Ritsu’s life in the Imperial Military Academy was hell. His peers hated him for his humble background. They humiliated him, beat him, and destroyed his belongings. Professor Soda, an arrogant and haughty man, was like an executioner, a jailer determined to make him pay the price for his audacity in having crossed the thresholds of the academy. He had it in for him. He interrupted him in the middle of classes with tricky questions and ridiculed him in front of everyone when he couldn’t answer.
He made him feel stupid and useless.
But now he had a consolation. A ray of light amidst the darkness.
A friend.
Shinji was the only one who treated him with kindness and respect. He was curious, generous, and fun. He taught him magic tricks, told him silly stories, and made him laugh with his antics.
When the weather allowed, they would walk through the academy’s west garden, where exotic flowers grew and multi-colored birds sang. There, Shinji would talk to him about everything that came to mind: the stars, dragons, music, politics... Ritsu listened attentively and with admiration, and sometimes interjected with a question or comment.
The refuge of their friendship extended to the dining hall, where they shared breakfasts and dinners. Shinji always found the best spot and the most exquisite dish. In the library, Ritsu returned the favor by supporting him with academic tasks, as Shinji was somewhat lazy.
Their hearts beat in unison in times of difficulty and filled with joy at each other’s triumphs.
And for the first time since he had entered the Imperial Military Academy, Ritsu did not feel so alone.
He felt happy.
***
The rain had lashed the land for an entire week, turning the gardens into mud pits and the academy into a gloomy haven. But that day, something changed. A ray of light broke through the clouds, like a sword ripping a veil. The sky turned a clear and bright blue, and the sun warmed the earth with its heat. The birds began to sing again, the flowers to bloom, and life regained its color.
Ritsu felt unexpected joy upon witnessing the spectacle. It was a perfect day to go to the greenhouses, where his herbology lesson awaited him. It was one of his favorite subjects, as he loved learning about plants and their properties.
Plus, Professor Hisoka was one of the few who did not look down on him with disdain.
The greenhouses stood imposing on the academy grounds, huge glass structures that shone like precious jewels under the sunlight. They were home to all sorts of exotic and rare vegetation brought from distant lands beyond the sea. Dangerous and poisonous plants that required special care, caged to prevent accidental harm. Even healing and nutritious plants capable of healing wounds or feeding entire armies.
Ritsu entered greenhouse number three, where his class was being held. He immediately headed to Shinji’s side, who was waiting for him with a broad smile.
Professor Hisoka didn’t take too long to arrive.
He was an eccentric figure that rivaled even Professor Norio in oddness. His untamable mane was a tangle of disheveled gray strands that seemed to have a life of their own. Over it rested a worn and dirty hat, crowned by a dry tree branch that pierced it from side to side like a spear thrust into a trunk.
His clothes consisted of an old brown robe spotted with earth, as if he had just joyfully rolled around on the grass. He wore ugly worn leather sandals, and wielded a rough wooden staff topped by a stone that emitted an unsettling blue glow.
At first glance, he might be mistaken for a crazy hermit or a particularly unkempt vagrant. However, this image did not disturb Ritsu at all. Rather, it infused him with a comforting sense of familiarity that transported him back to his childhood in the village.
Most of the “clean and well-bred” souls he had met at the academy had given him looks of disdain and venom. But this man, with his wandering appearance and tranquil spirit, radiated an authenticity that had attracted him from the beginning.
“Good morning, young aspirants!” the professor greeted them jovially, showing his crooked teeth in a wide smile. “I hope you have rested well because today I will reveal to you the secrets of some of the most fascinating carnivorous plants that inhabit these greenhouses.”
The reactions were immediate; disgust and nervousness appeared on many faces. Yet, among those who wrinkled their noses and looked uneasy, there was one who remained expressionless, although inside, he was dying of curiosity.
Ritsu had heard countless stories about these creatures, their ability to devour animals, and even, in the darkest tales, their insatiable appetite for human flesh. Curiosity burned in his eyes, and he was eager to discover how true such stories were.
“Do not worry,” Professor Hisoka said, seeing their faces. “They won’t harm you if you know how to treat them. Come with me, I’ll show you.”
The professor led them to the back of the greenhouse, where there were metallic cages that contained enormous and terrifying plants. There was a pitcher-shaped plant, exuding a sweet and enticing smell. Beside it was another shaped like a mouth, snapping open and closed.
