As the days went by, students were finding it harder to deal with their hunger pangs and thirst. With this occurrence, there were more arguments happening among them over the simplest things.
Not that it took much to set them off in the first place. However, in a way, their anger directed towards Raze was what had managed to keep them together. But they were beginning to notice something else that was just rubbing them the wrong way.
A couple of students were seated on the ground with their backs against the wall in the training area. They weren't cultivating, but instead, they were trying minimal movements with their bodies feeling weak. Meanwhile, they could see someone else standing there, no more than just standing there, but he was still actually training among the others.
It was Simyon and Liam. Simyon was using some hand-to-hand combat techniques as he brushed away a wooden sword that Liam had with him. Although many of the students' food supplies had been stripped, their training equipment was still with them.
It was why many had jumped to the conclusion that the peculiar design of this place was for them to train.
Since the training arena was the only place with light and large enough, it was the only place Liam and Simyon could train.
"Juggling arts!" Liam shouted as he somewhat threw his sword in the air, then struck away both of Simyon's arms from an attack, spun his body, and grabbed the sword to strike him from behind.
It had jolted Simyon forward slightly, but the hit seemed to have done nothing to him.
"Crap, why do you keep hitting me at the back of the head?" Simyon shouted, as he turned around, rubbing a sore spot that was beginning to grow.
"Hey, it's a new fighting style and technique I'm trying, alright? I can't control where I hit you. It just happens to be the only place I can strike. Besides, shouldn't you try and do something other than just be good at getting hit all the time?" Liam argued back, and started to hold his stomach slightly as he was getting an onset of pangs.
It was quite strange. At first, the feeling of hunger was strong, but as time went on, one would get used to it. However, just once in a while, for a minute or so, people would go through a sharp pain which was unbearable for some.
However, it was this very sight that was unpleasant for the others watching.
"I don't think I've ever seen that guy in pain."
"Yeah, you're right. You're talking about that Simyon guy, right? Even the way he moves, it's been the same since he got here. Why isn't it affecting him?"
"Hey, but he's really close to Raze, right? And Raze is fine as well. You're not thinking what I'm thinking, right? I mean, look at their whole group; all of them are bearing with this thing easier than the others. It must mean they have some food!"
It was the conclusion many of them had come to, and although it was true that Raze had some things one could eat, he hadn't shared this with the others or given them anything.
Safa was able to cultivate well, ignoring hunger for the most part. Simyon felt like what he was going through now was nothing compared to what he had done in the past. Then there was Liam.
He was struggling just like the other students, but seeing how well Simyon was dealing with everything, he didn't want to show it. He was putting on a brave face because the one thing he didn't want to happen was to be the weak point in the group.
Little did he know he was actually very skillful; even those watching his display now were amazed by how fast he had grasped the new technique and how fluid his movements were.
It wasn't as if Simyon was slow; it was just that Liam had talent. Enough to say that if it wasn't for Raze, he would have been the best of the Blue Headband students and naturally would have been promoted to Yellow.
"I think you're right. They have to be getting food from somewhere. I think we just need to find out where and how."
Time continued to pass, and as usual, most of the students spent time eyeing each other in the open area. That was until something disrupted them once again. The sound of a large, heavy object being dragged across the floor started to echo from the walkway.
The students turned to look at what it was, until they could see a familiar sight: another student being dragged by a group of three toward the center of the room. Just like before, the student had a caved-in chest, blood pouring out from his mouth, and he was lifeless.
It wasn't a second-year student this time, nor was it one of the disciples, but that made the whole thing even scarier for them.
"It's happened again."
"Another student died, and did no one see anything?"
"You would think that there would at least be some noise."
"Hey hey, do you think it is what I think it is, right now, Raze isn't here."
"Yeah, you're right. Raze is always away from us, and the students go to the Seclusion room from time to time. Don't tell me, it has to be him, it has to, right!"
The words were being twisted and turned rather quickly, and Simyon and the others felt like there was almost nothing they could do to change the current situation.
Seeing this, rather than having them all talk behind his back, Simyon ran ahead to get Raze, and a few moments later, he returned with Raze by his side as well.
All of the commotion and the speaking had turned into silence as they saw Raze.
Raze looked at the dead body on the ground again, not even recognizing the student very well. He didn't care about many of the Red Headband wearers, and he couldn't remember this one in particular either.
"Are you not going to say anything?" a student called out.
"What do you want me to say?" Raze replied. "Why don't you just place him in the seclusion room with one of the others? I don't know this person, so don't say you're going to make me do it."
Almost annoyed by the whole thing, Raze was ready to turn around, that was until a student stepped up.
"Are you trying to act stupid!" the student called out. "We all know it's you. We know you don't like us! You know we don't like you as well! You're the only one that goes off on their own and could do something like this!"
At that moment, rather than stopping in his tracks and heading back, Raze turned around to look at the person who was shouting at him. He then started to move forward, taking steps. His pace quickened toward the student, but he decided to stand his ground.
The others supported him; the others felt the same way. He wasn't on the wrong side.
That's when he heard next to nothing. It was completely silent as the sword was drawn out, and it struck right across, cutting signally across his chest. Blood filled the air, and before he knew it, he could see Raze grab his head and throw it, slamming it into the ground.
The sword had been sheathed back, and Raze stood there looking at the others.
"Is there anyone else that wants to accuse me of these killings? Because if so, then I might as well get on with it."
Before anyone else could say or do anything, they saw Raze dragging the student's body with him, down the hallway into the darkness, even leaving Simyon and Liam wondering just what Raze was planning to do with the body.
