeed every time, you'll be playing his game."
Ethan nodded in agreement. "I know," he admitted. "But sometimes it's so hard to control myself. Someone so arrogant really gets under my skin."
Lydia spoke softly, supporting her friend. "Hugo's words aren't worth listening to," she said. "We know you're far more than him. Don't stoop to his level."
Ethan felt some relief from his friends' encouragement, yet his unease remained. Thoughts continued to swirl in his mind as they walked down the corridor. The tension with the Draconis heirs, coupled with Hugo's provocations, stirred a growing anger and confusion inside him.
When the next class began, Ethan resolved not to let his thoughts distract him further. He had to focus on his studies and avoid falling into others' games. But making that decision was far easier than following through.
Later that day, after classes ended, Ethan decided to visit the library. It was one of the quietest and most peaceful places in the academy, where he hoped to calm his mind amidst the books.
As he wandered among the shelves, a particular book caught his eye. Its cover read: "Lost Kingdoms and Warfare Tactics."
He had always been interested in such topics, and the book seemed like the perfect escape. Taking it to a secluded table in the back, he began flipping through the pages.
As he read, he started noticing connections between the content and the events unfolding at the academy. The strategies of lost kingdoms were closely linked to the studies of heirs. The book reminded Ethan that he needed to reconsider the alliance between Ravenna and Draconis.
Leaving the library, Ethan was filled with new questions. His interactions with the Draconis heirs and the tension with Hugo pushed him toward an inner conflict. Yet, no matter the challenges, his determination to do what was right kept him standing.
Returning to his friends, one thought dominated Ethan's mind: he had to find his own path, whatever the cost.