"H-Hal…"
Liora trembled, tugging on Hal's shirt, touched that he was speaking up for her but also afraid he might be expelled from the academy for daring to speak this way to the Deputy Headmaster.
Korvus, on the other hand, scoffed in disbelief that he was being lectured again by another young man, this one far less important than the one earlier.
The old man didn't register a word Hal had said; he was simply erupting inside.
"Hoh? You think you're qualified to talk back to me just because of our previous interaction? You think you've caused no inconvenience to me or the empire over the past few months, brat?"
Hal's gaze turned even more unfriendly, his respect for the old man slipping further.
Did this guy really think everyone should naturally sacrifice everything and be glad to die for the empire?
That everyone was just a pawn without emotions, expected to do everything for the so-called greater good?
