After the situation with the two students was settled, teacher Javis came over to talk with Arian.
The prince didn't hear what the principal had said to the two guys since he spoke quietly with them, but he had seen how a teacher had escorted them out of the dining hall afterward.
Now the principal bowed in respect in front of Arian.
"I am sorry you saw such a scene, my prince. I hope you don't misunderstand. This is not what happens every day. Such incidents happen only in the beginning. You must remember that these students were never in a school, even though they are above fifteen. They have never experienced education and thus can't imagine it. Where they come from, they only know law and order enforced by gangs."
Teacher Javis's gaze turned sad. It was as if he wanted to change the circumstances in which his students grew up but couldn't.
"You can probably imagine how cruel these gangs handle their matters, my prince. No wonder the new students immediately resort to violence when the slightest inconvenience arises. That's also why a basic education is so important. We really have to teach them things you and I take for granted- such as basic behavior. This is probably one of the most important things I want them to remember when they leave the academy."
Arian didn't respond to Javis's explanation. Instead, he pondered about his words.
After witnessing a fight between two students, he could understand why basic education was so important here.
Looks like beast-taming is not the priority here.
Arian wondered if this was a problem and a reason for the academy's failure- not focusing enough on beast-taming. Since neglecting basic education was not an option for brutes like these students, Arian couldn't find a solution quickly.
He understood this school was in a different situation than all the other schools he knew of.
Of course it is, all the schools you know of are those that nobles attend. No commoner would ever set foot on their grounds, Arian schooled himself.
They have a different clientele, thus their methods are different.
Maybe that's also why teacher Javis told me their philosophy behind claiming and training beasts differs from the rest.
Yet there was still something he wanted to know.
The prince looked over to Maloc. Luckily he was okay again. His deputy had gotten an abrasion at the back of his head.
Because of that, he was unconscious only for a few seconds, and by now he looked like nothing had happened to him.
Well, except for his face that glows red like a tomato and his expression that looks like he has bitten into a lemon, Arian mused.
He immediately signed to Maloc what he wanted to ask teacher Javis.
Maloc stared at his prince pleadingly, which could only mean he wanted something.
It didn't take Arian long to realize what his deputy wanted: after the incident, he wanted a day off.
But Arian ignored his deputy's request. Instead, he signed what he wanted Maloc to ask teacher Javis, again.
With a sigh, Maloc repeated Arian's question, by saying it out loud: "What was the reason why the blonde-haired guy and the brown-haired guy fought?"
"Oh, that's because they are members of opposing gangs."
Gang members?, the prince almost asked, clearly puzzled. Don't they know this is highly illegal?!
In the last moment, he remembered that talking to someone beneath him wasn't befitting for his standing.
So he gestured for Maloc to ask some important questions. But before his deputy could speak, Javis continued explaining.
"Yes, I understand, it must be shocking for you to hear they are gang members. In fact, most of the students here at some point have belonged to a gang. Many of them might even have missions from their gangs, which might be why they are here."
"Don't they know the consequences of joining a gang? There a laws, that could condemn them to a life in prison or even death!", Maloc exclaimed, voicing out Arian's thoughts, as well.
"As I have already indicated, where they live the law is dictated by the gangs, not by the empire. The emperor, actually the whole royal family, is only an abstract concept to them. Some of them don't even fully understand what the words 'royal', 'emperor' or 'prince' mean."
Teacher Javis sighed, somehow suddenly sounding exhausted. "Nevertheless, I, as well as all the other teachers, advocate a happy living together, thus the students must learn to leave their time with the gangs behind and break out of these shackles. They must find their own, their new identity. This is not easy, especially when most students join such gangs as children, often not older than ten."
Again, Arian accepted the answer without any words, only slightly nodding his head.
He thought the matter here was finished and he could finally head for the teachers' dining table to fill his stomach; just like all the other students, who didn't pay any attention to the conversation between Arian and teacher Javis.
Instead, they had gathered around different dining tables and talked with one another.
Even though they weren't as quiet as Arian would like them to be, which meant it was still noisy in the dining hall, the current situation was better than the chaos previously.
Arian realized even though he was talking to the principal infront of many students, their conversation remained somewhat private.
He watched as teacher Javis bowed in front of him.
"My prince, I would also ask of you, to release this student of mine."
He pointed next to Arian, where one of his guards still pressed the guy, who had touched the prince, to the ground, while the other continued to point his sword at the guy's head.
Maloc intensively looked at what Arian signed to him before he faced Javis again.
"This guy has touched the prince. As law commands, he shall be sentenced to death."
Javis was dumbstruck. The youth on the floor as well; his whole body was shaking.
There was a moment of silence before teacher Javis fell to his knees and started to kowtow in front of Arian.
"My prince, with respect, I beg of you to rethink your decision. As I just previously mentioned, these students are uneducated and lack basic manners. But that doesn't make them evil or have ill intentions. He just didn't know who you were, let alone knew about the rule that no one except members of the royal family themselves are allowed to touch a royal."
The principal shook slightly. Even his magical beast, which at some point had returned to its master's side, respectfully lowered its head.
"This means the lack of knowledge indicates, our academy hasn't taught him good enough yet. So I'm willing to receive a punishment if you promise me this guy's safety."
Arian sighed and conversed with Maloc again before the deputy turned to ask the principal a question.
"If you want to take his punishment you would have to accept the one of death. Would that really be okay for you?"
Arian looked around him, while his deputy spoke. He saw how the student with ash blonde hair looked mortified.
Cold sweat was running down his body.
He silently mumbled pleas, but Arian ignored him, as he also saw how Javis started to tremble.
"N-no, this is not, not okay for me," he forced out.
Yet his voice stayed the same. There was no hint of emotion.
He is too calm. Something isn't right with him.
After all, we are discussing his death.
Arian immediately felt alarmed, focusing all his attention on Javis. He tried to find out what the teacher was planning when suddenly the realization hit him that if he were in Javis's situation he would do the same.
No way, does Javis have suicidal thoughts too?
At first, the thought seemed ridiculous but as Arian wondered about it more, he thought he understood Javis. After all, no one wanted to spend his life in such a desolate place in a hot desert, whose heat could very well kill you.
If this is the case and Javis truly wishes to die, his wishes shall not be fulfilled!
Arian contemplated if he should punish him with whip lashes instead, but then decided against it.
The biggest punishment for a suicidal person was none at all.
He knew so very well.
Again, Arian communicated with Maloc, before his deputy voiced out his orders.
"Teacher Javis, you are fortunate. The prince has deeply thought about your words, and how you had explained their circumstances. Therefore he concluded that a punishment is not necessary."
Just as Arian had suspected, Javis showed no sign of relief.
Nevertheless, he didn't dare to look up, still bowing, he mumbled. "Thank you for your kindness, my prince."
As soon as the two guards, who had watched over the youth retreated, the boy got up, went infront of Arian and kowtowed as well.
"Thank- thank you, m- my prince", he stumbled, while trying to sound composed at the same time. "Thank you for your generosity. Ahm... I'm Pigeon, by the way. If you ever need anything, you can ask me, if... if I can, I will help you."
Arian ignored his offer. Instead, he signaled his guards to go to one of the dining tables. He was hungry and could not bother with this stupid boy.
After all, what would he ever need his help for.