Chapter 107 - Freedom

What was Nerun to do? What should be his response? Go with the flow now, try to blend in and go along with the joke? Try to turn the other cheek?

What was the intent behind Hernani and some of the other students' words? Many of them, he was sure, were quite malicious. While many were high sounding, and apparently nice in their words, the biting remarks, the sarcastic comments, and the careful jabs to his and his brother's honour were punches quite different from the ones he was used to taking. It was not like the cheerful banter from the Orphanage, nor the joking he did with Sylvester and the kids.

Not even the bossy yet ample and kind nature of Evelin. There was none of that. He was also sure that some students weren't even that malicious, but were simply going with the flow. One thing was being self-deprecating. Another thing altogether, however, was this kind of comment that sought to laugh at the expense of others, not with the other.

These and many other thoughts ran through Nerun's mind at full speed, as he considered everything happening around him while finishing his meal. Hernani and many of the other students were actually mocking him in the depth of their hearts, for Nerun seemed to have turned quiet, very different from his earlier stance. Some of the jeering in their greetings and salute were turning to outright mocking, and Julieth, Karles and Reina started to actually get annoyed.

When Hernani saw this, he tried to defuse the situation to look good in front of Julieth. There was no point in completely losing decorum with Nerun either, and the danger level of Nerun was quickly lowered in Hernani's heart. That, and by helping Nerun with the embarrassment, he would not only look better in the other students' eyes, but Julieth herself would also start to see Nerun as someone that is a bit of a pushover. This could be thought of as a well-constructed trap by Hernani.

After all, if Nerun had answered angrily, annoyed or with violence, he would have been accused of making too much noise about nothing, like using cannons to kill mosquitoes, or even a simple barbarian with no class. That would have probably been the better response since it would at least have shown that he was no apparent pushover. Hernani was also expecting it, and if Nerun had attacked him, he would have also used this chance to stomp Nerun and put him in his place. If Nerun had tried to hit him first he would have had the perfect excuse, and even Elijah nor his father could have found fault with him.

Even if Nerun was quick enough and could answer the other people's comments with some poise, he would have been able to turn it against him in a subtle way. Nerun's current response was even better for Hernani's plan. After all, the lack of response was simply seen as weakness. 'This is the difference between us, plebeian. Let's end this farce then'.

Solda and some of his friends were enjoying plenty of Nerun's awkwardness.

Hernani opened his mouth to speak, however, before anyone could say anything, Nerun started laughing loudly with food spitting out of his mouth. Some of it seemed to have eyes as it went directly for Hernani and some of the students around him, soiling their uniforms. A piece of chewed meat even fell right into Hernani's mouth.

Nerun kept laughing and almost bending over, with tears coming out of his eyes. Nerun then got up and recovered himself, and simply said, "Senior Brothers and Sisters, thank you so very much for all of your salutes and show of respect. Please forgive me and my boorish ways, I simply could not control myself. Some of your jokes were simply too funny, it reminded me of some of the dirty jokes I heard from the mercenaries back at the Rhodnian border. It was the incongruency between the words and your noble image that made me lose myself for a bit, please forgive me. Oh, Senior Brother Hernani, you have some food in the corner of your mouth. Damn, I didn't notice, please do forgive me. Make sure to eat it though, it cost so many contribution points. That whole bite is worth at least one or two, I'd say."

Everyone was once again silent, but because they just never imagined this result. Many of those who have leered Nerun and talked smack about him had either some saliva or some drop of spat food on their clothes and faces.

Some of the girls started screaming and taking handkerchiefs and other things to clean themselves. Many of the boys got up red-eyed and were looking at Nerun and preparing to fight him to the dead. If they did not break every single bone in Nerun's body they would not be assuaged.

"You filthy...", one of the students had started to say.

However, before anyone could finish any sentence, many of the students from every year started laughing as well. The ones that wanted to scold Nerun had no opportunity to do so, since many were laughing as well, and some of the upperclassmen even raised their thumbs up for Nerun's trick.

It was for Nerun to understand that not everyone at the school was bent against him. People were fickle, and although many might have disapproved of the way he entered the Academy, most of the students were smart enough not to get to any quick conclusions without actually getting to know the facts first-hand. They were careful not to make quick enemies, and there were also rivals to those that had mocked Nerun in the first place. Even if they did not like Nerun at first sight, they would hold judgement for later, when Nerun showed his true prowess and mettle. So far, even if what the latter had shown was not to everybody's approval, they had to acknowledge, that at the very least, he had gotten out of the pickle gracefully.

Nerun apologized to the people for his lack of manners and said goodbye to Julieth, who was also trying hard to hold her laughter, after all, some of those that Nerun had spat on were her acquaintances and friends. She wasn't mad at Nerun though, since some of them had insulted the latter, and she was also at a loss for what to do at the moment. Karles and Reina followed Nerun out of the Cafeteria, and they walked side by side while bantering with one another.

