On top of the platform, an interesting scene unfolded before them. Students and adults clad in robes of blue, red, and black gathered around, their murmurs creating a background hum to the scene. Amidst the crowd, two figures were engaging in a fierce battle with swift and calculated movements.

As the spectators watched intently, the figure in the blue robe launched into action, darting in front of the cloaked man in black. With a sudden, swift motion, he thrust his right arm forward in a stabbing motion, intending to strike his opponent.

As he thrust forward the skin on his right hand completely disintegrated and you could see his finger bones. Then the ends of the finger bones turned extremely sharp and had thorns sticking out from its sides as it poised to strike the man in the black.

But before the blow could land, the man in black vanished into thin air, leaving the blue-robed person grasping at empty space. In a heartbeat, the black-clad figure reappeared directly above his adversary, suspended in mid-air.

In a chilling display of otherworldly agility, the figure in black extended his hand, fingers stretching unnaturally as if defying the laws of physics. With a vicious motion, he brought his hand down in a swift, vertical slap, targeting the jaw of the figure in blue.

BAM!

The impact was brutal and immediate. The force of the blow sent the figure in blue hurtling through the air, his body spinning uncontrollably before crashing onto the hard stone floor with a sickening thud.

A collective gasp swept through the crowd as they witnessed the aftermath of the brutal attack. The figure in blue lay motionless, half of his jaw torn away, his bloodied teeth mixed with the remnants of his tongue and torn flesh exposed in a disturbing display of violence. Shock and horror rippled through the spectators as they recoiled from the scene before them, unable to tear their eyes away from the gruesome spectacle.

Amidst the shocked silence that gripped the spectators, a figure clad in a flowing white cloak dashed onto the scene. With striking beauty that seemed almost ethereal, the girl in white bore emerald green hair tied into two ponytails that swayed with her movements, complementing her piercing brown eyes.

Kneeling beside the motionless body of the figure in the blue robe, she wasted no time in assessing the situation. Her hands moved with purpose as she examined the fallen student, her brow furrowing in concentration. Then, with a determined resolve, she placed her hand gently upon the chest of the student.

A surge of energy pulsed through her as it manifested in tendrils of vibrant green vines that extended from her body, enveloping the student in a protective cocoon. The vines seemed to pulse with life as they worked their healing magic, weaving around the injured form in a delicate dance of nature's power.

Meanwhile, the figure in black stood nearby and a sinister grin played across his blood-spattered face. His eyes gleamed with malevolence as he observed the scene before him with his right hand stained crimson with the blood of his opponent.

He then slowly started walking towards the body at a luxurious pace.

After reaching the body, he reached out and tore away the blue robe, the fabric ripping with a sound that echoed ominously in the silence.

Using the robe to wipe the blood from his hands and face, the student in black cast a disdainful glance at the motionless body in front of him. His lips curled into a cruel smirk as he revelled in the aftermath of his victory, savouring the taste of triumph tainted with malice.

“What are you trying to do!” The girl with the green hair said in an angry tone that was filled with bitterness.

Ignoring the protests of the girl, his expression remained indifferent as he replied in a voice devoid of remorse, "I will be taking this as my reward." With a chilling calmness, he then extended his hand and placed it over the face of his defeated opponent.

As the onlookers recoiled in horror, the student in black proceeded with his gruesome task. With a deliberate and methodical motion, he used his fingers to pry open one of the eyes of the motionless body, the sound of tearing flesh sending shivers down the spine of those who bore witness to the macabre scene.

With a sickening squelch, he began to gouge out the eye, the delicate tissue slowing being ripped apart as he continued. The eye came free with a wet pop, still attached to its socket by strands of veins that stretched and strained with each tug.

With a final, brutal yank, the student in black tore the eye free, the veins snapping like brittle threads under the force of his grip. Blood gushed forth from the empty socket, as the girl tried her best to keep the damage to a minimum with some disgust in her eyes for the student next to her.

As the gruesome spectacle unfolded before them, the crowd fell momentarily silent, the weight of what they had witnessed sinking in. The silence then shattered as the shouts of cheers for the student in the black rang out.

Some among the crowd hailed the figure in black, their voices ringing out in adulation for his display of power and dominance. Others murmured words of pity for the fallen figure, their sympathy mingled with shock at the brutality of the scene.

...

On the sidelines, the students who had been walking through the academy grounds stood frozen in shock, their expressions ranging from disbelief to horror. One student among them clutched his hand over his mouth, struggling to contain the vomit rising in his throat at the sight before him.

Even Elise, known for her stoic demeanor and unwavering composure, could not hide the flicker of unease that crossed her features. The brutality of the fight had shaken her.

But amidst the turmoil of emotions, Seren remained unperturbed. His gaze remained steady and his expression unchanged, as if the scene unfolding before him held no power to disturb his inner calm. Having faced far worse horrors when he was subject to human cruelty for countless lifetimes, Seren remained unaffected by the brutality of the fight.

For these students, who had once battled a minotaur with their lives on the line, the scene before them served as a stark reminder of the harsh realities they would face within the walls of the academy. Though they had been prepared to face danger and adversity, the sight of fellow humans engaging in such brutal combat was a grim reminder of the darkness that lurked within their own ranks.

“Get used to it”

Aldric's voice carried with it a weight of experience and a hint of melancholy as he continued forward, his gaze fixed ahead.

"In time," he said with some nostalgia to his voice, "you will come to understand that the true monsters are not those that lurk in the shadows, but those who wear the guise of humanity. We humans are capable of both great kindness and unfathomable cruelty. Start learning to embrace this truth from now on if you don’t want to be left behind". With that, he strode on, leaving his words to linger in the air like a haunting melody, a reminder of the complexities of human nature.