A deathly silence gripped the hall. The only sound was the strained breathing of the Elders as they struggled to withstand the oppressive weight of Aziz's aura. The atmosphere was dense, stifling even.
Though not as visibly shaken as the rest, even Supreme Elder Diallo felt the pressure gnawing at the edges of his composure. A flicker of hesitation, so brief it might have gone unnoticed by anyone else, passed through him.
But he noticed it. Aziz noticed it. And worst of all, so did the Elders, the Seeded Students…
Even his own apprentice…
"INSOLENCE!" Diallo's roar cracked through the silence like lightning. The desk before him shattered into splinters as his palm slammed down with titanic force.
"To attack one of the Elders of my Western Branch in my presence!" he thundered, rage radiating from him like a furnace.
As he spoke, he summoned his weapon – a sleek white spear shimmering like frost in the sun, its long shaft adorned with a red tassel at the base and crowned with a razor-sharp, black diamond-shaped blade. It gleamed with a quiet threat, humming faintly as if anticipating blood.
The other Seeded Students, though unburdened by the pressure crushing the Elders, were nonetheless stunned by what they'd just witnessed.
Even Danso and Azurian, who had seen Aziz's strength firsthand, exchanged uneasy glances. They had known he was powerful – his clash with the wind mage during the beast tide had already proven that – but this…
This was different.
Aziz hadn't just defeated an Elder.
He had dismantled him.
With a single move.
And even now, he stood unbothered, one hand in his pocket, as though daring the entire Institute to try their luck next.
For Chantelle, Chidi, Malia, and even the ever-composed Jamal, reality was shifting. What they had believed to be the natural order – that the Elders stood at the summit of strength – was now in question. The idea that a foreigner could surpass even Diallo…
It was an uncomfortable truth, one they instinctively resisted.
But their disbelief did nothing to quiet the rising tension as Diallo stepped forward, each movement radiating fury.
Only one among them remained entirely unsurprised – August.
A soft, exasperated sigh slipped from his lips as he rose to his feet. He had foreseen this outcome the moment Jabari said "no." And now, the inevitable clash loomed.
"Supreme Elder, wait!" August's voice cut through the mounting storm. "Jabari and Aziz deserve a fair trial where they can explain themselves. You can't just sentence them without hearing their side!"
Diallo halted mid-step.
Slowly, deliberately, he turned to face August.
"Are you calling me unjust?" he asked.
His words were measured, but the pressure that followed was anything but.
That same crushing presence Jabari had endured now fell upon August like a mountain of iron. His breath caught in his chest, his heart pounded like a war drum, and his broad back was instantly drenched in sweat.
It felt like locking eyes with a starving lion.
Every primal instinct screamed at him to run. To flee. To live. But he didn't. He refused.
In that moment, August understood something vital – something few truly grasped. If he gave in now – if he stepped back, even once – he would lose something more important than his face.
He would lose himself.
So he stood firm. He didn't speak. He didn't flinch. His lungs strained, and his legs trembled, but his gaze never left Diallo's.
In that moment, the rest of the hall faded into nothingness – it was just him and Diallo.
With each second, the air grew thinner, gravity heavier.
Yet still, August stood.
Diallo's hands trembled. Not from fear – but from fury barely contained.
He had risen to the seat of Supreme Elder through power, wisdom, and dominance. His name commanded respect. His presence silenced rooms.
Yet now he stood in a room where not one, but two young men dared to brazenly challenge him without fear.
He had not felt this disrespected since long before the day he claimed his current position.
And with every breath August took, with every second he refused to kneel, Diallo's rage simmered closer and closer to eruption.
"Supreme Elder Diallo, calm down first," Elder Zaire said firmly, his voice steady as he stepped forward. "Aziz was protecting the safety of his disciple – something any one of us would've done in his position."
Diallo's glare narrowed, his knuckles tightening around the shaft of his spear, but Zaire continued without hesitation.
