"What about you? What's your plan?" Vyriss continued rushing the rice.
"I plan to build a faction." On hearing this, Vyriss paused and looked at Zhong. He wanted to be sure if Zhong was serious or not.
After holding serious eye contact for 5 seconds, Vyriss continued rushing his rice.
"And how do you plan on doing that?" He asked with a full mouth.
"This hall. There are still students who remained in this hall after Sleavetry's raid. They're probably broken and have lost all hope...
"But if I can reassure them and ignite their hearts, we should be able to form a faction with their numbers." Zhong looked down while saying this. He knew there was darkness behind his plan.
"Your countenance while saying that means your conscience is speaking to you, no?"
As Vyriss said this, he looked at Zhong, reducing his eating speed.
"Tch! No." Zhong proclaimed.
"It matters not which faction wins in a clash, both sides lose their members almost equally. Especially the weak ones. There are only very few strong ones in a cluster. The majority go down first and fast, their chivalrous spirit and drive would be utterly useless in the moment of defeat.
"You'd simply be herding them to their second downfall."
Immediately after Vyriss said all these, Zhong replied quickly, "Stop already... I'm aware of this but we can't just sit and wait for our next fall, someone needs to make everyone understand that we are not enemies but victims to someones schemes.
"This is a 'Once in a blue moon' opportunity, I can't afford to let it slip through my palms." He added.
"So how do you plan on doing that?" Vyriss, having finished the rice in his bowl, dropped the bowl and drank water in the bottle to his right side.
The sun began to set in the sky with no clouds. The evening air had arrived with it's heavy and chilly atmosphere. It was the time when Solone and co were loading their belongings to exit Gaia's Hall.
Zhong and Vyriss, having finished their dinner, left the semi destroyed dorm they were in and made their way to the center of Poseidon's hall for Zhong to carry out his plan.
But something was wrong...
There was a magnitude of residents gathered together around the Giant serpent fountain in the center of the entire hostel.There were over 200 of them and they were letting out chivalrous cries within 10 seconds intervals.
Poseidon's Hall consisted of four equally sized large dorms located at each angle of the Hall's perimeter. Close to the center was a Cafeteria and Swimming pool while in the exact center of the Hall was a Giant Titanoboa fountain with ambience light surrounding it which elevated it's beauty in the darkness of the night.
On seeing the students, a logical thought struck Zhong's mind, making him cover his face with one arm. "Damn it! I didn't see this coming!" He yelled.
"Sheesh, Someone already beat you to it." After Vyriss said this, a voice from the middle of the gathered students echoed vividly across the crowd.
"Now I don't know about you all but I'm fed up! Ever since we came to this boarding school, we've been experiencing nothing but unfairness. Our supplements of food and resources were cut off, only few have the privilege of getting food from their sponsors. Though gradual, the effect spread like poison to every corner of this enclosure.
"As if that wasn't enough, a selfish damn prick from Hestia's started a whole new shite and now here we are. Victims of his plot...
"But I... refuse to remain a victim, and I know you all feel the same. So I strongly suggest we join forces as one, we create our faction and strike back a hundred times more than they did us and then propel ourselves out of this mad world.
"What will it be eh? As for the name, Echowood Retreat came to mind…" The one who was speaking had dark brown hair and dark green eyes with slightly bushy brows. He also had a defined masculine chin. Immediately after he gave his supposed faction a name, he would be interrupted.
"How can you show us that you're capable of leading us on this path?" Someone in the crowd asked.
Who asked that? He turned his head in the direction the unknown person's voice came from.
The crowd to his right started to separate, giving way for the person that spoke.
The one who asked the question was none other than... Zhong Biản.
He walked through the crowd with his hands behind his back, swaying his shoulders slightly while walking at a slow pace.
As he was walking through the open path, the students began to murmur as they peeped to see who it was that had asked the question.
Vyriss laughed menacingly, "This would be interesting". He said.
When Zhong got to the front of the Great Boa fountain statue, he sized up the one who was giving the speech from his legs to his hair as his ocean green eyes scanned upward slowly.
