Chapter 31 – The Truth Will Out

"Titus, are you back with us?"

Miss Kane's voice forced Titus's conscience back into the world of the living and by all accounts, deep down inside he was grateful, not thinking that anyone else would have been more appropriate at that very moment. Not wanting to test his eyes immediately, he realised that they were still closed and decided to give them a moment before opening them, or at least trying to.

"I didn't die then?" he asked.

"Well... actually..." Miss Kane said. "That's kind of a loaded question, but we'll get onto all that in a minute. What's more important is that you aren't dead right now, and I think everyone here would agree that it's rather a good thing."

That made Titus begin to open his eyes. Sensing that Miss Kane was telling him to do so by suggesting there were other people in the room with them.

He was pleased when he realised that now he could finally open them, but shocked at how bright the room was. He wasn't in any pain anymore though, and that was definitely a bonus.

The first thing Titus did was look down. He was lying on a bed and was still wearing the trousers and cotton shirt he'd been meant to head out into the arena in, but he was surprised to note that they weren't ripped, ruined, or even covered in blood like he would’ve suspected.

"It's convenient, isn't it?" Miss Kane asked with a smile, following Titus's gaze and understanding where his mind had gone. "Just a flick of the wrist and whoosh, clean as a whistle."

"Certainly seems to save some time," Titus replied, remembering how much he'd always hated doing laundry. It was the flour though, no matter how hard he'd tried when washing his and his father's clothes back at the bakery; it just never seemed to budge.

Titus then peered around the room and recognised where he was. Because it was the second time he'd been in this very place and the second time he'd opened his eyes to be greeted with the row of nine other beds matching his own. This time though, he was the only one actually lying in a bed, with Miss Kane standing over him flanked by Jordan and Petra, who both wore apprehensive smiles on their faces.

"An audience again?" Titus asked. "I guess I should start getting used to it."

"What, waking up in the hospital or almost dying?" Petra asked.

"Key word being 'almost'," Titus replied. Then, remembering who he was talking to, added with wide eyes: "What happened? You didn't have to fight?"

Jordan gave a wry smile this time, and he answered before Petra had the chance to say anything sarcastic.

"Nope, we fought," he said. "And we won. It wasn't easy, but we just about managed it."

"Not for the want of this one trying to kill himself in the process," Petra added.

"You won?" Titus asked, almost unable to voice the words. It was more than he'd hoped for after Henderson had told him his friends were likely to die. A concern that he'd shared once he'd thought his friends were going to have to go out there and face a monster alone.

"We won," Petra repeated. "And try not to look so surprised about it. Would've been just a little easier with you there, mind, but we made a little sand sculpture that took your place alright."

Titus exhaled, ignoring the little jibe, just happy to know that his friends had made it.

"We got a little more XP than we thought we'd get too," Jordan said with a smile. "We got nine each, so you know, only like ninety-one left to go until I reach level two!"

"Ninety-four for me," Titus said almost under his breath. "It's a long way to go."

They all knew that levelling up was going to take a lot of effort, but until now none of them had actually comprehended exactly how much effort that was going to be and how long it was going to take.

"Ahem," Miss Kane cleared her throat to bring the attention of the group back to her presence.

Titus looked up at her, taking in her face. She still smiled, but she looked concerned more than anything else.

He tried to look at her as intently as he’d ever done. Tried to see the lines on her face that would betray her age or the passing of her life. But there was nothing there.

"I think you know what I've got to ask you, Titus," Miss Kane said. "And I know the last time something like this happened you chose not to tell me what truly happened. But this time it's far more serious, and I want you to think about what you have to tell me before you decide what you're going to say." She sighed loudly. "Listen, I know you're new to this... but health potions aren't going to fix you up every time you get hurt. Sure, they'll recover you and keep you from dying, but they don't fix everything, and I'm sure you understand that now more than ever."

Titus nodded slowly. He had indeed been more than aware that the pain from his injuries, along with the 'bleeding' status had remained even after he'd been force-fed the warm healing potion.

"So I want you to remember and think about the fact that you've been lucky twice now. There might not be a third time."

"I know," Titus replied. "It's been hard... but..."

"Let me tell you something," Miss Kane cut Titus off before he had the chance to spin his alternative tale. "The truth is something that cannot be forced. It must be freely given, and when it is, it contains a certain flow. It's a beautiful thing, and I do not expect you to interrupt that flow when you speak next."

Then the Grandmaster paused for a moment as though she was contemplating something, finally coming to a decision.

