Edwin stood in front of the full-length mirror in his new room, adjusting the collar of the crisp, tailored uniform that had been laid out for him. The fabric was smooth and luxurious—a stark contrast to anything he had ever touched before. Having spent his life in the harsh, gritty environment of the mines, the world of fine clothes and elegant surroundings felt completely foreign. As he fastened the buttons, a mix of anxiety and determination welled up inside him. Today was his first day at an elite private school, a world he knew nothing about.
“Remember what I told you,” Nolan’s words echoed in his mind as he finished dressing. “You’re Edwin Skycross now. You carry this family’s name, and you need to live up to it.”
A soft knock on the door pulled Edwin from his thoughts. He turned to see Alex standing in the doorway, already dressed in his uniform, looking nervous but resolute.
“Ready?” Alex asked, his voice steady despite the underlying tension.
Edwin nodded, and together they made their way downstairs, where a sleek black limousine waited in the driveway. The driver opened the door, and the two boys slid into the plush leather seats. Edwin glanced at Alex, who seemed as uneasy as he was, though for different reasons.
The ride to the school was quiet, the only sound being the hum of the car’s engine. Edwin could feel the weight of the expectations placed on him and wondered how he would navigate this new world. He wasn’t alone, though; Alex was by his side, which gave him a small measure of comfort.
When the limo pulled up in front of the school, both boys stepped out, taking in the imposing sight of the building before them. The private school was a symbol of wealth and privilege, a place where the children of the elite came to prepare for their futures. But to Edwin, it felt more like entering a battlefield.
As they walked through the halls together, Edwin noticed the stares and whispers following them. It wasn’t long before they reached their first classroom. Edwin took a deep breath and glanced at Alex, who gave him an encouraging nod.
“Here goes nothing,” Edwin muttered as they pushed open the door and stepped inside.
The classroom was filled with the chatter of students, but it fell silent as soon as Edwin and Alex entered. All eyes turned to them, some curious, others skeptical. Among them was a tall red fox with fiery fur and a smirk that made Edwin’s skin crawl.
The fox stood up from his seat and sauntered over to them, his eyes scanning Edwin from head to toe with a look of disdain. “So, you’re the new ‘noble,’ huh?” he sneered, his voice dripping with sarcasm. “When my driver told me a prey became a noble, I thought he was joking. But it seems Alex here is so weak that a prey is more worthy than him.”
The room filled with muffled laughter as the fox’s words hung in the air. Edwin’s eyes flicked over to Alex, who stood beside him, his face flushed with embarrassment and anger. It was clear that this fox, John Arundel, had been tormenting Alex long before Edwin’s arrival.
Edwin straightened his posture, meeting John’s gaze with a calmness that belied the anger simmering just beneath the surface. “If you have a problem with me, say it to my face,” Edwin replied, his voice steady but firm. “But don’t drag Alex into this. Whatever issues you have with him are between you two, not me.”
John’s smirk widened, clearly amused by Edwin’s attempt to stand his ground. He leaned in closer, his voice dropping to a low, menacing tone. “If your mom isn’t sold as food before I become a general, I’ll make sure she screams as I do her.”
The room fell into an uneasy silence, John’s vile threat sending a chill down Edwin’s spine. The other students looked on, some in shock, others with a sick curiosity, waiting to see how Edwin would respond.
Edwin’s hands clenched into fists at his sides, but he forced himself to stay calm, refusing to give John the satisfaction of seeing him rattled. “You can say whatever you want about me,” Edwin said, his voice steady but filled with quiet anger. “But leave my mother out of it.”
John chuckled darkly, clearly enjoying the reaction he was getting. “It’s a shame your mom was so noble,” he taunted, leaning in even closer. “Maybe if she was a good slave, the captain wouldn’t have had to waste his seed on you.”
Edwin’s heart skipped a beat as the implication of John’s words sank in like a dagger. “What do you mean?” Edwin asked, his voice barely above a whisper, his mind reeling with confusion and dread.
John’s smirk grew even more wicked. “You don’t know?” he said, feigning surprise. “Your mom refused to have children, so the captain made sure she did. You’re the result of that.”
