Earnest was frozen, and he felt all the students starting to murmur. He felt his scales crawl, and he folded his wings self-consciously. He couldn't lift his head, but he could feel all the scorching, skeptical gazes of the other dragons in the room. He was shivering now and gritting his teeth, tightening his jaw with fury, sadness and frustration. Why couldn't they just see that a son of a bad dragon might not be a bad dragon too?! he thought bitterly. Why should I ever be born?! Tears stung his eyes.

   Suddenly he couldn't take it anymore. He lifted his head, his sharp teeth gleaming dangerously. His blue eyes glared at almost everyone in the room, and he held his head high. I'm done with holding my head down as if I'm scum, he thought, growling. because I'm not!

  "Almost all of you think I'm evil," he snarled, his eyes flashing and his talon glittering, "but I'm not. I'm not scum. I have feelings, even though my father didn't!" He was shouting now. He felt a burst of energy. He felt like he could achieve anything. "I am a dragon, just like all of you!" He roared, tears rolling down his cheeks. "Don't look at me like that! Like I'm some horrible creature!" He gritted his teeth. "It's not like I've done anything except being born! Maybe that's wrong?!"

  Earnest suddenly felt someone standing up beside him. "Yeah! Earnest deserve some respect!" His eyes widened with surprise. Demules. Dem was standing up for him. His jaw slackened. Maybe that's how having someone who care for you feel like. Tears are flowing down freely now, dripping onto the floor.

  Cana stood up on the other side of him. Her gaze was hard, like rocks, sweeping the classroom and daring anyone to speak. "Earnest is a good dragon. I know," her scorching gaze drilling into their classmates, "even if some of you don't." Some students lowered their gaze uncomfortably.

  Earnest felt an ache in his heart. He has never in his life felt like this before. Like somebody cares for him. Like a surge of energy to protect his friends from danger. Like not being able to imagine losing somebody. His gaze hardened, turning steely.

  Nocturn, who was stunned from doing anything, snapped out of his trance and shouted, "Detention, all of you!" He frowned, but Earnest could see something else in his eyes. Is that admiration? And fear? Earnest thought incredulously, then shook his head. No, it can't be. He must be imagining things.

  Earnest met Nocturn's gaze steadily. "I won't ever regret anything."