In Eternal Ascendancy, at the Central Academy.
Silas was still thinking about the group chatting beside him when a sudden commotion stirred ahead.
People stopped walking and stared at a little girl with shocked eyes. They spoke among themselves in low voices—careful not to reach her ears, but loud enough for Silas and others nearby to hear clearly.
"Hey, isn't that girl from the dark red abyss incident?"
"Yeah, she is!"
"Looks like she got an invitation too—or maybe she applied and got accepted."
"It could be."
"Well, I want to know what happened with her after that fatty boy got injured. There was no scene of her in the video later on."
"Yeah, I also want to know. But don't disturb her. She's still a child. She'll get overwhelmed remembering that incident—don't ask her."
"Yeah, don't worry. I'm not that desperate to know. But still… I wanna know. Did she get any news about Advait? And yeah, that fatty boy too. What happened to him afterward? That girl should at least know about the fatty boy, right?"
"Well, who knows… anyway, that incident is finished now. Those people already got vaporized in that fire. There was no innocent in that fire. The people there were equally guilty for not helping and standing quietly."
"Yeah, that incident is finished. No need to talk about it."
"Hey girl, calm down. Even you would be scared and shut your mouth when a gun is pointed at your head. You can't blame those teachers and staff."
"No, I will not. You're a scaredy cat. Not me."
"Humph. I don't wanna talk with you. Hey guys, let's go."
"Yeah, this girl is an idiot. Can't think rationally. Thinking with emotions will just get her dead."
"Boo. Boo. Don't pretend in front of me. You're no man. Just thinking about your own safety. Girls, just leave them. We should go."
"Yeah, let's go."
Silas heard the entire exchange. This group was different from the first one. The first group clearly knew each other before, they were from same sect.
But this group did not seem to know one another at all.
Silas had seen how they invited others on the platform—shouting that everyone should stick close, work together, walk together, thrive together on the path of cultivation. They had quickly formed a group of ten people. Yet now, just a few minutes later, the same group had already separated, scattering in different directions with no sign of staying united.
Silas did not care whether the group lasted or fell apart. His mind was fixed on something else: the words "Dark Red Abyss."
What was it about? He did not know.
But the way these people reacted—and the hushed reactions of others walking beside him—told him it was a very big matter. Something serious enough to shock strangers and make them whisper.
He decided to look into it later. For now, he had to focus on the academy.
Moving slowly with the crowd, Silas reached the door of the auditorium where the headmaster would give his speech. He passed the little girl, who had stopped just inside the entrance, staring wide-eyed at the grand structure around her.
He found an empty seat in a quiet corner and sat down, waiting with the other students.
His gaze drifted back to the girl still standing at the auditorium door, looking around in wonder.
Just then, a hand suddenly appeared on her head. It moved up and down in a gentle patting motion.
Silas felt confused.
Others in the auditorium looked confused.
People outside the auditorium who could still see the little girl looked confused.
For Silas, the confusion centered on why the person named Rudra had suddenly patted the little girl's head. He did not know her—none of Rudra's group did. They had spoken about her earlier like strangers, referencing the dark red abyss incident without any personal familiarity. So why would Rudra reach out and touch a random little girl like that?
Others who recognized the girl from the video felt the same bewilderment. Why comfort her now? Yes, she had been bullied, but not nearly as badly as others in that tragedy. The abusers were dead, burned away in the fire. She looked healthier now, standing there wide-eyed at the academy's beauty. She did not seem to need anyone's comfort. So why?
Amid their shared confusion, the little girl suddenly jerked her head back and stepped away. She moved like a startled rabbit sensing a large animal too close.
She shouted, voice sharp and high, "Who are you? Why are you touching me?"
But before Rudra could answer, a girl from his group stepped forward and slapped the back of his head with surprising force.
The impact shoved him forward toward the little girl. He stumbled, arms flailing, but caught himself just before colliding with her. He turned, eyes watering with exaggerated tears, and cried out, "Sis! Why are you beating me now! It's too much. Really too much! I will tell mother, just you wait!"
The girl who slapped him was not intimidated. She stepped closer first to the little girl and bowed slightly.
"Forgive my brother, please. He doesn't have any bad intention. He was just trying to comfort you."
Then she turned to Rudra, hands on her hips.
"How many times have I told you—don't touch any girl without their permission. And yes, you should really tell Mother. She will beat you properly this time."
Her brother immediately looked scared. "No! I'm not telling Mother. And I remember every lesson about not touching any girl. But…"
He trailed off, rubbing the back of his head, still pouting. The little girl watched the exchange warily, still a step back.
In her mind, she thought, "Why would this person suddenly want to pat me? Does he want to bully me? But… it's not like that. I know what being bullied feels like. And I can feel this person just wants to comfort me. But why?
I was hiding my emotions quite well. I even tried to look amazed by the beauty of the academy, so people would see me as a normal child and maybe want to become friends with me.
And now this person is comforting me? How does he know what I'm feeling?"
She decided she would ask him. Just why he was patting her. Just why he thought she needed comfort.