The world seemed to tilt around Edwin as the truth hit him like a sledgehammer. A cold wave of nausea washed over him as his mind struggled to process the horror of what John had just revealed. His legs felt weak, but he forced himself to stay standing, refusing to let John see how deeply his words had cut.
John watched Edwin’s reaction with twisted satisfaction, clearly reveling in the pain he was causing. “Looks like you’re not so high and mighty after all,” he sneered. “Just another product of a broken slave.”
Edwin wanted to scream, to lash out, to do anything to make the pain stop, but he knew that’s exactly what John wanted. Instead, he took a deep, shuddering breath and locked eyes with John, his voice cold and steady. “You’re wrong about one thing, John,” he said, his words sharp and clear. “I’m not broken. And I won’t let you break me.”
John’s smirk faltered for just a moment, the intensity in Edwin’s gaze unsettling him more than he cared to admit. But he quickly masked it with another cruel grin. “We’ll see about that,” he said, turning away and walking back to his seat, still basking in the attention of the room.
Edwin stood there for a moment, his heart pounding in his chest, but he refused to let John’s words destroy him. He took a deep breath and walked to his seat, motioning for Alex to sit beside him. As they settled in, Edwin cast a glance at Alex, who looked at him with a mix of concern and admiration.
The day had only just begun, but Edwin knew this was just the first of many challenges they would face together. As he looked around the room at his new classmates, he silently vowed that he would not let anyone, not even John Arundel, undermine the strength and resilience he and Alex had fought so hard to build.
Edwin sat down beside Alex, his mind still reeling from John’s cruel words. He could feel the eyes of the other students on him, some filled with pity, others with morbid curiosity. But he refused to let their stares or John’s taunts break him. He had faced worse in the mines, and he had survived. He would survive this too.
Alex leaned in slightly, his voice low so only Edwin could hear. “Are you okay?”
Edwin nodded, though the tightness in his chest made it difficult to breathe. “I’m fine,” he replied, his voice a little strained but steady. He appreciated Alex’s concern, but he didn’t want to show any more weakness in front of their classmates. He knew that any sign of vulnerability could be exploited in a place like this.
The teacher entered the room then, drawing everyone’s attention and allowing Edwin a moment of respite from the scrutiny. As the lesson began, Edwin tried to focus on the material, but his thoughts kept drifting back to what John had said. The idea that his very existence was the result of an act of violence, of control, was almost too much to bear. But he forced himself to push those thoughts aside. He couldn’t afford to break down now.
When the class ended, the students began to file out, but Edwin stayed seated, his mind still spinning. Alex stayed with him, offering silent support. After a few moments, Edwin finally spoke, his voice quiet. “I didn’t know… about my mother. About any of it.”
Alex looked at him with sympathy. “I’m sorry, Edwin. I didn’t know either.”
Edwin nodded, taking a deep breath to steady himself. “I just… I have to keep going. I can’t let him get to me.”
Alex placed a hand on Edwin’s shoulder. “You don’t have to do this alone. I’m here with you.”
The sincerity in Alex’s words brought a small measure of comfort to Edwin. He gave a weak smile, grateful for the support. “Thanks, Alex.”
Before they could say anything more, the door to the classroom swung open, and John stepped back in, his fiery fur glowing under the fluorescent lights. His expression was one of mock surprise as he looked at Edwin and Alex still sitting together.
“What’s this?” John sneered. “Having a little heart-to-heart? How sweet.”
Edwin tensed, but Alex was the one who spoke up this time, his voice steady. “What do you want, John?”
John shrugged, sauntering over with an air of casual menace. “Just checking in on my new classmate,” he said, his tone dripping with false sweetness. He leaned on the edge of Edwin’s desk, looming over them. “I was thinking about what I said earlier, Edwin. You know, about your mom. And I realized something… maybe you’re not like her after all. Maybe you’re just weak, like Alex here.”
Edwin felt a flare of anger, but he kept it under control. He wasn’t going to let John bait him. “You don’t know anything about me,” he said calmly, meeting John’s gaze without flinching.
