Part-18

  Principal Byzed steepled his fingers once more, his gaze flickeriween James, Ryan, and Mili. A sigh escaped his lips. "Look," he began, his voice gruff but ced with a hint of weariness, "James' grandfather, Harold, and I go way back. We were practically inseparable in our youth. He was like my elder brure to me. I respected that man more than anyone, and frankly, I still do." He paused, his eyes meeting James' for a fleeting moment. A silent message seemed to pass between them – a respect for the past influeng the present.

  "Because of that history," Byzed tinued, his voice regaining its authoritative tone, "I'm willing to let this go... slightly. However, let me be clear, your as were uable." He looked pointedly at both James and Ryan. "Ryan, your behavior towards Mili was inappropriate and disrespectful. We have a zero-tolerance policy for bullying in this school, and you will face sequences."

  Ryan shifted unfortably under Byzed's gaze. The bravado he'd dispyed earlier had pletely evaporated.

  Byzed then turo James. "And James, while I appreciate your desire to help, res to violence is he ahere are better ways to handle a situation like this."

  James met Byzed's gaze with a mix of relief and disappoi. Relief that the situation wasing further, a reprieve from the potential storm brewing within him ever sihe mission notification popped up. Disappoi, however, g him. He'd intervened, put himself at risk, used this strange power the system had thrust upon him, all to help someone in need. Yet, here he was, being reprimanded for it. It felt unfair, a discement from doing the right thing. But a sliver of uanding flickered amidst the disappoi. Principal Byzed was right. Violence, even a bizarre, non-injurious sp, wasn't the ahere had to be a better way, a way the system hadn't equipped him with yet.

  "That said," Byzed tinued, a hint of a smirk pying on his lips, "sidering the circumstances..." He trailed off, letting the tension build for a moment before delivering his verdict.

  "Both of you will be responsible for ing the rown patch of weeds behind the school until it's pletely cleared. Every day after school, until the job is done."

  Ryan's jaw dropped. " weeds? Every day? Why?" he sputtered, indignation c his voice.

  Byzed's eyes narrowed, unleashing a death gre that sent a shiver down Ryan's spi was a look that held the weight of years as an educator, a lifetime of experience dealing with students who tested boundaries and pushed limits. It was a look that had quelled tless teenage rebellions and defused votile situations. In that moment, Ryan saw Principal Byzed not as the slightly goofy administrator he usually dismissed, but as a man of formidable presend unwavering authority. The pyful banter and easy demeanor Ryan was aced to vanished, repced by an icy resolve that brooked nument.

  "Because I said so, Mr. Ahmed," Byzed replied, his voice leaving no room fument. "sider it manual bor therapy to refle your as."

  Ryan, suddenly subdued, mumbled a begrudging, "Yes, Principal Byzed."

  Byzed then dismissed Mili and Ryan with a curt nod. "You two are free to go. But remember, this isn't over. We'll be having a follow-up versation about your behavior, Ryan."

  Ohey were gone, Byzed gestured for James to stay behind. A different kind of look settled on his face – one filled with curiosity and a hint of .