She calmed her mind and remained composed, appearing completely unfazed in the eyes of others.
"I really don't understand, could you just tell me straight, sir?" Amelia asked confidently, looking up and standing tall.
This boldness caught the instructor off guard, leaving him momentarily stunned. He then thought to himself that this student had the nerve to argue in front of so many people, and his face darkened.
"I was going to give you some face, but since you asked, let me announce it publicly. Do you admit to bringing prohibited drugs and anesthetics into the mountain without authorization? If you don't admit it, we can show you the surveillance footage," the instructor said.
Hearing the mention of anesthetics, Amelia relaxed a bit. But because she was expelled for having two anesthetics, there was no way she would agree honestly.
"I did bring anesthetics, I..." Amelia didn't get to finish her sentence before being interrupted.
"Good, now that you've admitted it. Based on a unanimous decision by the higher-ups, Saint Hua absolutely cannot tolerate undisciplined and disobedient students like you. You must be expelled," the instructor said.
"Sir..." Amelia frowned and looked straight at the instructor.
"You don't have to say anything. The decision made by the base and Saint Hua is beyond question," the impatient instructor said.
In the eyes of others, Amelia was incredibly calm, even after being exposed for cheating in public. They couldn't imagine what could make her panic. It was as if nothing could faze her, even if the sky were to fall.
After being interrupted several times, Amelia narrowed her eyes slightly, feeling annoyed. But she remained calm and said, "Sir, I think I still need to say something. Although I did bring anesthetics, I didn't know I wasn't allowed to bring them. And even if I did, I didn't use them recklessly. I only used them once to save a classmate's life when they were in danger of being attacked by a wolf. Even if I'm guilty, I don't think the punishment should be expulsion."
Amelia's voice was calm and clear, and her arguments were well-articulated. Anyone listening could understand.
"And if we consider the overall evaluation, I have been struggling with my frail body, doing my best to take care of the team by setting routes and finding food. I even selflessly shared my food with other teams. When my classmates were in danger, I did my best to help. In the end, I even let them go ahead so that I wouldn't hold them back, and continued on alone. I don't think there's anything wrong with me, and I don't think I should be eliminated."
"If the so-called selective admission at Saint Hua University means this, then Saint Hua does not deserve my respect," Amelia said.
The higher-ups at Saint Hua were taken aback by her words, as were the instructors from Forest Peak.
Amelia stood tall and proud, her words painting a picture of perfection, and no one could deny that she had done everything right.
The room fell silent. It was the first day for the new students at Forest Peak, and they had been taught to obey without question. Yet as they watched Amelia and the instructor argue, they could not help but feel that she was right to stand up for herself.
The students from Class 6 were starting to get excited.
Then Noah Foster spoke up. "I also think that Amelia shouldn't be expelled," he said. "She didn't have to give up the anesthetic, but she did it to save someone. I don't think someone with that kind of character would cheat on purpose."
"We agree," other students chimed in.
"And us."
Most of Class 6 joined in the protest, and even some of the other classes' hot-blooded youths started to follow Amelia's lead.
Amelia's story was like that of a just and righteous young woman, and anyone who heard it could not help but see that she had done nothing wrong.
How could Saint Hua justify expelling someone like her? Even if Amelia had been a little weak, she had still passed the trial.
The instructor on the stage looked dazed. Wasn't this just about expelling a student? It happened all the time at Forest Peak. Why was it turning into a demonstration?
With no other choice, the instructor had to put the matter on hold and call in the higher-ups from Saint Hua to discuss the decision. It was embarrassing to have to re-discuss the expulsion of just one student.
The students refused to disperse, standing tall and proud, waiting for the result of Amelia's appeal.
In the meeting room, the higher-ups were arguing, each with their own opinion.
In the end, Amelia won her case. The few who disagreed were outnumbered, and the decision to expel her was reversed.
Still, there were those who were not satisfied. They argued that private possession of anesthetics had to be punished, or everyone would start doing it. So, Amelia was sentenced to two days in solitary confinement.
When the school announced the verdict to the entire student body, they cheered. It was a happy thing to be able to protest together and change the instructor's decision.
Everyone was happy for Amelia, thinking that she was lucky to only receive a punishment of two days in solitary confinement instead of being expelled.
However, upon hearing the punishment, Amelia felt a tightness in her chest, knowing that it was not good, but she did not voice her objection.
She had not forgotten her autism, which had been caused by being locked up in a small, dark room for more than ten years. She was afraid of enclosed spaces without light and of being locked up again.
After the dispersal, the students returned to their own dormitories to clean themselves up, but Amelia was taken directly to the solitary confinement room without being given time to rest.
Without allowing her to freshen up, she was thrown into the solitary confinement room without any warning.
With a loud "bang," the door closed, and the room grew dark, but fortunately, there was a small ventilated opening that allowed a bit of light to filter through.
The calm and composed Amelia who had previously argued her case before everyone had disappeared, and the current Amelia was beginning to panic.
She crouched in the direction of the ventilated opening, huddled in the corner, holding her legs, her eyes starting to panic. She tried to control herself from thinking about the past, but she couldn't help it in this small, dark room.
She seemed to see her younger self, also curled up in the corner.
She listened to her father repeatedly wanting to abandon her, and her mother's indifference, saying that it was not safe to abandon her. This kind of bloodline would bring trouble to the family if discovered. It was better to keep her locked up for life and let her fend for herself.
As a child, she didn't quite understand what it meant to fend for herself.
Later, she understood that it meant being alone in a small room, with only herself. Food was occasionally sent in when she was about to starve, and she was beaten when she cried out. When she was sick, no one paid any attention to her.
She never understood how she survived and how she managed to live until she was thirteen years old.
She didn't know how long had passed, but the sky had grown dark, and the tiny bit of light disappeared. The fierce beast named Fear in her heart was no longer controllable.
Amelia felt chills all over her body, as if she was going to be swallowed up by darkness. She was alone in this boundless darkness, unable to see the sunlight or feel any warmth.
The small window opened, letting in a bit of light and some food, and then closed again.
She sat there motionless, staring at the small window, reaching out towards it, as if trying to grasp the light coming through it. Her mouth was slightly open, as if trying to stop the window from closing, but she spoke.
Autism had completely crushed her pride, leaving nothing behind!
"Don't, don't lock her up. She will listen, really."
...