Since the student was standing on the fountain pavement, he was able to look
down on Zhong in return with his dark green eyes.
After 5 seconds of the both sides sizing up each other, with a frost breath through the mouth, Zhong continued.
"It was a fine speech but we need something more than a motivational talk. You didn't even give us your name."
On saying this, the crowd began to murmur, saying: "That's true, he's right…"
Seeing that the crowd agreed to this, the brown haired student closed his eyes and squeezed his face, "Tch, Alright, Alright, I'm Berner, satisfied?"
The murmuring continued until he opened his eyes, looking down at Zhong, "And what do you mean we need something more than a motivational talk." He asked.
Zhong turned to his right and started walking slowly round the fountain.
"Its just like I asked earlier, how do you show us that you'd lead us to victory? What's your plan? As the popular saying goes, 'Action speaks louder than words.'" He stopped directly in front of Berner with his hands still behind his back.
"This bastard, what's his motive?" Berner soliloquized.
"I do not have a plan as of now. Uniting us is merely the first step." He looked at the crowd subconsciously while answering as he wanted to gain their favor.
"Which is better to you all?! Someone with a concrete plan now or someone who'd think of one later?" Zhong raised his voice slightly, facing the crowd.
Again, the crowd began to murmur in agreement.
I see! He's contending with me. Berner realised.
"Why don't you tell us your plan then? Or have you forgotten your words?" Without thinking twice, he responded.
Zhong giggled inwardly and soliloquized, "I see he's not so dumb. Now, what do I say?" After about three seconds, Zhong answered "Logically, I won't divulge my plan now as I assume you'd steal my idea and make it your own while you may tag me as your... War Strategist.
"And you see, I'm not so confident in others carrying out my ideas and so it's very normal for me to want to make my own proposal." Zhong gestured as he spoke.
This, Berner's dominant smile slowly turned into a revered frown as the shadow of his hair covered his eyes.
Like me, he wishes to lead, but I'm far from trusting his judgement as well, that's why he's obstinate. He'd do anything to ensure he's the one in charge, as far as even lying about having a plan....
How did I forget? This is a lawless world now. Everyone and anyone can do as they like, whether good or bad without being penalised. The only thing holding most people back is their sanity. Throw that away and one becomes a feared monster, just like the Glutton from Dionysus'
It may be in a subtle form but he's trying to steal from me even though I got it first. He crossed the damn line! And I won't be punished for I'm about to do.
Throughout his thought process, Berner didn't breath throughly due to his
furious state of mind, hence, adrenaline rushed through his blood like water flowing through a pipe.
He drooped from the fountain's pavement, landing right in front of Zhong. Zhong knew this could happen, hence, he left some space between he and Berner when he stopped walking.
Landing with a slightly hunched back and pocketed hands, he slowly made eye contact with Zhong with furrowed eye brows, his dark green eyes slightly lit. The humans in Etern had eyes that glowed when their body was in an uneasy state. The glow was more prominent in the dark.
"Why don't we prove ourselves the warriors way? Whoever is standing in the end wins!". Berner yelled as he brought his hands from his pocket having already worn metallic knuckles.
Hearing this, Zhong shone his eyes. He was stunned by the sudden escalation and didn't know Berner would resort to violence so quickly.
"Woosh"
Zhong dodged Berners strong right hook as the crowd gave way so as not to get caught up in the twos sudden battle.
"Dodge"
"Dodge"
"Dodge"
Zhong dodged and deflected all of Berner's onslaught punches while moving backward. With loud roars, Berner was relentless with his fists. His sheer speed and power kept pushing Zhong back even though they were yet to connect.
Damn it, he was ready to escalate! Zhong soliloquized.
As Zhong was being pushed back, he'd reach the limit—a tall cubic pillar made of asphalt. It had a glass front filled with sensitive oil, and a long, slender candle sat in it, always lit by the sensitive oil.
Hitting his back on one of the four oil candle pillars in the fountain's vicinity, Zhong tried to move away, but...
"GBISHH!"
