They walked out of the first year dormitory but this time Olivia saw them off. She was surprised to see the vice principal and offered to help him but he refused with a kind smile. Hence, she walked them to the exit and bowed to the vice principal as he left with the group.
They walked past the crystal tree which the vice principal looked to have glanced at even though it was clear he was blind.
'He is blind right?' Xuan Li wondered as it seemed that Ouht was able to walk without any help from them and he didn't even use a walking stick as a guide.
"So Iris, how do you know each other" As they walked, Flav attempted to have a conversation with Iris.
"He gave me this sword" She points to the sword that has been hoisted at her waist.
"So you had an interaction with him yet didn't use the chance to ask about the Academy!?" Flav shook his head in disbelief at the wasted opportunity.
"I didn't even know he was the vice principal...and none of you did either." Iris retorted indifferently.
"You could have asked who he was"
"Well...I was occupied. I wasn't in a state of mind to ask for his full identity." Iris hesitated and answered Flav, walking ahead of him, ending their conversation.
Flav was gloomy the rest of their walk.
While they talked, Xuan Li and Dumdum were ahead of them and had their own discussion.
"Psst" Xuan Li stealthily grabbed the baby panther's attention.
"What?"
"So why did you run off?" Xuan Li brought back the reason for the baby panther's disappearance.
"Tch, I wanted to rest by the crystal tree. It's comforting to touch and rest on and it has minor healing properties" The baby panther made up a half hearted excuse which Xuan Li guessed there was more to but decided not to pry further yet.
"So you think Ouht is blind?" Xuan Li asked the panther.
"Wha-of course he is. Can't you see his eyes look dead as a fish and there's a white mist deeper in them." The baby panther jumped to Xuan Li's shoulder and whispered it to his ears.
"Yes, I am blind young man." Ouht, who was a few steps ahead of them, spoke to Li.
"Ah!" Xuan Li's mouth opened and he gave a chuckle "Sorry for doubting you. Its just you seem to be able to know your surroundings as if you could see"
Ouht slowed his steps so Xuan Li and the panther could catch up to him "Well, I can't see but my other senses are much sharper and when you get to my level, your able to do a lot of impossible tasks like having sight without working eyes."
"Ah, sounds like you use the heavenly insight eye! That's so cool" Xuan Li's eyes sparkled hearing about Ouht still being able to complete tasks without the need of his eyes.
Hearing Xuan Li's innocent comment, Ouht's eyes widened slightly and the panther's jaw dropped "How do you know that name!?" Both of them asked in unison.
"What? The heavenly insight eyes?"
"Yes." They replied in unison.
"By your reactions, I'm guessing it's a real thing?"
"It is, human." The panther spoke.
"Yes, it's a god level ability that allows one to see the truth of anything they see and are unbounded by the limits of the great laws that govern existence itself. It doesn't matter, as long as you see it, you'll know everything about it."
"Wow! Sounds amazing. So you have that mister?" Xaun Li continued to barrage him with questions.
"Sadly no. Over the years, we have created an inferior version of that god technique which I do use to provide me assistance with my blindness. Though inferior, you still require a great deal of talent and strength to master. It's called sage eyes."
"Wow, pretty cool mister."
Ouht nodded "Don't expect to learn it though. Though inferior, it's still considered top notch and can't be accessed by others easily. You'll have to earn enough points to borrow the manual for it."
'Mister, I am not the one that's blind here. Why would I need it' Of course Xuan Li did not directly say his thoughts.
"So where did you hear that name? It's very rare for someone to know about that ability."
"Oh, my grandfather told me some stories about god with the heavenly insight eyes and used it to do some super cool things. I didn't expect it to actually exist haha." Xuan Li casually responded.
"Your grandfather must have read a lot of historical books. Nowadays, many don't even read the world's history. It's truly a shame this generation is too lazy to learn from the past. I wouldn't mind talking to your grandfather, I am quite a historian myself and pride myself in my collections of books that relate to the past." Ouht gave out a smile.
