Ember

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"What did you just say?!"

Edmund and Ecarus asked in unison, both looking utterly incredulous as they stared at Ethanos.

"I said I want both of you to apologize to the second-year representatives."

"Apologize?... For what? As far as we remember, there's nothing we need to apologize for," Edmund countered sharply. "In fact, they should be the ones apologizing to us for not doing their best in the fight. If anything, they're the ones who let their batch down."

"But I want you to do it. Is that a problem?" Ethanos asked, his tone now serious, all traces of his usual teasing gone.

"And don't forget—you're my slaves now. You both promised to follow whatever tasks we assign. So as part of the bet, this is your first task, apologize to them. Now."

Edmund and Ecarus frowned deeply. This was far from the humiliating or ridiculous tasks they had expected Ethanos to demand.