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.

Stolen from Royal Road, this story should be reported if encountered on Amazon.

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 with 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."

Meanwhile, outside of Nyika, in a cave that leads to an underground bunker, a gold spear falls from the sky into the middle of the bunker where a small group of assassins reside. A tie with a royal blue string is attached to it. Their leader, a beautiful blond woman, reads it. She smirks and looks at the others.

“Looks like we have work, ladies. Somebody wants the Earth Ore.”

One assassin: “That sounds risky.”

The leader shows them the bounty, rendering everyone speechless.

Another assassin: “What’s the plan then?”

Leader: “Good question. Let’s start with the prince.”