"Alright, listen up. First things first, I need you all to understand your situation. You are learning from me, and learning is a difficult process, so when I say you have to do something you may not want to do, you still have to do it. If you can't do that then obviously you aren't going to be able to acquire true strength. Do we all understand?"
They all nodded prompting me to continue, "This class has many purposes, but all of them can be summed up into one sentence. I'm going to rid you all of the many things limiting you from reaching your full combat ability. That includes your own mentalities and strategies while in combat. This is something that won't be done in one day either, it will take years to fully master it, and that's assuming you rigorously practice it. I know for a fact that some of you won't be able to handle that." I shifted my eyes to Paxium, who averted her eyes determined not to meet mine.
"But who said that the path of true strength is was an easy one? Unneeded desires must be destroyed for power. Sacrifices must be made if you want to rise above the pack. You will tread a path no one else has before, one filled with pain, difficulty, and sorrow. And if you can't do that... don't even think about leaving this classroom."
As I was saying these words, I could feel them start to rethink their decision, but once I said that last line their interest was piqued. To not waste their attention, I continued, "No one who has ever become powerful has ever walked the path because they could handle it. They walked it out of necessity. With each step, they winced in pain as their soul was pierced. They watched others walking the same path give up from the pain or die from stepping where they needn't. But they kept going, forging their mind, body, and spirit. They let the path form them into a person worthy of walking it."
My passionate speech seemed to send them into a trance of some kind. There was truly nothing that meaningful words and a charismatic voice couldn't do for you, "You will walk this path, and you won't be able to handle it. But isn't that what makes it meaningful in the first place? If it was easy, then everyone would be able to do it. But you all are different. I believe you all can do it. It will seem cruel, or even sadistic at first, but eventually you will understand just how necessary it was. And, if you are ever feeling like quitting, you don't need to worry. Because I will be there. And I will get you back on track. Any. Means. Necessary."
It was a bit ominous, but that was good. To make it seem worth learning from you need to show some, "I'm better than you" energy. I already did it once during the coliseum battle, but once wouldn't be enough. I would need to root the idea so far into their heads that my being superior seems normal.
After concluding the speech, I brought out papers from my desk and passed them out to each of them. They all looked at their pieces of paper, and Onvima was the first to react, "Hey... this is a joke right?"
I raised my eyebrow, "No?"
He showed me his paper to exemplify his point. It was a basic schedule for every day in a ratio format. One side held the activity and the other held the time it would take place, "I'll have no time to read any books!" He pointed to his schedule narrowing my vision to the schedule. It was filled to the brim with different activities from 6:30 AM to 10:00 PM
In response, I scoffed at him, "Did you even listen to a word I said? I thought you were the smartest one here... whatever. Let me say it again: You will have to sacrifice unneeded desires. I'm sure you are just dying to figure out how the novel you were reading will finish, but you really will be dying if you can't learn to give up some entertainment. I'm not saying you can't read, they'll just have to be informative books, not books with no use."
He seemed to cower for a second before hiding his paper under his arms as he rested his head on his desk. I was about to go over the sheet of paper when another voice landed in my ears, "No seriously, what the hell is with this? We have no time for recreational activity. What the hell Igmor?! Have you ever heard of settling into things?! This is bullshit!"
It was Iraspisit and by the judging of it, he wasn't very happy about the packed schedule I handed him, "Well if it's bullshit then go ahead, leave the classroom." I said this with obvious negative connotation but even that was only enough to have him shaking in anger before slowly calming back down. That was something against his character, very interesting.
"No... you're right. You already told Onvima all I need to hear. So let's just get to the lesson."
And those words... he was resisting his anger, but why? I may have poked holes in his foundation for anger, but that wouldn't stop him from having an outrage. He isn't the type to change after only a couple of exposures to why he was wrong... unless he has a goal that makes it worth it...
"Alright then, let's go outside for it. We'll go to the World Tree, it's out of the way, open, and not many people go there-"
"Wait..."
I turned my head to Paxium. She was obviously still terrified to even be around me, but she was able to speak up for herself nonetheless, "My... my schedule is blank..."
