Chapter 343 80.1 - Polarization

Chapter 343 80.1 - Polarization

In the confines of the campus, as the four freshmen were released from Eleanor's grasp, Jane instantly bid them farewell.

Ethan wanted to chase after her, saying it was not her fault, but she was held back by Julia, saying it looked like she needed some alone time.

Then, Ethan, Julia, Irina, and Lilia walked away from the bustling crowd, finding a quieter spot where they could talk freely.

Ethan, still visibly shaken from the altercation, wiped the blood from his face with a handkerchief.Folloow current novÊls on nov/3lb((in).(co/m)

His injuries had already healed to a certain degree; therefore, the blood wasn't even much.

However, on his face, his usually cheerful demeanor was replaced with a somber expression as he processed the events that had just unfolded.

"That was... intense," he remarked, his voice slightly hoarse from the earlier confrontation. "I never expected things to escalate like that."

Julia, her adrenaline still coursing through her veins, couldn't help but feel a sense of exhilaration. "Yeah, no kidding," she replied, her voice tinged with a mix of excitement and disbelief. "I mean, who knew there were people like that?"

"Is this the first time you are encountering someone like this?" Lilia threw a quick gaze at Julia. "There are a lot of them in this place." Her gaze contained annoyance, and her tone was thorny.

"Ho? It seems you are experienced?" Julia raised an eyebrow with a slight mock. She wasn't in a good mood since she wasn't able to beat those seniors up, and now Lilia's attitude somehow irked her.

"Of course." Lilia scoffed. "Contrary to certain blockhead who only knows how to swing swords and play games, I am quite proficient in dealing with matters regarding such cases."

Lilia's words stung, hitting a nerve that Julia didn't even realize was sensitive. She bristled at the implication that she was somehow less capable or experienced than Lilia, her temper flaring at the insinuation.

"Oh, so now you're saying I don't know how to handle myself?" Julia retorted, her voice sharp with frustration. "Just because I don't spend all my time buried in books and studying tactics doesn't mean I'm incompetent."

Lilia's expression hardened, her eyes narrowing as she met Julia's gaze head-on. "I never said you were incompetent," she replied coolly, her tone measured. "But there's a difference between acting recklessly and acting strategically. And in situations like these, strategy can mean the difference between life and death."

Julia scoffed, crossing her arms over her chest defiantly. "Oh, please," she shot back, her voice dripping with sarcasm. "I don't need a lecture from Miss Perfect Thorn about how to handle myself. When my friends are in danger, I'll do whatever it takes to protect them, even if it means getting my hands dirty."

Lilia's eyes flashed with irritation at Julia's dismissive tone. "And what if your reckless actions end up putting your friends in even more danger?" she countered, her voice tinged with frustration. "What then? Will you still be so quick to act without thinking?"

The tension between them crackled in the air, both girls refusing to back down from their positions.

Irina, sensing the escalating argument, raised her head. Her thoughts had been wandering around a certain someone, and she dozed off. But now her attention was grasped; she exchanged glances with Ethan.

After seeing him shake his head, she stepped in, her voice calm and diplomatic.

"Guys, let's not fight," she interjected, her tone soothing. "We're all on the same side here, remember? We should focus on what happened there."

"...."

"...."

Her words seemed to momentarily diffuse the tension between Julia and Lilia, their expressions softening as they exchanged hesitant glances. After a moment of silence, Julia let out a frustrated sigh.

"You're right," she conceded.

"My bad." Lilia also took a step back. Though she was angry at Irina, she knew better than anyone else that she should never let her emotions cloud her judgment.

At that moment, Ethan's mouth was agape. After all, the person in the video was him.

"You...." Lilia and Julia couldn't help but exclaim in surprise. "They really beat you up."

Each one of the groups knew that this matter would escalate from now on.

However, for some reason, Julia's gaze was narrowed.....

*******

"Wow, did you see the post?"

"Of course I did. Who didn't? The seniors? What the hell are they doing?"

"Right? Right? Is this how this academy works? I thought resorting to violence in the academy was against the rules, and everyone was equal here?"

"Are you dumb? Where did you hear such a thing?"

The students in the classroom continued their animated discussion, voices rising and falling as they exchanged opinions and shared their thoughts on the controversial post.

"I couldn't believe my eyes when I saw that video," one student remarked, shaking their head in disbelief. "I mean, I knew the seniors could be tough, but I never thought they'd go this far."

Another student nodded in agreement, adding, "Yeah, I've heard stories about them being strict, but I didn't think they'd resort to violence. It's like they think they can do whatever they want just because they're seniors."

A third student chimed in, sharing their own experience, "I once saw them cornering a freshman in the hallway. It was like they were trying to intimidate them or something. I didn't think much of it at the time, but now, seeing this post, it makes me wonder..."

The murmurs of agreement grew louder as more students joined in, sharing similar anecdotes and expressing their surprise at the seniors' behavior.

"But what can we do about it?" one student asked, their tone filled with frustration. "It's not like we can confront them directly. They have the power here."

CREAK! As the discussion among the students in the classroom grew heated, voices overlapping with fervor, suddenly, the door opened.

–SILENCE

Eleanor's entrance brought an abrupt halt to the chatter. The room fell into a hushed silence as all eyes turned towards the instructor, anticipation and apprehension mingling in the air.

Eleanor's gaze swept across the room, her expression unreadable but commanding respect.

The tension in the room seemed to intensify as she fixed her eyes on each student in turn, as if silently assessing their reactions to the recent events.

Finally, she spoke, her voice calm yet firm, cutting through the quiet tension like a blade. "I trust you're all aware of the recent developments circulating within the academy."

Murmurs of agreement rippled through the room, confirming that, indeed, everyone was well aware of the controversy unfolding. But her eyes were locked on Ethan, who somehow once again became the main character along with some other seniors.

"It's crucial," Eleanor continued, her tone unwavering, "that we maintain composure and focus on our studies despite external distractions."

A few students shifted uncomfortably in their seats, as some of them blatantly hated on seniors on the internet, thanks to their 'experiences'.

"In any case, let's start our lesson. Today, we will talk about [Swords]."