As Leo was about to open the door, a memory surfaced.

  He recalled being inside the throne room where the curtains were drawn tight, blocking out the morning sun. Aurelius was draped across his throne in a red nightsuit, his shirt partially unbuttoned to reveal a powerful, muscular chest. He looked as though he had only woken up minutes before.

  Without turning to face Leo, Aurelius spoke in a groggy voice, "Hey, Leo... remember I told you to attend the academy as a teacher?"

  Leo, whose own hair was a mess and who was still clad in his blue nightsuit, blinked sleepily. "Yeah? So?"

  "The time has come," Aurelius said, sounding just as exhausted as Leo. "You're heading there today. I’ve already spoken to everyone there, so just get yourself ready."

  Aurelius raised his hands and clapped twice. Four maids in uniform entered, carrying Leo’s clothes. They bowed deeply to the King and then respectfully to Leo. Three of them had brown hair; one had hers tied back, another had a short bob that reached her shoulders, and the remaining two wore theirs loose with sharp, focused expressions. They stood ready at Leo’s left side.

  "Hey, what about this bracelet?" Leo asked, scratching the back of his head. "Do I really need to wear it?"

  "Yeah..." Aurelius groaned.

  "Why?"

  "It’s important. You’ll realize why once you meet the Principal," Aurelius replied. As Leo took his clothes from the maids and prepared to leave, Aurelius added one last warning: "Leo... one more thing. That guy—the head of the academy—be careful around him."

  Leo hadn't quite understood the warning at the time, simply muttering, "Yeah, yeah."

  Back in the present, Leo took a deep breath, recalled that conversation, and pushed open the door.

  The office was small but perfectly organized, finished entirely in rich brown wood. Directly in front of him stood a shelf packed with books. A red carpet muffled his footsteps as he turned to the left and finally saw the man in charge.

  The Principal was sitting in a wooden chair, intently reading a book on his desk. He looks like a middle age man his black hair was swept back in a razor-sharp side part, every strand lacquered into place with a high-gloss finish. It was a style that spoke of boardrooms and expensive tailors, save for a single, defiant lock that hooked over his right eyes brow like a comma. He wore transparent, square-framed glasses that framed his sharp, blonde eyes. A long black coat with gold-trimmed lapels hung over a starched white shirt; the coat was left unbuttoned, draped elegantly over his frame.

  Unauthorized duplication: this narrative has been taken without consent. Report sightings.

  Before Leo could even introduce himself, the man spoke without looking up. "What was going through your head while you were standing outside?"

  Leo froze. 'How did he know I hesitated?' Before he could finish the thought, his eyes drifted to a window beside the door. He realized the Principal must have seen his reflection or shadow.

  Leo opened his mouth to speak, but the man interrupted him again. "Gabriel Harel. You can call me Principal Gabriel, or just Gabriel. It's up to you."

  He finally closed his book and looked up. "You're Leo. I know who you are; Aurelius told me."

  "How do you—" Leo started.

  "Your bracelet told me," Gabriel replied coolly. "Three stars mean you are one of the closest people to the King himself."

  Gabriel stood up on his pant he was wearing a black pant which end was falling over his black shoes and then he walked around his desk to a bookshelf on Leo's left. As he slid his book into a gap, he continued, "The last two stars aren't lit, which means you aren't family, but you are clearly someone he values deeply. Regardless, let’s not waste time on small talk."

  He turned away from the shelf and stepped toward Leo. "Aurelius told me everything. I hope you don't mess anything up here. I don't care who sent you—if you cause trouble or if a single student’s education suffers because of you..."

  He leaned in close, his voice dropping to a chilling whisper in Leo's ear. "...I will fire you in a second."

  He stepped back, a sharp smile playing on his lips as he noted Leo’s widened eyes. "I have high hopes for you, Mr. Leo. Follow me."

  Gabriel brushed past him and headed out the door. Leo stood there for a moment, his mind racing.

  Everything was clicking into place—Warrel’s explanation of the academy’s independence, Gabriel’s cold confidence, and Aurelius’s warning.

  "Be careful around him," Aurelius had said.

  Leo whispered to the empty room, his voice barely audible, "This guy... he really is dangerous."

  Leo followed behind Gabriel, his footsteps echoed against the floor. Minutes passed as they maneuvered through the sprawling corridor, weaving through crowds of students who were rushing to their next lectures. To Leo's side, a row of massive, arched windows lined the hallway. Finally, they came to a halt in front of a heavy, dark brown door. Unlike the other rooms they had passed, the air here felt thick with the low hum of chatter from the students inside. Gabriel stood beside him, his expression unreadable behind his glasses.

  "Alright," Gabriel said curtly. "This is it."

  With a swift, practiced motion, the Principal turned the handle and swung the door open, revealing the lecture hall beyond.

  Leo took a deep, steadying breath, trying to calm the sudden flutter in his chest. He adjusted his tie one last time and steeled his resolve.

  'Alright, he thought to himself, 'let’s see how this goes. It’s just a room full of kids—it can’t be any harder than staring down an army of random sell-swords, right?'

  Back at the castle, Aurelius was in his room, likely changing his clothes, while Will stood outside the door. "King Aurelius," Will asked, "do you think everything will go well for your friend, Mr. Leo?"

  Aurelius didn't answer immediately. After a moment, he simply replied, "Who knows."