Hernani and those that had felt insulted were feeling quite stifled, and some of them wanted to vent their frustration, but couldn't find an appropriate outlet. Some of them had even made oaths inside to seek explanations and reparations from Nerun, however, they knew better than to fight inside the school without permission. Challenge Nerun to a duel? it was possible, however, there were things that needed to be considered. Nerun had just entered the Academy and an upperclassman challenging a junior was considered as the strong bullying the weak. Of course, if what Nerun had done was unforgivable, then they would be able to respond, however, there were many witnesses to the fact that it was apparently an accident and Nerun even apologized afterwards - even if said apologies had no sincerity. There were even some that thought that Nerun's response was quite beautiful.

Also, to challenge Nerun just like that, would mean losing decorum with the Dragon General, and not many of them could take accountability for such an action. They were caged indeed. Caged by something so-called "social rules and conventions".

Nerun, however, was feeling unrestricted and was currently in a very good mood. After his inner debate went on for a while, he decided to let go and simply act freely. What did the opinions of others have to do with him? He wasn't one to openly offend others wantonly, nor one to look for trouble wherever he went, nevertheless, trouble seemed to find him at every turn. Should he then bend over and go on his knees at every turn? That was not him, that was a soul bondage he was not willing to do. He remembered words that Maikal had said a long time ago:

"...power is reason, and if you have enough strength you need not even worry about what the king of Ansem thinks. If you have enough power, even the Vicar of Mainal himself will open the gates of the Temple for you, so that you can surround yourself with riches and honour. All that on the condition that you can put everyone under your feet. If you do not have that strength, then you are nothing but a braggart, and braggarts are the first to die."

Nerun was no braggart. If the ones surrounding Nerun were all Qi Generals, Monarchs and Emperors, maybe Nerun would have seemed a different approach. Knowing when to take a step back was important, and having reckless abandon was not the way they had been taught in the Orphanage. They were taught that humiliation could be paid back in spades. Of course, there was a bottom line for everything and Nerun was no coward, and he was willing to bet his life when things truly mattered and there was no other way out. Bravery and imprudence were usually separated by a thin line.

But, the ones around Nerun were not people he had to run from. They were his peers. His equals. And Nerun knew himself very well. He had no fear whatsoever towards those on the same level as him, not even those a level higher. They were all so-called geniuses but wasn't Nerun a genius as well? Humility, I insist is not making yourself lower than others. For Nerun, true humility was not having a higher self-concept than what he should have. So, as powerful and resourceful as he was, why did he have to take the hits from those that attacked him without reason? There was no need for that, nor would Nerun do so. He would act freely, from the freedom and pride given to him by his humble origins, the way he was raised, the mission in his heart. He would not belittle others. He would not humiliate others. He would also not let others' opinions sway him. He would be himself, and those that liked him would do so, and those that hated him, well, sucks to be them.

He simply acted in a way that he was sure he could look back with pride and without regrets, a way that would also make his family proud, both the living and the dead. He would act true to himself. For he could lie to anyone, but to himself. And going against his own nature was something that was countercurrent to his own TAO. This was an epiphany. A small one perhaps, but an epiphany nonetheless, one that freed his mind. In the future, Nerun would look back to this first day in the Lyceum and this non-important skirmish, as one where he took the first step towards becoming a true expert. For his mind was blessed and felt boundless for the first time. Nerun felt as if a shackle had been broken inside him. He felt as if he knew himself just a bit better, and the genesis stone in Nerun's chest felt it and let out a warmth that left Nerun feeling ecstatic.

Martial Arts and Meditation Techniques were not simple tools for people to learn ways to attack others. They also had a deep influence on the person that used them, for they moulded their soul and spirit along their bodies. For the body is the continent, the soul the driving force, and the spirit the content. Take Elijah and Maikal, for example. They were prone to face troubles face-on, with no regard for consequences sometimes, because their Martial Art, the Way of the Interceptor Fist was such a Martial Art. It was forthright, it was valiant, it was one of attacking and drowning the enemy with its momentum. So, the character of those that practised it had to go along, otherwise, the Martial Art and the warrior would simply not fit each other, and troubles and Qi deviations could easily come forth.

Sometimes these things were negligible, especially in the Initial and even the Intermediate Levels and some warriors learnt from different Martial Arts wantonly and could even change them halfway if they found another one to their liking. However, for true experts in the High Levels, that was no longer possible, and any small advantage conceded could very well be the difference between life and death. Therefore, once a person had delved too deeply into a specific Martial Art, he would usually be quite careful in learning from other techniques, lest his soul be tainted.

Nerun had actually achieved a realm that he did not know. A realm where his soul, character and choices were in perfect synch with his Martial Art. The Free Flowing Fist. A Fist of Freedom. A Fist to go with the Flow, to direct the Flow, to let the Flow pass, or to command the Flow if necessary. A Fist where your soul was unrestricted. A Fist where your will was not imposed, but was also not imposed on. A Fist to rule oneself.