The chaos in the canteen had reached a level that couldn't be ignored. It wasn't long before Mr. Maeron—the authoritative figure of Maple Crest Home—stormed in, his face dark with disapproval.
Soon, all the children were gathered in the main hall. Rows upon rows of them stood silently in their respective age and dormitory groups. The atmosphere was tense, suffocating.
At the front, Kalen stood alone, his small figure dwarfed by the size of the hall and the weight of the stares directed at him.
Mr. Maeron's voice echoed through the stillness, sharp and commanding."Kalen! Step forward."
Kalen obeyed, moving without hesitation but with a quiet, resigned air.
Mr. Maeron's tone turned stern, almost cold."This is your first—and last—mistake, Kalen. We do not tolerate violence here. If this happens again, I will have no choice but to expel you from this home. This place is built to nurture love and peace, not chaos. Every child here is equal in my eyes."
Kalen listened in silence. His head lowered, his hands loosely clenched at his sides. Not a word left his lips, not a hint of protest.
Behind him, Selena and her group—those who had instigated the fight—smirked and exchanged satisfied glances. To them, this was just the beginning. They were already planning their next move, their next attack on Kalen and Eirene.
Mr. Maeron's voice softened as he shifted his gaze across the room, addressing all the children."This is a warning to everyone. No more fighting. No more trouble."
Just as he finished, a quiet yet firm voice pierced the heavy silence.
"I'm sorry, Mr. Maeron... but this is not okay."
All heads snapped toward the voice in shock.
It was Eirene—small, determined, her gaze unwavering.
A ripple of murmurs spread through the hall. No one—no one—ever dared to question Mr. Maeron, let alone speak his name without the formality of "sir." And yet, Eirene had done both.
Mr. Maeron's eyes narrowed, his expression unreadable as he locked eyes with the girl. He gestured for her to step forward.
"Come here, Ms. Eirene."
His voice was measured, almost... curious. There was no anger in his tone, only a controlled patience.
Most of the children watched with wide eyes, barely breathing. Some wondered if she had just signed her fate. Others whispered in awe.
Mr. Maeron, of course, knew exactly who Eirene was—far more than the other children could even imagine. And so, instead of scolding her, he asked calmly,
"What would you like to say, Ms. Eirene?"
The hall fell into a tense, expectant hush, waiting for her response.
Eirene took a slow breath, her heart racing as she stepped forward. Her small hands trembled slightly, but her voice—soft yet steady—carried through the hall.
She looked directly at Mr. Maeron, her eyes unflinching.
"You reacted based on what you saw... but you didn't give Kalen a chance to explain."
A soft murmur ran through the room, some children gasping quietly at her boldness.
Her voice grew a little firmer, each word deliberate."You warned him without knowing the full truth. Isn't this home built on love and fairness, where every child is equal in your eyes? Then why... why is it that some children here are always bullied by others, and no one stops them?"
She glanced around the hall—her gaze briefly locking with Selena's. Selena tensed, her smirk vanishing, her eyes narrowing in growing panic. She hadn't expected this.
Eirene's voice trembled, but her determination didn't falter."Last night... they tried to scare me. They threatened me because I was new. And today, they came after me again—Selena and her group. Kalen only stepped in because... because they were going to hurt me."
Her gaze softened for a fleeting moment as it drifted to Kalen, who stood motionless, his expression unreadable—but his fists clenched at his sides. He stared at the floor, as if unsure whether to feel shame or... something else entirely.
Selena's face paled, her posture stiffening. She bit her lip hard, a flicker of fear flashing in her eyes.
The entire hall was silent, the weight of Eirene's words hanging in the air like a thundercloud.
Mr. Maeron looked down at Eirene, his expression no longer cold but thoughtful. He folded his hands behind his back, his gaze shifting briefly to Selena, who instinctively took a step back.
A beat passed. Then another.
And in that stillness, Kalen felt a strange, unfamiliar warmth blossom in his chest. Someone... had spoken for him. For him.
Mr. Maeron stood in silence, the weight of Eirene's words settling heavily in the room. His stern gaze softened as he looked down at her—this small girl with an unexpectedly fierce heart. He folded his hands behind his back, took a deep breath, and said in a deep, calm voice,
"If what you say is true, then I owe you both an apology."
A collective gasp ran through the hall. No one had ever heard Mr. Maeron apologize before.
He turned his sharp gaze toward Selena and her group. The once-confident bullies now shifted nervously, their bravado crumbling under the weight of Mr. Maeron's scrutiny.
"You—Selena, and your group—will clean the storage room and gallery for the next two weeks," he declared. His voice was firm, leaving no room for argument.
Selena's face drained of color. She opened her mouth, perhaps to protest, but one look from Mr. Maeron silenced her.
Then, turning back to Eirene and Kalen, Mr. Maeron's expression shifted—less a strict headmaster now, and more... a fatherly figure.
"For the courage and sense of justice you both displayed today," he said, his voice steady yet warm, "I hereby appoint you as the first monitors of Maple Crest Home."
A stunned silence filled the room—until it erupted into excited whispers and gasps.
Mr. Maeron smiled slightly and added, "This is not just my decision. I want to hear from the rest of you, too. If anyone objects to Eirene and Kalen as your monitors, speak now."
The room remained still. Not a single child raised their hand.
Instead, one by one, shy smiles and quiet nods spread across the room.
With that, it was done.
Eirene stood tall, her posture graceful, used to attention and leadership. This was her natural space.
But Kalen...
Kalen stood still, wide-eyed. For the first time, he wasn't invisible.
For the first time... they saw him. Not as a shadow in the corner, not as a boy with no one in this world—but as a protector, as a leader.
A soft flush rose on Kalen's cheeks, and he looked down, unsure how to process this strange, warm feeling blooming in his chest.
For the first time, someone had stood up for him.
For the first time, someone had believed in him.
And for the first time, he felt... he belonged.