The next day at school, Moto and Sheu sit in a corner together before the class splits up. Two boys from Mukai's table saunter over, sneers plastered on their faces."Smells like smoke in here," one of them taunts, his gaze fixed on Moto.Sheu grabs Moto's arm, and they try to walk away, but one of the boys reaches out to grab her. Moto's reflexes kick in, and he slaps the hand away. The two bullies continue to provoke him, and when Moto lunges at them, a wall of water suddenly rushes in, blocking his path.Moto: "What the—?!"The student part reveals Prince Mukai stepping forward with his palms upward, water dripping from his fingers.Mukai: "No fighting in my class."Moto: "But he started it!"Mukai's expression hardens. "Don't make me repeat myself."Moto: "Drop the act. I saw them come from your desk."Mukai: "We won't tolerate insubordination. Especially from people who didn't earn the right to be here."Moto: "Says the Prince?"Mukai's face contorts into a mix of disgust and anger. Tension fills the classroom as students buzz in disbelief. Mukai's twin, the long-haired student with fair skin, hides behind the crowd, watching the exchange intently.Mukai dissipates the water wall, splashing some of it onto Moto. "Stay behind after class," he commands.Moto's day only goes downhill from there. After the classes split, the teacher ignores Moto, leaving him to train himself. Determined, Moto decides to try something new. He focuses, emitting smoke from his skin which shoots like steam from a boiling kettle. The other students laugh at him. Someone throws a small fireball into his cloud, causing it to ignite and pop around Moto. He gets slightly burned, the sting of the burns lingering.The ringing of the break-time bell is a relief. Sheu finds Moto, looking equally disheartened. They sit together in a corner of the cafeteria, trying to console each other.A student who looks like Mukai but has longer hair and fair skin approaches them. "Hi, I'm Sukai," he introduces himself.Moto: "Hey."Sukai: "Mind if I join you?"Moto: "You sure you wanna be seen with the bottom students?"Sukai: "Hey, that makes three of us." They all laugh, easing the tension.Sheu mentions how Sukai looks like Mukai.Sukai: "Ah yes, he's my twin brother."Moto: "What! No way."Sukai giggles. "I'm serious."Moto: "But you're so nice, unlike him."Sukai sighs. "Yeah, that's what everyone says, but he's misunderstood."Moto: "What's there to misunderstand? Didn't you see what he did?"Sukai: "I did, but please avoid him while I try to talk to him for you. Hopefully, I can get through to him."Moto: "Ok, we'll keep our distance. Being in the same class and all won't be easy though."Sukai: "I know, but please bear with me."Moto looks at Sukai and smiles. "Nice to know the good twin is on our side."Sukai smiles back.Sheu asks if the sons of the king could be homeschooled. Sukai explains that their father believes a leader must share experiences with those he leads, and so if any of them are to succeed him, they have to know what it's like to be a citizen.Moto: "He sounds wise."Sukai: "Very."Outside the shadows of Nyika, the air felt charged with an unspoken tension as a faint rumble echoed from above. In the darkness of the cave that sheltered Tadex's underground bunker, a sudden flash lit the cramped space. The gold spear, glimmering under the scant light, pierced the ground with an almost otherworldly thud, sending a shower of dust into the air.As the eerie silence enveloped the room, the leader—a strikingly beautiful woman with piercing eyes—stepped forward, her indigo shoes matching her hair. Attached to the spear was a royal blue string, fluttering like a flag of a newfound challenge. She unwrapped the note with deliberate slowness, her breath held in suspense. Once she read the message, an amused smirk splayed across her lips, but her eyes carried a dangerous spark."Looks like we have work, ladies. Somebody wants the Earth Ore," she announced, her voice laced with a mixture of excitement and foreboding. The air grew heavy as the assassins exchanged glances, uncertainty rippling among them. One finally broke the silence, his voice barely above a whisper. "That sounds risky."The leader's smirk faded slightly as she revealed the bounty's details, a palpable tension settling like fog in the room. Gasps filled the air, shadows moving as they leaned closer, the weight of the task beginning to sink in. The promise of danger hung heavily over them, mingling with the thrill of the unknown.Another assassin, her brow furrowed in concern, asked, "What's the plan then?"A thoughtful pause lingered as the leader glanced up, her expression shifting to one of steely determination. "Good question," she said, her voice low and resolute. "Let's start with the prince." The mention of the prince sent a ripple of anxiety through the group. Whispers of the prince's power and influence ignited a flicker of fear. Each member could sense the storm brewing on the horizon, knowing full well that their next move could either catapult them into legendary status or plunge them into darkness. The countdown had begun, and with it, the palpable thrill of impending danger filled the air—each second inching closer to a confrontation that could change everything.