In the following days, Ethan's life settled back into its comfortable routine.
Most days were spent at the Confucian Order's academy—though truth be told, he typically slept in until noon and only moseyed on down in the afternoons.
Meanwhile, Fynnley and Elara were early risers, heading to the academy at dawn as duty-bound staff members. Unlike Ethan, who was essentially a freelancer, they held permanent positions and didn't enjoy his carefree flexibility.
The academy valued Ethan primarily for his gift of crafting exquisite poetry—a talent that couldn't be forced by rigid schedules but relied on the whims of inspiration.
On mornings when Ethan slept late, he'd roll out of bed just in time for lunch. But if he rose earlier, he'd follow whatever fancy took him.
Occasionally, he'd put i
