Hawen’s voice suddenly cut through the air.
“But seriously, why did you two suddenly come out here to train so early in the morning anyway?” Enmie stared up at the sky for a moment, answering hesitantly, “Mmh…
well, we woke up early, talked to each other, and then we trained.” Hawen glared over at Enmie, his hands clenching tight.
“Are you kidding me right now?…
What kind of explanation is that?…” Hawen turned his gaze toward Ersak, who was sitting frozen, staring blankly at his own hands.
Ersak rotated his wrists, examining his palms now that the bracelet was gone.
The space seemed to freeze, without a single movement.
Hawen watched him, thoroughly confused.
Out of nowhere, Ersak started rubbing his wrists repeatedly, creating a sharp friction sound that made Hawen jump.
“What are you doing?!” With a completely expressionless face, the teenager stared into nothingness, sitting dead quiet.
Hawen sighed, pulling a notebook from his coat along with the pen clipped to his shirt, and began to write.
“From what I’ve gathered, it seems he was probably framed.
For the time being, we can’t keep treating someone who did nothing wrong like this.” The notebook snapped shut.
Enmie opened one eye to look at Hawen.
“Hey, Enmie, Hawen.” The pair turned their heads back to see Lusia walking slowly toward them.
Stopping in front of the duo, she rested her arms across her stomach and pointed toward the academy entrance.
“Etyna said for you guys to head to her classroom.
Today, she’s gonna teach both him and the other students together.” The two stood up and dusted the dirt off their clothes.
“Oh.” Enmie turned her head and waved.
“Let’s go, Ersak.” A rustling sound echoed as the blades of grass shifted.
Ersak stood up from the ground, joining the three as they walked into the academy.
The four of them moved down the hallway, where numerous students stood on both sides, chatting back and forth.
Standing at the back, Ersak looked around the massive school.
Hawen suddenly lowered his voice.
“But seriously, why did you two really go out to train so early?” Enmie looked up at Hawen, a faint smile gracing her lips.
“It’s nothing special.
I simply told him to get stronger, that’s all.” His gaze flicked over to Enmie, and he let out a sigh, closing his eyes.
A smile remained on Enmie’s face as a memory suddenly flashed into view—the sun just about to rise over the vast green lawn earlier that morning.
Enmie extended both hands forward, a warm smile spreading across her face.
“…That’s why you gotta get stronger.
When the time comes, you’ll be able to protect everyone, and…
you’ll be able to help me if something happens to me one day…” Her lips closed, maintaining an expectant smile.
Ersak stepped closer.
With an awkward expression, he lowered his head, his gaze flickering away.
“Then…
can you help me get stronger?”…
Time seemed to freeze.
The entire area suddenly sank into complete silence.
A gentle breeze blew past, making the hair and clothes of the pair flutter softly in the wind, along with the grass and flowers beneath their feet.
Enmie smiled, closing her eyes as she tilted her head slightly to the side.
“…Of course I can!” The door swung open and clicked shut again.
Ersak stepped into the lecture hall, which was designed with tiered, stadium-style seating.
He walked down to the very first row and sat down.
Instantly, two students sitting in the row behind him grabbed all their books and papers, fleeing to a completely different desk.
Etyna narrowed her eyes, watching Ersak with deep worry.
Enmie, Hawen, and Lusia sat down in chairs near the teacher’s podium.
The surrounding students began to whisper and gossip.
A purple-haired girl let out a heavy sigh.
“Ugh…
Ms.
Etyna, why do you keep making us study together with this death row convict anyway?…” A fat, blonde boy shouted out in anger, “If you don’t kick this low-life out, I’m gonna report this straight to the Headmaster!” Ersak’s face went entirely dark.
He kept his head lowered slightly, without uttering a single word.
Hawen narrowed his eyes, twirling the pen in his hand.
“So this is why he went berserk here yesterday.” A blue-haired male student suddenly chimed in, “You’re nothing but a filthy criminal.
You’re lucky I haven’t cut your head off yet.” “A piece of trash whose parents didn’t—” BAM!
Before he could finish his sentence, a loud slap slammed against a desk.
An authoritative scream rang through the room.
“Will you all just shut up?!
You’re all supposed to be nobles, yet you act so high and mighty toward someone else?” With his eyes wide open, Ersak looked toward the source of the sound in utter astonishment.
Quiness stood tall, glaring directly at the blue-haired boy.
The fat boy and a boy wearing glasses sitting in the row behind him panicked.
“Q-Quiness…” “What the hell are you doing?!…” Quiness walked down from the upper tiers, stepping down each stair until he reached Ersak’s desk, speaking as he moved.
“So what if he’s a death row convict?
Tell me, how many people have your families killed out there that gives you the right to insult someone else?” A pink-haired girl sitting in the right section let out a long yawn, watching Quiness.
The blue-haired student sitting up in the middle row heard Quiness’s words and spoke up with a mocking tone, “He’s just a death row convict, Quiness…
you don’t need to—” Before he could finish, Quiness cut him off again, shouting loudly, “Yeah, it’s none of my business!
But everything needs a limit.
Besides, did any of you actually see him do it to judge that he’s guilty?” The blue-haired student’s face tensed with anger as he gritted his teeth tightly, clenching his fists.
He thought to himself, This guy dared to cut me off twice…
does he think I’m nobody?!…
Quiness stood right beside Ersak’s desk.
As their eyes met, Ersak remained frozen in shock.
Quiness looked up at the lecture hall and continued, “What if he just acted in self-defense?
You all know perfectly well what happens when someone is pushed into a corner with no other choice.” The entire lecture hall fell dead silent.
Quiness turned around and slid into the desk right next to Ersak, flashing a smile.
“Mind if I sit here?” Frozen in place, Ersak snapped out of his daze and stammered out a reply, “Ah?…
Uh, sure…” Sudden clapping erupted.
Ersak flicked his gaze toward the podium.
Hawen was clapping in steady intervals.
“Very nice,” he praised.
“Excellent speech.” Quiness chuckled.
“Thanks, Hawen.
You praise me too much.” Enmie glared at Hawen, completely confused.
Suddenly, Hawen snapped his head toward his side, looking right at Enmie, Etyna, and Lusia as he barked, “What the hell are you looking at?
CLAP!” The three looked at one another in total confusion, clapping their hands awkwardly.
Hawen stopped and looked over at Etyna.
“Go ahead and start the lesson.
I won’t disturb the teacher anymore.” Etyna stammered, “Ah…
right…” She turned back toward the entire classroom and called out loudly, “Alright…
quiet down, everyone.
Let’s begin the first lesson of this year.”