Jinwoo Lee

The next morning, Ethan hopped on his bike, ready to ride to school. As he pedaled down the street, he spotted Seojin waving enthusiastically at him. Seojin dashed over, his face lit up with excitement. "Hey, Ethan!" Seojin called out, his voice filled with anticipation. "Have you made a decision about what you want to do?"

Ethan, still holding onto the bike's handlebars, could feel Seojin's enthusiasm pulling him in. He knew exactly what Seojin was asking about, but he hesitated for a moment, enjoying the eager look on his face before responding.

With a bright smile, Ethan replied, "Yes, I've decided to join you at the academy." But just as the excitement settled in, a thought crossed his mind, and his expression shifted to concern. "Do you think they'll even accept me?"

Seojin's eyes lit up with joy at Ethan's decision. "Of course they will! I already talked to my dad about you. He said that if you're interested, we can head over to my house so he can meet you first." Without waiting for Ethan's response, Seojin hopped onto the back of his bike, grinning. "Come on, let's go!"

Ethan felt a jolt of surprise. "But wait! We have class right now!"

Seojin chuckled, waving off his concerns. "Don't worry, Ethan! My dad takes care of everything. It's no big deal."

Looking into Seojin's earnest eyes, Ethan took a deep breath, feeling a surge of determination. "Okay, let's do this!"

After a twenty-minute ride, guided by Seojin's excited directions, Ethan finally pulled up in front of his friend's house. As soon as he looked up, his eyes widened in shock. A massive mansion stood before him, its towering gates and grand architecture radiating elegance and wealth. His jaw nearly dropped. "Shadow and Oliver weren't exaggerating when they said he came from a royal family," Ethan thought, his mind racing with disbelief. He had expected something impressive, but this was on an entirely different level.

The butler greeted them at the door, his posture stiff with an air of formality. Without a word, he led them inside, the grandeur of the mansion only becoming more overwhelming as they entered. The butler returned moments later, serving tea to both Ethan and Seojin with the utmost respect, his every movement precise and practiced.

As they sat down, Seojin smiled and turned to the butler. "This is Ethan, my friend," he said casually.

Ethan nearly choked on his tea, taken completely by surprise. "Friend?" he thought, his mind scrambling to process the word. "How did this happen?" Only days ago, they had barely spoken, and now he was being introduced as Seojin's friend in this grand mansion. His thoughts raced, but he couldn't deny a strange warmth filling his chest at the unexpected label.

Noticing Ethan's slightly tense demeanor, Seojin leaned closer, misinterpreting the source of his unease. "Relax, Ethan. My dad is really laid-back. You'll be fine," he reassured him with an easy smile.

Meanwhile, the butler stood nearby, observing the exchange with a subtle smile on his face. Sensing the moment, he gave a slight bow and quietly excused himself, leaving the two boys to settle in.

A few minutes later, they heard the heavy sound of footsteps approaching, and the door swung open with a quiet creak. In walked a man in his forties, tall and muscular, with striking red hair that caught the light. His presence was commanding, and he glanced at Ethan and Seojin, his intense gaze immediately zeroing in on Ethan.

This man was Jinwoo Lee, the president of the academy, and Ethan could feel the weight of his scrutiny. Jinwoo's sharp eyes seemed to evaluate him from head to toe, as if he were assessing not just his appearance but his very character.

Ethan swallowed hard, feeling both intimidated and intrigued by the man standing before him.

Ethan felt a wave of anxiety wash over him as he sensed the powerful aura radiating from Seojin's father. The man's imposing presence made him feel small, as if he were standing in the shadow of something monumental.

However, as Jinwoo Lee noticed Ethan's discomfort, his expression quickly softened. A warm smile broke through the intensity, transforming his demeanor completely. "Hello, Ethan," he said, his voice surprisingly gentle. "I'm Seojin's dad. Feel free to call me Jinwoo."

Ethan blinked in surprise, caught off guard by the sudden warmth in Jinwoo's tone. The tension in the room seemed to dissipate.

At this unexpected display of kindness, Seojin choked on his tea, eyes wide with surprise. "When did my dad start acting so nice?" he thought, caught off guard by the warmth emanating from his father. Jinwoo Lee shot him a knowing glance, and in that instant, Seojin realized he needed to clean up the mess he had made, hurriedly dabbing at the spilled tea with his napkin, his cheeks flushing with embarrassment.

Meanwhile, Ethan, oblivious to the silent exchange between father and son, felt a bit more at ease seeing how friendly Jinwoo was. Gathering his courage, he mustered a smile and introduced himself. "Hi, my name is Ethan."

Jinwoo Lee's smile widened, his demeanor still warm and inviting. "It's great to meet you, Ethan! I wanted to take a moment to thank you for helping Seojin yesterday. You're more than welcome at the academy." He paused for effect, allowing the weight of his words to settle in the air before continuing, "However, you'll need to pass a test first."

Ethan's heart raced at the mention of a test. "What kind of test?" he asked, his curiosity piqued yet tinged with apprehension.

Jinwoo Lee flashed a playful grin, shifting his gaze to Seojin. "You'll need to survive a five-minute sparring match with Seojin."

The declaration hung in the air, leaving both Seojin and Ethan in shock. In unison, they exclaimed, "WHAT?"