Martial Arts Worlds - Chapter 206

Chapter 206: Boarding School of Gaul
“How could this happen, principal?!”

“Some of our children were here. What if something happened to them?!”

“We need answers on how this fire started!”

Angry-sounding parents threw a fit in a small gathering room. The principal stood at a small podium, trying to calm them down.

“Enough. Please, let me speak. I talked with the firefighters, and they found out how the fire started. It was most likely man-made, not accidental.”

When the parents heard that, they were shocked. Why would anyone try to burn down a school? It didn’t make any sense!

“What will happen now? Do we have to send our students to other schools? I’ve already received calls from them, especially from Irio High!”

“Yeah, Irio High called us as well. They are offering a spot for our children so they can continue studying. I am inclined to accept!”

Azer looked calm and collected, but inside, he was feeling anger. Like hawks, Irio High came to try to steal their students.

It was obvious that they were trying to recruit their top talents, using this as a perfect opportunity to swoop in and convince them to switch schools.

‘This incident is perfect for them. However, could Bernard go this far to burn down our school? Some of our students could’ve died. Luckily, that didn’t happen.’

“We’re thinking of our options. However, for now, Karuza High will be closed.”

The parents started whispering with each other. They didn’t want to stop their children’s education. There were three available schools in the area that could take in the students from Karuza High.

“However, I believe I have a solution!”

Azer loudly declared. He silenced the rowdy and loud room. The parents looked over with raised eyebrows, wanting to hear this solution of his.

“In the countryside of Gaul, there is a boarding school. It’s not used at the moment. We’ve heard great things about it.

“Tiamut High had been doing their training there for years. It has everything students would need, a place to study, train martial arts, and everything in between.

“I called them. They’re willing to accept Karuza High’s students there. It, sure, is ways away, and those students would be gone for quite some time, but it’s the best option we have right now.

“There, we can keep teaching your children, but also increase their strength. As you all know, we’ve really good chances in nationals this year.

“I believe in Kiernan and in our school’s martial arts club. To be honest, I think we can go all the way and win it. I think that place is the best bet to achieve our goal.”

Azer finished, looking around the room with a tightly lipped expression. He knew this was a very drastic measure, but it was very helpful for every student.

The parents, with enraged looks, began shouting.

“Your decision is to send our children away to a boarding school?!”

“How long would you be there? Till the school gets rebuilt? That can take a whole year!”

“I don’t want to send my children away!”

Azer nodded, expecting that response. He then raised his hand, managed to somehow silence the room, and then said.

“You aren’t forced to send your children there. There are three good schools in Irio, and you can choose which one you think is best for your children.

“However, you can have a talk with your children. Talk with them if they want to come to Gaul with us. I believe they will be reborn there, stronger!”

One parent then turned her head around, looked at the man sitting at the far back corner of the room, and called him out.

“I want to know what Karma is thinking about all of this! He is Kiernan’s father, after all!”

All the parents turned quiet and turned to look at Karma.

“Karma, I am glad you could make it.”

Azer said with a voice of respect. He, even as a Martial Grandmaster martial artist, knew how to respect Karma, who was a father of the greatest talent their school had ever seen.

They knew that he was a single father, which made others respect him even more because even with all hardships, he was able to help his son succeed and thrive.

Karma took a deep sigh and then said.

“I, of course, don’t want my son to leave. I say that as a father.”

All the parents nodded. None of them wanted their children to leave for who knows how long.

“However, as much as I would love him to stay, I know that Gaul would be very good for him. He can focus on his studies and martial arts without distractions.

“I also want him to experience youth. My son is not the most ordinary child. I guess geniuses never are. Children, usually, are very home dependent.

“Not Kiernan, though. He wants to travel to dangerous places, which scares the shit out of me. The genius inside him is wanting to push himself to the absolute extreme.

“He isn’t being pushed here. The boredom is killing him. That’s why I am not thinking as a father in this moment, but as what I believe my son wants.

“I am sure he would want to go to Gaul. No doubt about it. Talk to your children, trust in their decision, and let them have control of their lives.

“That’s how their martial soul will flourish.”

When he was done, the room stayed eerily quiet.

Outside the room, Kiernan leaned against the door. He heard it all. He just returned from the forest as he and Julian ran all the way here.

While on the way, they saw the burned-to-the-ground Karuza High, which shocked them to the core, and they were then led here, where all the teachers, students, and their parents were discussing the future.

“Sigh…”

Kiernan sat on the chair in the hallway, still slightly exhausted from running all the way here, and still feeling the pain of the Bath of Pain.

“The meeting is adjourned. I’d like to know everyone’s choice by tomorrow. No hard feelings whether you choose to change schools.”

Azer’s voice seeped through the door, then parents started to leave the room and went to fetch their children waiting in the hallway.

“Kiernan?”

Karma left the room and saw his son sitting in the hallway.

“I just came back.”

Kiernan stood up.

“The school burned down, huh?”

“It seems so.”

Karma said with a deep sigh.

“Hmm. I am hungry. Can we go eat?”

Kiernan asked, his stomach rumbling like thunder. He hadn’t eaten for a while.

“Sure.”

Karma said and left with his son, but he couldn’t quite tell what his son was thinking. It frustrated him. Kiernan was always so hard to read.