CHAPTER 24: ONE’S TRUTH

Chapter 24: One’s Truth

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After regular academic classes, students would head to the training hall for another period of cultivation. They would quickly assume their meditation posture, sitting with their legs crossed and hands resting on their knees, palms facing up. Arios was no different; he would cultivate, refining his newly found stage.

[Realm: Mana Refinement - First Stage ( 190/1000 XP)]

[Mana: 780/10,000]

Arios stared at the massive amount of mana he needed to absorb to reach the peak of his current stage, thinking, The amount of mana needed to perfectly refine mana to trace the spirit veins is massive.

In the anime, it was shown that it took an average student a minimum of three months to properly refine mana to establish their spirit veins, which would allow for the circulation of mana throughout their body to wield spells and arts. And in all essence, Arios Pureheart was currently an average student.

Arios knew that the quickest way out was to use his system to dual cultivate with his bonds, which allowed him to absorb mana more efficiently than traditional cultivation. He also knew that by dual cultivating with someone at least two stages above him, he could quickly ascend to that person’s stage.

Greg was certainly not forgotten, during his free time, he would meet up with Arios in his dorm room to practice his swordsmanship. With his newly tempered body from cultivation, Greg’s skills had noticeably improved.

He’s certainly improving

, Arios thought as he parried one of Greg’s overhead swings.

"Your footwork is still a little sloppy," Arios said, using his wooden sword to quickly straighten Greg’s poorly postured legs.

Arios’s swordsmanship skill was now at level 7, a clear sign that he was far more advanced with a blade than the average first-year student.

"That reminds me," Arios said. "I haven’t had the time to ask you about your affinity pair."

"Oh, that," Greg replied. "I just got Fire and Wind."

"What?" Arios reacted quickly.

"Is it really that bad?" Greg asked. "I thought the lightning combo was the most desired."

It clearly is, Arios thought. This has to be a crude joke.

"Hey," Greg said. "Are you thinking about it?"

"About what?" Arios asked.

"The test, of course," Greg replied. "There are only six days left."

"You know, it would be nice if I got expelled," Greg mused. "Then I wouldn’t have to deal with this pressure anymore. Remember what I told you about my dream of being a Mage Knight?"

"Yeah, I remember," Arios replied.

"Yeah, that was a lie," Greg replied, his voice heavy with bitterness. "Who in their right mind would want to risk their life for everyone? I’m no noble of heart. The same people who spit on you and call you worthless... you’d be putting your life on the line for them, too. The fucking people who would happily do something just to spite you and get at you... you’d be fucking putting your life on the line for them also."

Wow, Arios thought, taken aback. This was the first time he had heard Greg curse and truly speak from the heart. Greg had always hidden behind an upright facade, but in this moment, he seemed genuine—like a person who actually experiences pain and hardship.

"Arios Pureheart," Greg called out, "you know a little truth?"

"I think I know enough truth," Arios replied.

"Let me tell you the most common truth," Greg said. "Men aren’t born equal. Never was a moment when one man and another were born on the same playing field."

"I myself am a noble, and not just any noble. The House of Tunley is expected to be next in line for the governorship of the province of Watergate, making me basically top-notch. I barely have any equal in all of Class D."

"And then there’s Ravencroft," Greg continued. "She’s not just any Ravencroft, but the Ravencroft—from the kingdom’s most prized noble house. Her distinct silver hair, perfect body, godsend face, and undeniably favored bloodline... their ability to manipulate all states of water is something for us to truly envy. Now, tell me if someone like that has an equal in Class D."

That’s an anime heroine for you, was Arios’s first thought to Greg’s words about Elisa Ravencroft. She was the heroine of the anime series and, for many, undeniably the best girl of the show.

"I know you’re asking where I’m going with all this," Greg continued. "The thing is, I’m not equal to my siblings, to my father, to my uncle, or even to my mother. So tell me, why do they expect the same path for me? Why do they pressure me to my limits to become a Mage Knight? If I fail now, I’ll not only free myself but also cage myself. But if I don’t fail, I’ll also not only cage myself within the confines of this academy, but also free myself."

"It’s just a limbo."

"One I must solve alone."

"You don’t have to do it alone," Arios said.

"You asked me to train you, and I did just that," Arios continued. "I hope you’ll pass the test, but in the end, everything boils down to whether you wish to continue."

For a silent second, Arios and Greg’s eyes locked on each other, each trying to dissect the other and seek the other’s truth.

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The academy continued as usual and Arios had to play along. He went through his morning routine: a quick shower, dressing in the crisp uniform, and checking his tablet. His point balance was currently at 827.

He wasn’t spending unnecessarily. He knew the gag from the anime: everyone gets excited at the sight of free money and goes overboard, leading to a class-wide point deduction for bad behavior and zero points the next month. He had seen that script play out over and over again from his hospital bed.

Every meal was the basic fare from the Class D section of the dining hall, every supply was the same standard issue.

After the meal, Arios headed to class and sat in his usual spot behind Greg. He turned and his gaze met Elisa Ravencroft and Kyousuke, who were talking in their usual seats at the back. He watched as Kyousuke pinched Elisa, forcing her to get up and move toward the front of the class.

"Alright, listen up," Elisa began, her voice cutting through the classroom’s chatter. "I am nominating myself for the role of class representative."

She let that sink in first before continuing with the main reason she had come forward.

"I have also spoken with Mr. Calbourne and have requested that he release our placement test scores. Once we have the results, I will be forming study groups tailored to each person’s needs, with a primary focus on raising the lowest scores in the class." She paused, her gaze sweeping over the students, daring anyone to challenge her.

"I am aware that many of you believe this academy is a free ride. That is a dangerous assumption. According to my research into the academy’s rules, a low average score for a class may negatively affect our chances of advancing to Class A. Our collective performance is linked, so if you continue to act as individuals, we will fail as a class."

A nervous murmur stirred through the room. A hand rose up from the back. "What’s the point of helping others?" a student blurted out. "Shouldn’t we just focus on ourselves?"

Elisa’s eyes narrowed at the person. "That’s an incredibly naive question. Your success is only guaranteed as long as we all succeed. If our class average drops too low, it will become a collective burden. The point is not about charity; it’s about self-preservation. This is a game of strategy, and if we don’t work together, we will lose. The strong will pull the weak up, and in turn, our entire class will benefit. If you have any further questions, they should be well-thought-out, not based on childish ignorance."

CREAK

After what she said, the class door opened. Unexpectedly, a busty teacher with breasts cleavage clearly tailored to create expulsions and eye dripping curves at the ass region marched to the front of the room and placed her hands on the desk.

"I will be your new homeroom teacher going forward."