"I have a story to tell you, and I would like you to listen without interruption and try to understand the reason I am telling you all."

Titus looked at Miss Kane, and then his friends, who looked confused, but each nodded in agreement to the Grandmaster's terms.

"I was once a Contestant in the arena. I had friends like you each have and I was training well. I was a Spellcaster then, and I'll have you know that I was a very good one at that.”

"I still can’t believe you were a Contestant," Jordan was the first to speak, but Miss Kane gave the boy a look that told him now was not the time to interrupt her.

"Anyway, I had a rather unique ability, and I say had because it is now something that is not within my reach, after it was taken from me by The God of Balance as punishment for an act I committed when out on the sands. I am not proud of this, but I am the person I am today because of it."

She waited for a moment as though to dare any of them to ask what it was she did, but they knew better.

"Now, I have a rather unique Class and some unique abilities that make me well-suited to my post as Grandmaster. To name a few, I have the ability to sense lies when they're told, and I also have the ability to train others at an accelerated pace in some aspects. The downside, and a large part of my punishment for all of this, was the fact that since the day I was punished by The God of Balance, I have been unable to gain any experience points by fighting against monsters in the arena. Does that sound familiar?"

The penny dropped with Titus first.

"Just like Henderson after that fight in the arena."

Miss Kane nodded. "Correct. Mr Valeri has been punished by The God of Balance in much the same way, though I do not believe that this will be a permanent feature of his evolution. He will need to heed the lesson he is being taught; otherwise, he's going to be in for a very difficult time here with us."

"So he'll go back to normal if he behaves himself?" Petra asked this time.

"Probably," Miss Kane said. "But that is not the point I am making here. Above all else, I must remain fair and impartial no matter the circumstances. I must be the balance of power, of justice within these halls wherever it is possible. So with that in mind, and everything I've told you about me thus far, I need you to tell me what happened to bring us to this very moment, and I need you all to tell me the truth."

Miss Kane took a moment to stare at each of the friends in turn. It was strange when Titus felt her gaze upon him, it felt like she could see into his very soul. It was uncomfortable, but he knew he couldn't look away.

"It was a Blue rank," Petra said quickly before anyone else could speak. "He came running up to us as we were about to head out onto the arena sands, told Titus to follow him and that you were asking for him. We really didn't think anything of it until we saw you out there - and then we had to fight the Deadlands Boar alone. It was close with just the two of us."

"I'll say," Miss Kane replied. "I was going to say that I would not recommend repeating such a reckless act, but knowing that you had no choice but to stand and fight, I have to say that you both did very well. Now, did you happen to see this Blue rank's name?"

Petra paused for a moment, staring at Titus. He didn't make a single move. Not because he didn't want her to tell the Grandmaster everything that had happened, but rather because he simply didn't know what the right thing to do was.

Then Petra continued.

"I had a look when he first arrived... it was Ferris..." she said.

"Ferris?" Miss Kane asked, and it was clear from her tone and look of shock that this was a name she certainly hadn't been expecting. "But he's... are you sure?"

Petra nodded. "I made sure to check. I wasn't concerned at the time, but it seemed like the right thing to do."

Miss Kane nodded.

"But..." Titus said. Then stopped himself. He was going to say that Ferris hadn't actually done anything, but that wasn't right. Although Henderson had been the only one to physically harm him, everyone present had played their part in almost ending his life. Tarik and Omar, too, neither of them had caused him any physical harm, but they'd been present. And he thought that if he'd tried to run, they would definitely have stopped him.

"Go on, Titus," Miss Kane ordered. "I need to get a full picture here. If I punish the wrong people or do not levy equal punishment for those involved, then it could mean dire consequences not just for these individuals, but for all of the Contestants as a whole."

Those were the words that Titus needed to hear to finally make his mind up. If this was bigger than him, bigger than his friends, and even bigger than Henderson and the other three Blue ranks, then he had no choice but to tell the truth.

"Ferris came and found me just like Petra said. Then he led me down to the dungeons where you found me. Omar and Tarik were there too, but it was Henderson... Henderson did this... and the others just watched. I don't know if they would've done more if I resisted or had managed to fight back, but every cut and bruise you saw on me was caused by Henderson."

Miss Kane peered into Titus's eyes for a moment, and Jordan seemed to be shaking with silent rage.

"Henderson said he thought that you two," Titus gestured to his friends, "would be killed out there in the arena. Then he said that I would have to live with that - just before he gave me a beating."

"He could've killed you!" Petra raised her voice, unable to contain herself. "He could've killed all of us and it sounds like he was trying to do exactly that."