"And August isn't wrong. Jabari and Aziz deserve the chance to explain themselves before any final judgment is made. If word gets out that you punished them without giving them the opportunity to defend themselves, it wouldn't just damage your own reputation – it would call into question the very integrity of the Institute."
He came to a halt between Diallo and August, his robes lightly swaying with his movement, his frame relaxed yet ready.
But inside, Zaire sighed.
'Thank the heavens Nala isn't here,' he thought grimly. 'Or this would've turned into an all-out war.'
Great Elder Nala, the only one in the branch whose strength could match Diallo's, was infamous for her temper – and her love for her apprentices. Especially August, her own nephew. If she'd been present, Zaire had no doubt Diallo would've been forced to reconsider far more quickly.
Diallo's lip curled in disgust. "Zaire... are you also intent on standing in my way?"
Though Diallo's wrath now bore down on him fully, Zaire's expression didn't falter. His eyes remained calm, like the surface of still water masking deep currents beneath.
"It has nothing to do with standing against you," he replied, "and everything to do with standing for what's right."
Diallo's eyes gleamed with barely contained fury, his aura rising like a tide about to crash. His hand shifted on his spear – whether for battle or restraint, it was hard to tell.
But before he could speak, another voice rang out – deep, commanding, and unwavering.
"Supreme Elder, Elder Zaire is right."
All heads turned as Elder Amari stood, his voice resonating across the room. "We must act justly. Jabari and Mr Aziz deserve the right to speak in their own defence. That is the foundation of this Institute, is it not?"
"Master…" Malia whispered, concern evident in her voice. She knew just how dangerous defying Diallo could be, especially in a moment like this.
Diallo's eyes shifted toward Amari. "You as well, Amari?!"
Amari didn't respond with words – but the unwavering look in his eyes spoke volumes.
He would not yield.
Diallo's face darkened, his voice a hiss of cold fury. "Good. Good. Good." Each repetition was like a dagger of ice, and with each word, the temperature in the hall seemed to drop.
Even Jamal shivered, though he tried to hide it. The weight of his mentor's rage was suffocating, and the room teetered on the edge of combustion.
Diallo raised his foot, preparing to step forward once again – ready, perhaps, to end this debate through force.
But then-
"I'm interested in hearing what Jabari and Mr Aziz have to say, too," came the soft, almost casual voice of Elder Idir. "Can't we at least let them explain before drawing swords and throwing out judgments?"
The tension in the room stilled.
Everyone turned toward the ever-playful Elder.
Diallo's foot froze mid-step.
Unlike the others, Idir's words were not filled with fire or defiance. But Aziz saw it. That subtle flicker of caution – so quick, so expertly hidden, it would've gone unnoticed by all. But not by him.
Aziz's gaze met Idir's. The Elder smiled faintly and gave a small nod, as though to say: Let's not take this further.
Aziz, whose power had brought the entire room to its knees only minutes ago, gave the smallest nod in return.
He didn't want to escalate this unless he had to. He wouldn't be in Ulo forever, and any unnecessary destruction now would only complicate Jabari's future. If there was a way to de-escalate, then so be it.
Idir's grin widened slightly.
Diallo, still furious, noticed the silent exchange. His gaze turned to Idir, who raised his hands in innocence before slinking back into his chair.
Finally, after one last scathing glance at every Elder who had dared oppose him, Diallo exhaled sharply and turned, walking back to his shattered desk. His composure returned, layer by layer, until the icy mask of the Supreme Elder settled back over his face.
"You all wish to hear the excuses of a traitor and a spy?" he asked coldly. "Fine." His gaze swung back to Jabari. "Speak. Tell us your side of the story."
But Jabari didn't move. Didn't blink. Didn't speak.
He simply stood there in complete and utter silence.
He had no interest in justifying himself to the people who had already decided his worth.
Then came Aziz's voice, gentle, but firm.
"Go on, brat. Tell them the truth."
