Athar was appalled by the brute's behaviour. His grip tightened subconsciously on his spoon as he watched the scene unfold. He was not able to believe what he had just witnessed. He was angry.
Ryler's voice snapped him out of his thoughts.
"You seem surprised," he said, a faint smirk playing on his lips. "That man, you know, is the city mayor's son."
Athar's eyes widened in surprise. Son of the mayor.
"The mayor's son?" He repeated, an expression of shock plastered on his face.
"Yeah," Ryler nodded in agreement. "His name is Mark. He is a third year student and has a Silver grade beast as his tamed beast."
"Using his status and power, he bullies whoever he pleases," he continued. "He is quite a famous bully in the academy. He does what he wants."
"But why would the academy allow this kind of behaviour? Why turn a blind eye to incidents like this?" Athar questioned.
He was genuinely bewildered. Terius had told him that it was a common thing. But doing it so blatantly and so openly in the dining hall.
Ryler let out a low chuckle, as if amused by the question.
"The academy does not allow it, per se," he said. "They just, you could say, turn a blind eye, as long as certain lines are not crossed."
"Why?" Athar's confusion only deepened. "Why turn a blind eye to something so obviously wrong?"
"All that talk of discipline and rules, only to turn a blind eye to something this obvious?" He questioned.
Ryler shrugged, his voice calm, almost resigned.
"They have their reasons," he said. "And though you might not agree, many, at least the people running the academy, think it is reasonable."
"They have certain considerations in mind," he remarked.
He leaned back in his seat as he continued, looking thoughtful.
"You see, the world is not really a fair or ideal place, Athar," Ryler explained. "The academy might protect you within its walls, but what about when you step outside?"
Athar narrowed his eyes in contemplation. He understood that reality all too well.
"Once you graduate, who is going to protect you?" Ryler continued. "The academy's philosophy is simple."
"You either learn to fight people like Mark, learn to live with people like Mark with your head bowed, or become someone like Mark, a bully through and through."
"So, the academy wishes that when we leave this place, we are prepared to face what is out there. They do not want innocent flowers to be thrown into a pit of fire," Ryler concluded. "They cannot be your personal bodyguards. They cannot wrap you in a woolen cocoon all the time."
Athar continued to sit in silence. The words were hitting him harder than he expected. He clenched his spoon tighter as memories of his old life flashed through his mind. He remembered the countless times he had been powerless and forced to endure. He could not refute Ryler. Everything he said made complete sense.
Ryler noticed the change in Athar's demeanour but did not comment on it. He simply continued providing information.
"And just so you know," he said, "most of this nonsense happens on the day before the holiday."
"The day before the holiday?" Athar echoed, puzzled. "What is the relation between bullying and the holiday?"
"Yes," Ryler nodded. "The day before the holiday."
"You know that tomorrow is the weekly holiday. And like the students, many instructors leave the academy to deal with their personal business," Ryler said. "Most of the instructors leave during the night itself, which includes the instructors who are responsible for maintaining discipline in the academy."
"Look around you," Ryler said. "Do you see any instructors roaming around like they usually do?"
"No," he answered his own question. "And therefore, it is very convenient for the academy to shut their eyes and let things happen."
"Some even call it the sharpening of the students," Ryler added with a chuckle.
Athar was at a loss for words. He did not know what to say. To think that things could run this deep and be this complex amazed and shocked him.
He truly had no words. He had faced such situations himself, but the academy was practically institutionalising it in the name of preparing students for the future. In no world, and by no logic, Athar would ever be able to justify it in his heart. It was wrong. And he stood by his thought.
Athar quickly finished his dinner after that. Neither he nor Ryler initiated any further conversation in the meantime. Both of them wished each other a good night, and Athar returned to his dormitory.
After returning to his dormitory, Athar retrieved the cloth sack from his almirah. It was the sack in which he had received his resource quota for the week, and it had remained untouched for the past few days.
Every teacher had emphasised the word patience, and that was exactly what Athar had followed. He had not hastily consumed his resources. He had chosen instead to gather knowledge about them first. Now, he was completely sure he had enough knowledge to use them.
He retrieved one of the F rank, Bronze grade beast cores. Beast cores were far more valuable than mana crystals.
Mana crystals were most useful for recovering mana after a person's reserves were depleted, generally after a battle, or as a form of currency.
On the other hand, the beast cores and the two mana pills he had received were best suited for increasing one's mana capacity.
Athar placed the beast core between his palms and began to circulate his cultivation technique. A dense amount of mana started to be absorbed into his body, and Athar could feel his mana capacity increasing. He remained in that position for an hour before finally opening his eyes.
By now, the size of the beast core had reduced by one-third. According to this calculation, it would take Athar around three hours to absorb one of these cores completely.
Athar shut his eyes once again and resumed his cultivation. He was determined to absorb the beast core completely.
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[Thank you for reading. Rate, Review and Comment on my novel. Also send the power stones]