Li's face dropped and darkened "He's gone. He died a while ago." With a shaky and hurt voice, he told Ouht.
"I'm sure my grandfather would have loved to speak with you. He was very friendly." Li looked up at Ouht with a pained smile.
Hearing this, Ouht placed his hand on Li's shoulder "It's okay Li. I too know the pain of losing loved ones. As times goes on, you will be able to move forward without that burden of his passing like I have with my loved ones. However, I still do miss them and wish they were here but always remember they would want you to live on for their sakes."
Xuan Li's heart tore to many pieces from the Ouht's words.
'Live for his sake? What? No? Yes? Grandfather.. wanted me to live? No! He wants me to die to see him! Yes! right? Why do I want to die? Wait???? Why am I being social? I am ugly!'
Xuan Li started to breathe irregularly, sweat began to form on his face as he hyper ventilated and fell to the ground.
Iris and Flav, who were silently listening to their conversation, ran over to the collapsed Li.
"Shit! Li! What happened!"
'Oh no! Ah, my chest hurts from seeing this. Dammit! This isn't him you stupid body!'
Ouht kneeled down "Hey, what's wrong. Everything is okay"
"UGH!" Li's chest and head started to ache and his blood began to move rapidly, causing an intense nose bleed to occur.
"His heart rate is rapid"
'Why do you talk to them? You are just a hideous beast that deserves no love' Li could hear a voice from his thoughts but they sounded like him.
'Shut up!'
'Why do you constantly want to die?'
'I have nothing left! My grandfather is gone!'
'Is that all? What kind of life did you live?'
'Peaceful..good...okay life with my grandfather'
'How could a hideous beast have an okay life?'
The headaches and chest pains grew until Li was on the floor and began to spasm out of control.
Flav and the others tried to restrict his arms and legs to stop him from moving.
Li couldn't close his eyes and a scene began to merge in front of him.
'Wha- whats going on.'
The scene showed a figure with a hideous and disformed face being spat on and beaten up by other figures from his old world.
"N-No. That's not me. I-I-I have only been bullied a little! Not to this extent...I..I..I DON'T LOOK LIKE THAT!" Xuan Li shouted and screamed his heart out from seeing that scene. The others were surprised by his outburst but then his eyes exploded!
With his eyes gone, Xuan Li couldn't see that scene in front of him anymore.
'I-I-I want to die because my only family is gone....right? That is the only reason..I have...never been bullied to that extent....I lived an okay life...yes...'
Li's eyes began to regenerate and he regained his vision but this time he was in a calmer state.
Seeing that Li calmed down, the others let go of him.
He got up, looking very pale "I am sorry. I don't know what got over me."
"It's okay" Ouht was the first to speak. 'This boy's regeneration is impressive. His regeneration is far superior than most of the teachers. I better inform the principal, though he probably already knows'
The rest began to ask if he was okay which Li answered that he was but just tired. Ouht told them that they are close to where he wanted to take them and Li said to continue walking.
*clap*
*clap*
*clap*
"Impressive ability kid." Before they set out, three sounds of a clap could be heard and they turned to the source.
A white robbed man walked forward with pure long silky white hair and a handsome face that would make any girl fall to their knees.
"Sorry Ouht, I'll be taking the kid. Talk to the principal if you have any complaints." He spoke and clenched his right hand as if he was holding a handle.
He motioned a sideways slash and even though there was nothing there, a blow of wind could be felt by Flav and the others but to Li, he felt pure death slashing down his soul.
He felt immense power directed towards him and for once he felt the hands of death hold him tightly.
Once this strange power landed, Li's eyes lost all signs of life. For once, Xuan Li felt like he experienced death itself. Before, he would go unconscious by a powerful blow but this time, everything seemed to have disappeared.
Xuan Li had died?