Jabari blinked, then slowly turned to face his Master, brows lightly furrowed. If it had been anyone else, he wouldn't have budged. But this was Aziz.
Turning his gaze from Diallo entirely, Jabari faced Elder Idir instead.
His tone was composed, almost casual. "What do you want to know?"
He would speak, but not on Diallo's terms. Not anymore.
A faint smile tugged at the corners of Idir's mouth as he caught on to what Jabari was doing. It wasn't exactly subtle, but it spoke volumes. Still, he was wise enough not to voice his amusement. The room was already on the verge of eruption; poking the fire was not in anyone's best interest.
"Let's start with your account of the night of the beast tide," Idir said, tone neutral but probing.
"I was with August," Jabari began, "when we first heard the sirens and one of the Deacons shouting for everyone to gather at the training centre."
"But you didn't go," Idir noted, folding his arms. "Instead, you headed in the opposite direction. Why?"
"I was concerned for the safety of the old man," Jabari replied, drawing an exaggerated eye roll from Aziz, clearly unimpressed with being referred to as 'old' yet again.
"You were concerned for someone you knew was far stronger than you?" Idir asked, his brow raised. "What exactly were you afraid of?"
"Almost a week before the attack, my Master injured himself saving me during my failed Beast-Warrior awakening. I wasn't sure if he'd recovered enough to defend himself properly," Jabari answered, voice steady, every word aligned with Aziz's earlier advice: tell the truth.
"I see…" Idir said thoughtfully. "We'll come back to your failed awakening in a moment.
For now, though, please, continue. What happened next?"
Though the line of questioning felt mildly accusatory, Jabari could tell Idir's aim wasn't to corner him – it was to gather as many details as possible. So he explained everything with clarity and precision.
He recounted how he had stumbled upon Malia, Joseph, and Keaun, and saved them from the bear. How they had then been cornered by a pack of wolves led by a Magical Beast. How they had devised a plan for August to break the encirclement and escort the others to the rally point while Jabari headed to Aziz's residence alone.
But when he mentioned August saving his life after he was injured, something changed.
Jabari noticed it immediately – tiny, flickering reactions among the Elders and students alike. Subtle, but unmistakable. A shift in posture. A tightening of jaws. A sideways glance here, a furrowed brow there.
Even Idir hesitated slightly before asking, "Did you see how August saved you?"
Jabari blinked, frowning faintly. "No, I was starting to lose consciousness by then. I didn't see anything."
He glanced back at August, whose expression remained unreadable – eyes closed, posture relaxed, as though he hadn't noticed the tension radiating through the room.
But Jabari had. And though he didn't understand what he had missed, he knew there was something more – something everyone but him seemed to know. Still, now wasn't the time to pry. That mystery would have to wait.
Idir cleared his throat, steering them back on track. "What happened next?"
"August gave me some sort of magical medicine," Jabari replied. "It healed my injuries and fatigue so quickly, I could actually see it happening."
"Magical medicine?" Idir chuckled lightly. "That would be an Ijuanya Bean. Rare, powerful little things – I guess it could be considered magical. They allow the body to recover from most injuries at astonishing speeds."
"I truly envy you," he sighed, his tone suddenly wistful. "Finding a friend who would share something so valuable with you, and ask for nothing in return…"
He shook his head and smiled with gentle admiration. "Those beans are priceless. One could easily feed a family for over a decade if sold."
Jabari's eyes widened as he turned toward August, now viewing his friend's action with new weight. He had known the medicine was valuable, but that valuable?
And then it struck him – it had probably been August's last one. Otherwise, he would have used another when he was injured himself.
Still sitting cross-legged, August looked utterly indifferent to the proceedings, unmoved by praise or surprise.
But Jabari silently vowed, 'I'll pay you back. Somehow. No matter what.'
Idir nodded, folding his hands behind his back. "But we digress," he said, gently bringing the focus back. "What happened next?"
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