By the time Aryan reached the room assigned to him by the academy, he couldn't help but let out a deep sigh upon seeing it again. If he were to be completely honest, he had no desire whatsoever to sleep in that room—let alone step foot inside it. The room was in a deplorable state, far from what anyone would consider habitable. But Aryan knew he had no choice in the matter. With no gold coins to his name, renting a room in the capital city was out of the question. Realizing that this rundown room was the only option he could afford, he reluctantly accepted it, albeit with a heavy heart. In his mind, however, he made a firm resolve: within the next two months, he would find a way to leave this place and secure a proper room in the capital, no matter the cost.
With this determination, Aryan lay down on the bed in the room. The bed was in such poor condition that calling it functional would be generous. It was creaky, worn out, and utterly dilapidated. The mattress, if it could even be called that, was infested with bedbugs that made sleep impossible. Aryan tossed and turned, trying desperately to drift off, but sleep eluded him entirely. It was as if sleep itself had turned its back on him, mocking his plight. The more he tried, the more frustrated he became, and his thoughts soon turned to Victor—the academy official who had assigned him this wretched room.
A deep resentment began to fester within Aryan toward Victor. He was convinced that Victor had deliberately given him this abysmal room to torment him. His suspicions were confirmed during a conversation at the academy's mess hall with another student, a new recruit like himself. The student had casually mentioned that there were still several vacant rooms in the hostel, many of which were in far better condition than the one Aryan had been assigned. This revelation only fueled Aryan's anger. He swore to himself that he would teach Victor a lesson, one that would bring him the satisfaction he craved. But why had Victor singled him out? Aryan racked his brain for an answer but came up empty-handed.
As he lay awake, a sudden thought struck him. Could this mistreatment be connected to his decision to choose Vaibhav Srivastava as his teacher? The more he pondered, the more plausible it seemed. After all, Aryan was a nobody in the academy—a student with the lowest rank. He had no enemies, no rivalries, and no reason for anyone to target him. His low rank alone shouldn't have warranted such harsh treatment. The only logical explanation was that Victor's actions were tied to Vaibhav Srivastava. Perhaps Vaibhav had crossed someone powerful, and Aryan was now caught in the crossfire.
Determined to uncover the truth, Aryan resolved to confront his teacher the next day and demand answers. For now, though, he had to endure the night in this miserable room. Sleep remained a distant dream, and as the hours dragged on, the night passed in a haze of discomfort and frustration. By the time morning arrived, Aryan was exhausted, having not slept a wink. His fatigue only deepened his animosity toward Victor, a grudge that felt unshakable. Yet, in his current state—weak and powerless—he knew he could do nothing to retaliate. Instead of dwelling on his anger, Aryan decided to focus on the day ahead.
It was spring, and a gentle chill lingered in the morning air. Aryan dragged himself out of bed, headed to the bathroom, and began his morning routine. After freshening up, he donned his "Planet Earth" clothes, a set of garments that had drawn curious glances when he first arrived in this world. The locals, intrigued by the soft and well-crafted fabric, had questioned him about their origin. Not knowing how to explain, Aryan had fabricated a vague excuse to deflect their curiosity. Now fully dressed, he set out for Vaibhav Srivastava's house, unsure of where his teacher's classes were held.
Vaibhav's home, much like Aryan's room, was modest and unremarkable, lacking any notable amenities. Aryan couldn't help but wonder if his teacher's living conditions were also a result of some conflict with a powerful figure in the academy. Shrugging off these thoughts, he positioned himself outside the house and waited for Vaibhav to emerge. After nearly an hour, the door creaked open, and Vaibhav stepped out. He seemed momentarily confused to see Aryan waiting but quickly recalled their prior conversation.
"So, student, how was your night?" Vaibhav asked with a knowing look.
