The guards held me down, their hands firm on my shoulders. I could feel every eye in the classroom on me, some curious, some amused, others relieved it was not them. Before I could say another word, Mr Wiston moved quickly toward the prince, fear obvious on his face.
"My prince, please forgive Miss Winter," he said, bowing slightly. "This is my fault. I allowed every student the right to speak their mind. She has broken no Valerian law. She spoke no ill of the royal family. In fact," he added carefully, "her words could even be seen as praise, my prince."
The room was silent. Too silent.
I had heard rumors before. Whispers that never lasted long enough to be questioned. They said the Crown Prince of Valeria possessed abilities beyond what was human. Powers passed down through the royal bloodline. I had always assumed they were just stories meant to scare people like us into obedience.
Then Prince Kaelith looked at Mr Wiston.
And for the first time, I wondered if the rumors were true.
His expression changed, slowly, almost casually. His eyes turned red, the same shade as his hair, but deeper, sharper, as if heat lived behind them. The air in the room felt different, heavier, and my chest tightened without warning.
He lifted one hand.
Mr Wiston was suddenly no longer standing on the ground.
I watched in disbelief as our history teacher was pulled into the air, his body stiff, his voice rising in pain. No one moved. No one spoke. We all just watched as the impossible happened right in front of us.
When the prince finally lowered his hand, Mr Wiston collapsed to the floor. Staff rushed in immediately, carrying him out of the classroom to the hospital.
Prince Kaelith adjusted his jacket like nothing had happened. The red in his eyes faded, replaced once again by that calm, unreadable expression. Without a word, he turned and walked out of the class.
Only then did I realize my hands were shaking.
Maybe that was why the almighty Crown Prince Kaelith Altherion only ever joined us in history class.
History had a way of reminding people who held power.
And who didn't.