"I... I think he did," Titus replied. "I think my HP might’ve reached zero... but I don't know how I managed to survive."

"That's not possible," Miss Kane said. But there was something about the look on her face when she spoke that told Titus she could tell that he wasn't lying. She knew that at the very least, Titus felt like his health points had reached zero.

"What's your HP on now?" Miss Kane asked.

Titus analysed his own stats and answered automatically.

"Full, fifty of fifty," he said. "But like I said I was sure it was down to nothing."

Miss Kane nodded absently, but this time she didn't reply.

"I'm going to kill that son of a bitch!" Petra growled. Jordan, on the other hand had paled, though he was still shaking and his fists were tightly balled.

Miss Kane finally returned to the conversation.

"It is within my role to enact my punishments of the individuals that were a part of this," she said. "And I will make my ruling right here for you all to understand why I am doing what I am doing." She cleared her throat. "Ferris, Omar, and Tarik have either likely been paid or were threatened, or perhaps even their parents threatened so they would be a part of this. As such, their punishment will be a month suspension from all duties. They will be allowed to remain in the arena as Contestants, but will not train, nor fight until thirty days have passed."

"But that's..." Petra began to exclaim.

"That is fair punishment for their involvement," Miss Kane said. "They each have good records, and if they were coerced into action then this punishment fits their crimes. But let me be clear, I want each of you to understand that this is their punishment in total, and none of you shall seek out your own revenge. Is that understood?"

Petra grimaced, Jordan remained silent.

"Is that understood?" Miss Kane repeated.

"Yes, miss," Petra was the only one to reply this time, and Miss Kane took that as confirmation from all of them.

"Now, Mr Valeri," she said, then paused thoughtfully. "I think that thirty days is a very good punishment..."

"How could that possibly..." Petra started, but a raised hand from the Grandmaster stopped her in her tracks.

"Thirty days locked in the dungeons, close by to the monsters that no longer award him experience points is a very apt punishment, seeing as that is also the scene of this crime. Wouldn't you agree?"

Petra couldn't help but let her mouth curl into a devious smile, but Jordan was still unable to reply, now visibly shaking and still pale.

Titus simply nodded. He knew that it wasn't up to him to determine or comment on punishments anyway.

"Good, I'm glad we all agree. Now, is there anything else any of you have to tell me? Otherwise, I must be going; the work of a Grandmaster is never over," Miss Kane said with a smile.

Again, nobody replied, and Titus shook his head ever so slightly.

Miss Kane then smiled again, added that she hoped Titus would be back on his feet shortly, and left the room and the three friends.

As soon as the door behind her was closed, Petra let out a breath, and the tension that had been evident while the Grandmaster was present faded.

"So it was Henderson again?" Petra asked.

Titus didn't have the chance to reply because Jordan spoke as though to the entire room.

"I'm going to actually kill him. He tried to kill us all."

"But he didn't," Petra said. "And from the sounds of it, he's about to have a really bad time."

"A really bad time? And you think that's OK? You don't think he's going to sit there and stew for a month and then come right back for us?"

"Well, maybe, but look at it this way: we've got a month to get as strong as we can so that when he comes back to look for us, we'll be ready for him. And when we put him down, it'll be self-defence. Get it? You heard Miss Kane; this isn't something we want to mess around with. If we do anything, we do it the right way, without getting in trouble, and without anyone saying what we did wasn't fair."

Petra may as well have winked at the end of her statement, but she refrained. Her words did seem to get through to Jordan though, and his colour began returning to his face.

"Oh, that's right," Petra added, turning to Titus. "You missed the schedules, didn't you?"

"Schedules?" he asked with a frown.

"Oh, don't worry; you're going to love this," she said. "First, we all have our own specific Class training, then group training, lunch, strength and conditioning, and finally: human evolution and history. It's going to be a real whirlwind, I can tell you."

"And on the plus side," Jordan added, smiling for the first time since Titus had managed to open his eyes. "Other than the Class training, we all get to go to the same classes! So no more getting the best Instructor for you!"

Titus smiled at that. It was nice to know that there was at least some structure coming their way, and one that involved them all remaining together, no less.

"Just... one more thing," Titus said slowly. "When do you think we can get out onto the sands again? I feel like I let you down back there, and I’d like to make it up to you both if I can."

"You've got nothing to apologise for," Petra replied. "But if you really want to pay us back, then get some rest. When we get back to the dorm, then we'll take a look at the board and see what we can do."