Aryan, his eyes shadowed with dark circles from a sleepless night, forced a smile. "It was great, teacher," he lied. Vaibhav, perceptive as ever, could see through the façade but chose not to press the matter. He knew all too well what Aryan must have endured, likely a consequence of his own troubled history with the academy's Sixth Elder.
"Why did you come straight to my house?" Vaibhav asked, his tone gentle but curious. "You should've gone to my class and waited for me there."
Aryan looked at his teacher, bewildered. "Teacher, how was I supposed to know where your class is?" he replied, his expression conveying his confusion.
Vaibhav slapped his forehead, realizing his oversight. "You're right, my mistake," he said with a chuckle. "Since you're here, let's head to class together."
As they walked toward the classroom, Vaibhav listened intently as Aryan recounted the ordeal of his night in the dilapidated room. The teacher's heart sank, but he was powerless to change the situation. He knew the Sixth Elder was behind this, a man who held a grudge against him for reasons Vaibhav kept closely guarded. In his mind, Vaibhav made a silent vow: *Sixth Elder, just you wait. The day my innocence is proven, you'll pay dearly for this.*
Their conversation was interrupted by murmurs from nearby students, who were watching the pair with a mix of curiosity and disdain. Whispers spread like wildfire. "Look, the rapist finally found a student," one student sneered. "How could anyone choose *him* as their teacher?" Another voice chimed in, "Did you hear? Aryan's rank was dead last. That's why he picked Vaibhav—probably to save his own skin."
The rumors grew uglier, painting Vaibhav as a predator who had manipulated a desperate, low-ranking student to secure his position at the academy. Aryan, oblivious to the hushed gossip due to his lack of a cultivation base, walked on unaware. But Vaibhav, with his heightened senses, heard every word. His fists clenched in anger, but he restrained himself. There was nothing he could do against the tide of rumors—not yet. He glanced at Aryan, relieved to see that the boy was unaffected by the cruel words, and silently thanked the heavens for it.
As they reached the classroom—a modest space with a small room and an open area likely used for martial arts practice—Vaibhav decided it was time to be upfront with Aryan. The room was filthy, covered in dust and grime. Together, they spent half an hour cleaning it, transforming the space into something usable. Once finished, Vaibhav sat on a chair in the corner and turned to Aryan.
"Aryan, do you know why you were given such a terrible room?" he asked.
Aryan shook his head. "No, teacher. I can only guess that you might have angered someone important."
Vaibhav nodded, impressed by Aryan's intuition. "You're not wrong," he began, his voice heavy with the weight of the past. "Years ago, a dear friend of mine—a woman—was harassed by one of the academy's elders. When the harassment became unbearable, I confronted him. We clashed for a long time, and I eventually saved her from his grasp. But that elder, the Sixth Elder, took it personally. To ruin me, he coerced my friend into falsely accusing me of a heinous crime. Those accusations spread, and I became a pariah in this kingdom. Now, tell me, Aryan—knowing this, do you still want to be my student?"
Aryan listened intently, his heart heavy but resolute. "Teacher, thank you for telling me the truth. If I had heard this from someone else, I might have doubted you. But now that you've shared everything, I'm certain of one thing: I will never abandon you. You will be my teacher until my last breath. I give you my word."
Vaibhav's heart swelled with gratitude. After a moment of quiet reflection, he spoke again. "Tomorrow, I'll begin teaching you cultivation techniques. But today, I want you to visit the academy's library and study some basic cultivation methods on your own. It'll help you understand what I teach tomorrow. I'll explain everything clearly, but a head start will make things easier."
Aryan nodded, bowing respectfully to his teacher before heading toward the library. As he left, Vaibhav let out a sigh of relief, his thoughts turning dark once more. *Sixth Elder, you'll regret crossing me. When the time comes, I'll make you beg for mercy.*
What would Vaibhav do next? Could he truly stand up to the Sixth Elder, or were his words merely born of anger? To find out, stay tuned with *I Can Learn Everything*.
2 chapters will come on Monday.