I figured she didn't say anything because she already understood why I left it blank, but I suppose I'm overestimating her because of her earlier performance. I never thought that two split personalities could be so different in both character and smarts, "That's because I have yet to make one for you. You just told me some very important news that I didn't know before. Teaching you is going to be like teaching two people at once, so I'll need to adopt a different tactic. I don't have any time right now, so I'll pass one to you tomorrow morning. It's alright since for now today will be spent getting some basics drilled into you all. Tomorrow is when you start to follow your schedules."
With that out of the way, I opened the door of the run-down classroom and took a step outside with the five of them following behind me. It was time to start stage one of Operation Five Elders: Protocol Breakdown.
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Beulus' POV:
I can't believe I'm actually doing this.
I was in the middle of skulking around Convir's office. I was opening drawers, cabinets, and storage facilities of all the likes. Normally I would never do something so crude, but last night I had a letter fall onto me while I was at the bar. It was sent by Quis and said that he needed information on the current situation of the students, so I first thought that I'd just tell him everything I knew. That way I wouldn't have to get my hands dirty. But once I actually put a pencil to paper, I realized that I didn't know anything. So the only thing I could think of was the folders Convir kept for every student.
I waited for him to leave his office and snuck in, expecting this to be a quick in-and-out job, but it was turning out to be far more than just that. I was unable to find anything, and if I was found in Convir's office being suspicious... well that wouldn't end well for sure. I just needed to find something, anything! Maybe a trap door? A hidden door? A hollowed-out book? Anything would work! I just need to get out before I'm caught-
"Beulus? What are you doing in here?"
I froze as I faced the large window behind the desk at the end of the room. I considered jumping out of the window for a moment but decided against it. They already knew who I was so jumping would only make me more suspicious. I'm already too deep to back out now, so if I have to, bloodshed might be necessary. I would rather bloody my hands than prove to Quis that I really am just a feeble man who can't back up his own words-
Wait... I recognized this voice. I turned around and immediately sighed in relief. It was the most morally questionable person who could've caught me, Hasrem.
In response to my sigh, she lifted her eyebrow and asked, "Alright... well I'm just going to assume you're up to something bad. I recommend you tell me what you're doing if you don't want to be placed under the judgment of Convir."
I felt a shiver roll up my spine in reaction to her threat. It would be really bad if I were on Convir's bad side. He could get pretty vicious if he wanted to. But what can I say? If I outright tell her I'm here to steal information, she'll just assume that I'm committing espionage of some kind. But what can I say? Think, Beulus, Think!-
Huh? It's actually much simpler than I thought. I'll just do what I always do, sympathize. Put myself in the other person's shoes, but this time don't think about why they would be upset or what I could do to help them, but what they need to hear to get what I want. Who is Hasrem? I've known her for a long while so I should be able to do this... that's right! In a mode of panic, I almost forgot a key detail of hers.
I exited my crouched position and stood straight up, "I'm here to help Quis." She was obsessed with Quis, to the point where I think she would defend him if he killed Convir himself. She wouldn't question me as long as I said this, and we have known each other for quite a while now. That, paired with my reputation should be enough for her to trust my words.
After listening to me speak, she walked forward and placed the stack of papers she held on Convir's desk. I was a bit worried for a second, but then she leaned her face right next to mine and said excitedly, "How can I help?"
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Quis' POV:
"Alright, we're here. The World Tree."
I would be lying if I said that after being apart for so long the tree didn't dredge up emotions within me, and with the ever-growing strength of my curse, it was even harder to deny. But emotions were only another thing to be controlled. They shouldn't be shunned, nor should they be indulged. Like any other part of the human body, they should be used. That was how I would make sure I didn't fall into the same trap I did before.
As I stated we were here, a question came flying my way, "Why didn't we use any special methods to get here, instead only walking?"
It was Onvima once again. He had asked me a lot of questions along the way; he was naturally curious after all. He wanted to know everything he could, a good trait to have in my opinion. But like anything, too much of it is a bad thing. For now, I'll indulge him, that way once I pull the rug out from under him, it'll make a bigger splash.
"I don't want others to know you guys are stationed here for now. These are in all technicality the grounds of a different faction than yours. I'm pretty sure that Medisma decided to make an alliance with Convir, but that has yet to be officially announced. If others knew you were here, I'm sure it would make things difficult for your training."
