The next morning, the entire Royal College buzzed with whispers. The infamous Silverwood hunt had spread like wildfire—how a group of heirs had nearly lost their lives, how a bear had almost torn through them, and how Sairus himself had intervened. No name escaped the gossip. No hall was silent.
Brasko Loris, Grand Brasko of the College, had summoned all seven students responsible. His command was swift, and none dared refuse.
Inside the Hall of Winds, tension clung to the air like smoke. The seven heirs stood before the Brasko—Vesairus, Jaho, Jago, Kaliana, and the others—shoulders tense, eyes trained ahead. The Brasko's footsteps echoed through the vast marble room as he paced, hands clasped behind his back.
At last, he stopped.
"How many of you went on this little expedition?" he asked, his voice controlled but sharp.
"Seven, Brasko," Jaho answered with steady tone.
The Brasko turned to Vesairus, gaze unyielding. "Let me guess... was it you who led this hunt, son of Sairus?"
Before Vesairus could speak, Jaho stepped forward. "No, Brasko. The idea was mine—and my brother's. We only meant to break the ice, to make friends here at the College."
Brasko Loris's lips curled ever so slightly, unimpressed. He turned toward the twins.
"Is that what you think this place is for? To make friends?" His voice dropped to a near whisper, dangerous.
Then he pivoted toward Kaliana.
"I can't vouch for your brothers; I know little of them. But you—Kaliana—I expected better. After how you answered my question in our first lecture, I thought you had potential. So tell me… why do your parents send you here?"
Kaliana lifted her chin. A pause, then softly, "To learn how to lead… and to uphold pack loyalty, Brasko."
His eyes flared with cold fire. "Exactly. Pack loyalty."
He stepped back, addressing them all now.
"What do you suppose would happen if one of you had died? Do you think loyalty among the Great Packs is so ironclad? You think the bonds that hold our lands together wouldn't splinter at a tragedy like that? You children see unity, but you don't understand how brittle it truly is."
Silence.
Then, more quietly, "You owe your lives to Sairus of the Great Pack Zuganis. Were it not for him, this gathering would be a memorial, not a reprimand."
He studied their faces, one by one.
"You are dismissed."
The heirs filed out in silence, hearts still pounding. In the corridor, Jago turned to Vesairus, his face drawn with remorse.
"Please… forgive us. We didn't know. We had no idea how dangerous Silverwood really was."
Vesairus paused, then lifted a hand.
"It's fine. We're in this together. We were reckless, but no one was lost. It was Ovina's will that my father came when he did. Let's learn from it."
The two walked side by side, shoulders brushing, the bond between them deepening in the quiet aftermath.
---
The Sentence
When the students arrived at the lecture hall, the tension had yet to fully fade. Heads turned as the seven walked in, whispers starting anew. Moments later, Brasko Loris entered, and the room went still.
He took his place at the front and looked over the class.
"I believe you've all heard of the incident in Silverwood Forest," he began, calm but firm.
A wave of uneasy murmurs rose, then fell.
"It is not my desire to embarrass anyone, but it is my duty to ensure this College remains a place of discipline, growth, and above all—respect for life and consequence."
He folded his hands behind his back.
"To ensure such foolishness does not take root again, I am announcing a collective punishment."
The class went silent.
"For the next seven lecture days, the seven students involved will take over the duties of our cleaning staff. They will maintain these halls."
A ripple of surprise passed through the room.
Then a rare, dry smile touched his lips.
"A well-deserved holiday for our cleaning staff, wouldn't you say?"
Soft chuckles echoed faintly, tension giving way to a brief moment of levity.
Without missing a beat, Brasko Loris moved on. "Open your volumes to page seventy-one. Today we discuss the Pact of Blood—the first unification of the Seven Packs."
And just like that, the lesson began again.