The morning sun filtered through the cracks in the palace walls, casting fractured beams of light onto the bustling courtyard. The children were already hard at work, hauling debris and clearing out overgrown weeds under the watchful eyes of Ryker and his men. The air was thick with the sounds of effort—grunts, the scrape of shovels against stone, and the occasional barked order.
Ryker stood near the fountain, studying a map of the grounds with one of his lieutenants. They discussed the next steps in rebuilding when a sudden shout pierced the morning air.
The commotion came from near the pond, where a small group had gathered. Shouts turned to screams, and before Ryker could react, a fight broke out. He stormed toward the chaos, his boots pounding against the cracked flagstones.
"What now?" he growled under his breath.
---
By the time Ryker reached the scene, it was a mess. Several children were grappling with a group of maids, their clothes splattered with mud and water. At the center of it all stood Elair, his fists clenched, his face twisted with defiance.
One of the maids, drenched and shivering, pointed an accusing finger at him. "He pushed me into the pond!" she shrieked. "I nearly drowned!"
Ryker's sharp gaze shifted to Elair. The boy's silence said more than words ever could—it wasn't denial but defiance.
"Is that true?" Ryker demanded, his voice cutting through the noise like a blade.
Elair finally looked up, his jaw tight. "I didn't know she couldn't swim," he said flatly, his tone carrying no hint of remorse.
Before Ryker could respond, another maid stepped forward, her eyes blazing with fury. "That's no excuse! You could've killed her!" she shouted. "And now he thinks he can just walk away like nothing happened!"
Ryker raised a hand, silencing the crowd. He turned back to the first maid, who was still trembling. "And you," he said, his voice calm but firm. "You and your friends—why are you fighting?"
"She came back with her friends to 'teach me a lesson,'" Elair interrupted, his voice laced with sarcasm. "Guess they didn't like my lesson plan."
The maid's face reddened, but she said nothing, glancing nervously at the commander's stern expression.
---
Ryker let the silence hang for a moment, letting his presence settle over the group like a storm cloud. He finally spoke, his tone cold and measured.
"You're all fools," he said. "Every single one of you."
The children and maids froze, their anger momentarily replaced by confusion.
"You," Ryker said, pointing at Elair, "have no discipline. You act without thinking, and your recklessness nearly cost someone their life. You want to push people around? Fine. But learn the cost of your actions first."
Elair scowled but said nothing, his fists clenching tighter.
"And you," Ryker said, turning to the maids, "think you're better because you came back for revenge? What's the plan? Beat up a boy to restore your pride?" He gestured to the drenched maid. "You survived the pond. You should have walked away with your dignity instead of this pathetic display."
The maids looked away, their bravado draining under Ryker's withering gaze.
---
"Here's how this is going to work," Ryker continued. He pointed to Elair. "You're going to clean the pond. Every inch of it. Scrub the stones, clear the weeds, and make it spotless. You don't eat until it's done."
Elair opened his mouth to protest, but Ryker's glare shut him up.
"As for the rest of you," Ryker said, turning to the maids, "you'll be helping him. You wanted to fight over the pond? Fine. Make it worth something. And maybe next time, you'll think twice before wasting my time."
The maids began to stammer their objections, but Ryker silenced them with a sharp gesture. "Do I make myself clear?"
There was a moment of silence before a chorus of reluctant nods and muttered agreements followed.
"Good," Ryker said, his tone final. "Now get to work."
---
As the disgruntled group trudged toward the pond, Ryker lingered, his sharp eyes following Elair. The boy's posture was rigid, his movements stiff with suppressed anger.
"You're testing me, boy," Ryker thought. "But you'll learn."
Nearby, the silent girl watched the scene unfold with quiet intensity. She said nothing, her expression unreadable, but Ryker noticed the way her gaze lingered on Elair.
---
By the end of the day, the pond was cleaner than it had been in years, though the tension between Elair and the maids remained palpable. Ryker allowed himself a rare moment of satisfaction as he surveyed the result.
Conflict was inevitable, he knew. This unlikely group of children, thrown together by circumstance, would fight, argue, and clash. But with each skirmish, they would learn.
And Ryker would make sure they learned the right lessons—or break them trying.
--