Chapter 344 - Back to Normal?

Eventually, the celebration wound down, though it did take the entire night and most of the early morning to do so. Many drunken and tired bodies littered the streets. The morning suns unveiled them from the cover of the night sky, along with many of the closed merchant stands. 

But some stall-owners decided to work despite their lack of rest, now prepping their general wares for the new day. 

For many, the celebration was well deserved but not enough reason to halt the next day's progress. This was evident by Iron Academy returning to its usual schedule, an example for much of the city to follow. 

Of course, not all students would comply and show up on time after enjoying the long night. Yet some were as punctual as ever. Netra was the first student to leave her residence and scurry through the streets with eagerness to learn and cultivate. However, she was surprised to see that someone had finally beaten her to the school's closed gate. 

Waiting patiently, with fixed attention on the towering library, a young beast sat up without blinking. 

"Karos?"

Finally blinking, the lynx shared a warm grin and bowed his head to Netra. "Morning."

"What's gotten into you?" asked Netra. "I've never seen you up this early. Or… have you still not slept?"

"Is it… that obvious?"

Shaking her head, Netra smiled back. "No. But you're unusually fixated on the library, and I've never had anyone beat me to the gate before. So something must be on your mind."

"It's… I'm not sure I want to talk about--"

"Is it your father?"

"..." Swallowing his discomfort, Karos chuckled awkwardly.

Shrugging, Netra caught herself. "Sorry. I didn't mean to pry. My mother says it's a bad habit of mine…"

"..."

"Whatever it is, you're welcome to talk about it whenever you want, if you ever want to," encouraged Netra. "But be careful around Yeter. If he realizes you're hiding something from him, he won't shut up until you've explained every uncomfortable detail."

"I'll… keep that in mind." Karos chuckled again, catching himself before making things awkward again. "... Thank you."

"There's no need to thank me. I'm just surprised to see another person this eager to cultivate."

Both friends waited in silence for another few minutes until Vloz suddenly appeared, something that would've startled anyone unaccustomed to the leopard's typical behavior. With the gate open, the young beasts went their separate ways. Netra left for her private chamber in the library and Karos walked to his classroom, as he hadn't yet earned his private chamber after joining the adept class.

Karos waited patiently as his fellow classmates trickled into the room. As expected, Yeter was nowhere to be found by the time the class had begun. But Yeter eventually arrived halfway through the class, failing to earn his daily cushion. 

It was a practical study day; a day filled with hands-on practice to better control and regulate the students' manipulation of essence. Karos was especially focused as he tried to feel the essence around his body in excruciating detail. His progress was minimal, albeit more than most of the students', but such was to be expected from cultivation. No expert had ever been known to have perfect control without first spending countless hours introspecting on their own cultivation.

The two friends quickly went their separate ways. Karos turned down Yeter's invitation to dinner, citing family matters as the reason. Thus, Karos soon entered his clan's property and made his way to the main house.

"Master Karos."

Stopping to bow his head at the prostrated attendant, Karos spoke, "Yes, Betair?"

Getting Karos's acknowledgment, the fully-grown lynx sat up and smiled lightly. Betair pointed to a small package bundled in cloth around his neck. "The gorilla clan has delivered something, and I'm to deliver it at once."

"Let's discuss this inside," stated Karos, motioning toward the entrance to the main house, only a few krin away.

"Karos, please--"

"Please." Karos's tone was kind but his uninterrupted footsteps showed his determination. The young lynx opened the front door and glanced back. "Are you coming?"

"Yes, Master Karos…" sighing the male lynx followed Karos into the main building, closing the door behind him. "Allow me to deliver this gift from the gorilla clan--"

"What gift?! From those scoundrels?!"

Ignoring the angry shouts, Karos nodded to Betair. "Go on. Don't mind him."

"Don't mind who? ME?!! You dare ignore your father--"

"Yes, you're my father. That's the only reason you're still alive." Looking away from Betair, Karos took in a deep breath. He watched as a hunched and crippled lynx hobbled into the entryway.

"I did what was necessary!!"

"You're a fool who's too arrogant to see the truth," Karos calmly stated, refusing to let his father rile him up.

"Such is life!" cackled Gar, forcing himself to not cough. "In cultivation, all that matters is power. Whether I have that power or ally with that power. That's why--"

"That's why you're nothing but a cripple forever unable to cultivate." Karos's gentle tone heavily contrasted Gar's boastful cries, striking Gar's pride all the harder.

"This--"

"This is your own fault. You're a greedy, good-for-nothing father who only knows jealousy for wealth and power."

"You ungrateful little--"

"Don't play coy with me!" Karos loudly stated, looking down on his father. "I was never anything more than a tool for you to exploit, a means for your rise in power."

"Karos…" A glint of sincerity flashed across Gar's eyes. "I--"

"Don't you dare apologize. You're too proud to change now, whether you admit it or not. And there's no way for you to ever reclaim the little influence you once held."

"Little? I was a perennial!! You have never--"

"I wouldn't understand? Maybe not before entering the academy." Chuckling abruptly, Karos wasn't entirely sure what he was feeling at the moment. "Every day, I'm taught by someone as strong as you were, if not stronger."