With my words he was lost in thought once again, probably applying my words to himself. It was like that for all of his questions, showing to me he was a man who enjoyed self-improvement. After making a mental note of that information left out of the folder report, I walked closer to the World Tree until I was right next to it. I touched the bark of the tree and then turned to them all, "I have a question for you all. What is your reason for living?"
It was a question that didn't seem related to anything I was talking about beforehand, but it was an important one. When one asks oneself: Why do I keep moving forward? They can change as a person. Confronting your own motives was a powerful tool, one that kept you in check. And it also had the reverse effect of allowing me to control them easier.
My question was led with an immediate response from the most headstrong of them all, Iraspisit, "That's an easy one. To sit upon the throne of luxury and lavishness." He put his head up in an act of rebellion, expecting me to reprimand him, but instead, I responded normally, "An understandable motive. Next?"
I'm sure he was expecting something big to come out of his words, but riches really weren't a bad goal. Anyone who said it wasn't something you should work towards obviously didn't have a good understanding of how humans work. The next one to speak was Onvima, "I suppose... I live to acquire knowledge. Eventually, I would like to start my journey as a scholar, journeying through the world and soaking up everything I can." I nodded, understanding his motives even more now.
"Wait, now that I think about it, this is an easy one. I just want to spread the wonderful gift that is pain!" Culdia was still herself, I didn't expect anything less from her. Then out of nowhere, Vernam opened her mouth, "I'm not sure... The only hobby I have is making clothes, and that's more for my mom than for me. I don't care about money or knowledge, nor do I have a niche like Culdia... I don't think... I have a reason for living."
This was the chance I was waiting for. The rest of the group looked at her sympathetically and worriedly. If I had to guess, she must've never told others that she didn't have anything she enjoyed, only deepening her sorrow. It was common in depression or other similar cases. She tried covering it up with clothes and friends, but now that she had to confront it, it exposed how much it had eaten at her.
I slowly walked up to her and punched her in the gut, sending her to the floor holding her belly.
"Hey! What are you doing Igmor?!"
"Get up!!!"
I ignored Onvima's words and instead kept my attention on Vernam. After a couple of seconds, she got back up and glared at me. In response, I only shot another punch at her, this time on her liver. She was thrown to the ground again, and once again I yelled at her, "Get up!! Come on, I'm hurting you! I'm stomping all over you! I'm humiliating you! I'm showing that you are weak, that you have nothing else to you besides your precious little clothing shop!"
My instigation worked and she brought herself back to her feet, and this time when I went to punch her again, she blocked my fist. In response, I backed away and said to her, "Good, you just proved you do have something to live for. You can live for the sake of your own pride."
My words were very shallow. To live only to stroke your own ego was something considered wrong by most, but to me, that was why most people did live. They went on to make themselves and others proud of their achievements, and if they couldn't do that then they felt bad about it, either spiraling down or using that as motivation to climb up. Pride was only another reason to live, just as much as greed was.
Vernam was shell-shocked by my declaration. She stood still looking at me, but with her mind somewhere far elsewhere. I couldn't let a perfect opportunity go by and said, "Vernam, you can live for your own ego, as most do, but you also must remember to not let it take control of you. You should use it as drive, not let it drive you."
My words infiltrated her like a spy does his target, moving deep into her mind without suspicion. I waited for a couple more seconds until she nodded her head and moved to the side still deep in thought.
Next in line was Paxium, "So Paxium, why is it that you live? Surely you out of these people understand the pain that can be associated with living, so why did you still accept to learn the ways of true power?"
She stared at the ground, more interested in counting blades of grass than meeting my eyes as she spoke, "I live because I enjoy the pleasantries of life. The food, the drinks, the people, that's why I live."
I already could guess that much by her personality thus far, so I rephrased my question, "Then let me ask you, why does your other side live?"
She froze for a second, before answering my question, hatred radiating out of her voice, "She lives only to see the death and despair of others. Nothing more."
With one final nod, I turned around and, with every one of them confirming their reasons for moving their feet forward, said sincerely, "I'm happy you all have reasons for living... But let me start with this. Your drives. Your motives. Your reasons for living... They are all too weak!"