Episode 24: Shadows of Perception
As Tanji and Zhai quietly moved through the academy grounds under the cover of night, Zhai suddenly stopped in his tracks. He placed a hand on his head, a flicker of confusion and frustration crossing his face.
"Master," Zhai began, his voice unusually soft. "Do you ever think about it? Why do these academy people call us devils?"
Tanji glanced at him, raising an eyebrow. "What do you mean?"
Zhai looked down, his small frame trembling slightly. "I mean... they're the ones who do so many bad things. I saw a girl earlier today, bullying someone smaller than her. She laughed at their pain, Master. And yet, they call us devils? How is that fair?"
Tanji's expression shifted, his usual calm demeanor replaced by a faint glimmer of sadness. "The term 'devil' is just a label, Zhai. A word they use to paint what they don't understand. People fear what's different, what's stronger than them. It's easier for them to blame us than to confront their own darkness."
Zhai's fiery eyes grew stormy, his emotions swirling within him. "But it's not fair! Their hearts are so black, and yet they call us evil? Master, aren't we supposed to be better than them? Why don't we prove it?"
Tanji chuckled lightly, a rare sound that held both warmth and sorrow. "Better? Perhaps. But proving anything to them isn't our purpose, Zhai. Their opinions don't define who we are."
"But... but what if we can change things?" Zhai persisted, his voice filled with a mix of anger and hope. "What if we show them that we're not what they think we are?"
Tanji paused, his gaze fixed on the distant horizon. The glow of the red crystal chamber lingered faintly in the night. "Change doesn't come from proving yourself to others, Zhai. It comes from understanding yourself. Let them think what they want. Our path is ours to walk, not theirs to dictate."
Zhai nodded slowly, though the fire of injustice still burned within him. "You're right, Master. But one day... one day, I want to show them that we're not the monsters they think we are."
Tanji placed a hand on Zhai's shoulder, a rare gesture of reassurance. "And maybe, one day, you will. But for now, focus on what truly matters. We're here for the crystal, not for their judgment."
As the two continued their journey, Zhai's thoughts lingered on the people of the academy and the hypocrisy he saw in their actions. The idea of proving them wrong stayed with him, a seed of determination planted deep within his heart.
Tanji, on the other hand, remained silent, his mind drifting to memories long buried. Perhaps Zhai was right in some ways, but for now, his focus was on the greater game—a game in which the red crystal was the ultimate prize.
The night deepened, and with it, the complexities of their mission and their place in a world that fear
ed and misunderstood them.