Berner threw a strong punch that connected with Zhong's face. The impact destroyed the glass and broke the candle in the sensitive oil in two places.
Zhong was now bathed in oil, and the head of the candle was about to touch the ground where the oil also was.
"WHOOSH"
As the candle head touched the ground, Zhong was set ablaze. He immediately ran to the fountain while screaming. He had subconsciously taken the broken, long, slender candle with him.
Upon reaching the fountain, he tripped over the pavement and fell into the water. This caused steam to rise from the fountain.
Berner watched all the drama unfold before Zhong fell into the water. The crowd fell silent, stunned at how quickly things had escalated.
Someone who doesn't pity himself is not deserving of being pitied by others. He should have been prepared for the consequences of provoking someone who's already provoked by this damn boarding world," Berner thought as he walked toward the fountain but stopped at the center where the crowd could see him.
While the students looked at Berner with a mixture of shock and fear, Vyriss focused on the fountain where Zhong had fallen. His amber irises, half-covered by heavy lids, held an unreadable expression.
"Is this really all you had to offer, Zhong Bian?" he soliloquized.
"Listen, everyone! Now th-"
As Berner was about to continue his speech...
"SPLASH!"
He was interrupted.
Vyriss's eyes shone with surprise as he watched an arm emerge from the fountain, gripping the pavement firmly.
The crowd gasped.
Wet and fairly burnt, Zhong crawled out of the fountain and slumped onto the ground.
His clothes were partially burned as well. His long hair was wet, rough, and loose, covering his face as he looked down.
He's still holding on to that broken candle? After noticing this, Vyriss closed his amber eyes and smiled. "This guy..."
The candle had broken in two places from the impact of his body, forming three sections held together by the strong wool inside.
Slowly, while still crouching and facing downward, Zhong touched his broken nose, setting it back into place.
He groaned quietly in pain as blood dripped onto the ground.
After standing upright, he began laughing softly—his laughter growing into a loud, eerie cackle.
"Thank you for reminding me how desperate the human mind can be. But as you can see, I'm still standing."
Veins bulged on Berner's forehead. He dashed toward Zhong. "You talk big for someone barely able to stand!"
The onlookers quickly scrambled away, even though there was plenty of space.
As Berner closed in, he drew back his fist for a powerful punch. But like flowing water, Zhong spun and struck Berner's jaw with the tip of the three-section candle—shattering it and Berner's jaw completely.
Berner's body collapsed, his face buried in the found.
Zhong pulled him out of the fountain and dropped him on the ground. Berner was unconscious—his eyes rolled back and his mouth slack.
"Desperation made you throw your sanity out the window, forgetting that it could backfire. You caused your own downfall. But I should thank you for eliminating the hassle of choosing a faction name. I'll use the one you came up with, even though it sounds ridiculous. Goodnight."
With that, Zhong tied his long hair and turned to the crowd.
"I'm Zhong Bian, and with your help, I promise to bring down Klause."
The crowd erupted in unison, chanting his name.
As their voices echoed, Zhong suddenly swayed, his balance faltering.
Vyriss noticed immediately and rushed to his side, throwing Zhong's arm over his shoulder.
"Thanks," Zhong murmured weakly.
"So much for plans, eh?" Vyriss looked at Berner on the ground.
Zhong laughed. "I happened to have the right weapon at the right time. Perhaps fate chose me."
"Fate, my ass. By the way, are you okay with leaving him like that? What if he does same thing again when he wakes up." Vyriss replied.
"I choose to pardon him. When he wakes up, he'll have no choice but to accept defeat and either join us or walk away. Despite his rash judgment, he's seems like a honest guy," Zhong said.
"We three are the strongest in this hostel. Losing him to another faction would put us at a loss," Vyriss added.
"Then so be it. We've pulled through even without him," Zhong said.
"Well, if he wakes up and tries to take revenge, I'd be the one to knock him out this time," Vyriss said angrily.
"Aye aye, captain." Zhong closed his eyes and fell asleep.
"Hey, are you... hey! Wake up, you... Damn it."
...
This is how the faction known as the Echowood Retreat came to be.