John chuckled, clearly enjoying the exchange. “Oh, I know more than you think,” he said, his voice lowering to a threatening whisper. “But don’t worry. I’ll make sure everyone else knows too.”
Before Edwin could respond, Alex stood up, his expression hardening. “Leave him alone, John. If you have a problem, take it up with me.”
John’s eyes gleamed with malicious delight. “Oh, don’t worry, Alex. I’ve got plenty of time for both of you.” He straightened up, a smug smile on his face as he sauntered back toward the door. “See you around, ‘noble.’”
As soon as John was gone, Edwin exhaled slowly, trying to release the tension that had built up in his body. Alex turned to him, concern written all over his face. “Are you sure you’re okay?”
Edwin nodded, though he didn’t completely trust his own voice. “I’ll be fine,” he said, more to convince himself than Alex. “We just have to stick together.”
Alex smiled faintly, appreciating Edwin’s determination. “We will. We’re in this together.”
The two of them left the classroom side by side, determined to face whatever challenges lay ahead. Edwin knew that John wouldn’t stop, that he would continue to push and provoke. But he also knew that he wasn’t alone. And as long as he had Alex by his side, he believed he could withstand anything John threw at him.
After the tension of the morning, Edwin and Alex made their way to the cafeteria for lunch. The room was buzzing with chatter as students filled the tables, enjoying their meals. Edwin and Alex grabbed trays and moved through the line, each picking up a plate of food. The standard meal included a variety of vegetables, grains, and, for the carnivores, a generous portion of meat.
Edwin, being a rabbit, carefully selected his plate, making sure it was filled with vegetables and grains while avoiding the meat entirely. Alex, on the other hand, had a more balanced plate, typical for a predator. They found a quiet table near the corner and sat down. Edwin immediately began eating, focusing on the vegetables and grains, his herbivorous instincts guiding his choices.
However, their peace was short-lived. Just as Edwin finished the last of his grains, John Arundel sauntered over to their table, a cruel smile tugging at the corners of his mouth.
“Well, well, well, what do we have here?” John’s voice was loud enough to draw the attention of the nearby students. “Our little ‘noble’ can’t even stomach real food?”
Edwin didn’t look up, refusing to rise to John’s bait. He continued eating as if he hadn’t heard him, but the tension in his shoulders betrayed his discomfort.
John wasn’t about to let it go. He reached over, grabbed the untouched meat from Edwin’s plate, and held it up with a sneer. “What’s the matter, ‘noble’? Afraid of a little meat? Or do you think you’re too good for it?”
Edwin finally looked up, his gaze steady. “I’m a rabbit,” he replied calmly, trying to keep the situation from escalating. “I don’t eat meat.”
John’s eyes narrowed, a spark of malicious intent gleaming in them. “You don’t get to pick and choose here, ‘noble.’ You eat what’s put in front of you, or you’ll find out just how much worse things can get.”
Before Edwin could respond, John threw the piece of meat onto Alex’s plate with disgust, the food splattering across it. The cafeteria fell into an uneasy silence as all eyes turned to the unfolding confrontation.
John leaned in close, his voice dripping with venom. “There’s a reason why we’re in charge. Predators are born to kill and eat you, not be your friend.”
The words hung in the air like a threat, sending a chill down Edwin’s spine. He could feel the weight of John’s gaze, the hostility in his eyes. But Edwin refused to give him the satisfaction of showing fear.
John gave a final sneer before turning and stalking away, leaving Edwin and Alex sitting in tense silence. The room gradually returned to its normal chatter, but the weight of what had just happened lingered in the air.
Edwin took a deep breath, trying to steady himself. Alex reached out and placed a comforting hand on his shoulder, his expression filled with concern.
“Are you okay?” Alex asked softly, his voice barely audible over the noise of the cafeteria.
Edwin nodded, though he felt shaken. “I’ll be fine,” he murmured, though he wasn’t entirely convinced. He couldn’t afford to show weakness, not here, not in front of everyone.
But as they sat there, the reality of their situation became painfully clear: this wasn’t just about surviving a new school; it was about enduring the cruelty that came with it. And as long as John was around, Edwin knew there would be no easy days ahead.