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“These are some of the most infamous carnivorous plants in existence,” Hisoka announced with evident delight, as if presenting his favorite pets. “They have a very peculiar diet, as they feed on insects, rodents, and even unfortunate birds that fall into their deadly traps. But they can also be very useful, as they have special properties.”
The professor approached the pitcher-shaped plant and pulled out a glass vial from his pocket.
“This, dear students, is a carnivorous kantera,” he explained enthusiastically. “Native to the swampy lands of the south, its juice is so acidic it can dissolve flesh and bone in minutes. A single drop would be enough to perforate your hand like paper...”
Ritsu watched, fascinated, as the professor carefully extracted some of the thick greenish liquid oozing from the plant’s maw.
“However,” he continued, “this savage beauty also has healing properties if administered correctly. That’s why we must study it closely, not fear it with ignorance.”
With that, he capped the vial, which now contained a sample of the lethal Matsuil juice.
“Come closer without fear and observe what happens when I combine the juice with other ingredients.”
The students cautiously approached, forming a circle around the professor. From the folds of his robe, Hisoka pulled out a small bag, then held it high for everyone to see clearly.
“This, youngsters, is ground white willow bark. Now watch what happens when I add it to the juice.”
The professor uncapped the vial and sprinkled a bit of the grayish powder inside, recapped it, and shook it vigorously. To the amazed eyes of the onlookers, the liquid began to bubble and boil, changing color until it took on a deep crimson hue.
“In this way, the juice becomes a powerful healing potion,” he revealed. “Drinking just a sip can cure wounds, diseases, and even poisonings.”
To prove it, he uncapped the vial again and brought it to his lips, drinking a long sip.
“Delicious!” he exclaimed, smacking his lips with delight. “I recommend trying it; it has an extremely refreshing taste!”
Of course, no one dared to follow his example. The professor chuckled at the young people’s prudent reluctance.
“Oh, don’t be shy,” he encouraged them. “I assure you on my honor that the concoction is perfectly safe.”
He extended the vial to them in an inviting gesture. The students looked at each other, undecided, not wanting to accept the offering. It was then that Ritsu felt a gentle nudge in the ribs. Turning, he found Shinji’s mischievous smile.
“Come on, Ritsu,” his friend encouraged him. “Be brave and try it. Show them you fear nothing.”
Ritsu eyed the vial warily, weighing the risks.
The idea of drinking carnivorous plant poison didn’t exactly appeal to him.
“I don’t know, Shinji...” he murmured, hesitant. “It seems dangerous.”
At that moment, Professor Hisoka approached him and placed a hand on his shoulder.
“Do not fear, young Ritsu,” he reassured him. “This potion won’t harm you, I assure you. Rather the opposite: it will make you stronger and more resistant.”
Ritsu hesitated for another moment, torn between caution and the desire to show his courage. He finally decided and reached out to take the vial, determined to drink its contents.
He didn’t want to appear a coward in front of the whole class.
“It’s alri...”
But just as his fingers were about to touch the glass, without warning, Juro materialized his presence beside him and threw him forcefully aside.
“Move aside, coward!” Juro roared with arrogance. “You are not worthy to drink that potion!”
The vial changed hands in an instant, snatched by Juro before Professor Hisoka could fully react.
“What are you doing, boy?” asked the professor.
“Here is someone truly brave,” Juro proclaimed proudly, ignoring the professor. “Not like other cowards who say they want to try but back down. I have the courage needed to make myself stronger!”
Juro uncapped the vial and brought it to his lips, emptying its content in a single greedy gulp. An arrogant smile formed on his lips as he lowered the vial. However, his haughtiness was interrupted when a grimace of pain twisted his face, then he dropped the empty vial, which shattered against the tiles, and clutched his stomach, moaning in pain.
“Aaaah!” he shrieked, agony echoing in his voice.
Juro’s cronies rushed to help him, not understanding what was happening. Juro writhed and gasped, his face contorted with effort.
“Hang in there, Juro!” exclaimed one of them, holding him.
“What happened to him?” asked another, distressed.
In the midst of the chaos, a thunderous laughter resounded in the greenhouse. All eyes turned to its source: Professor Hisoka, who was laughing madly.
“Calm down, calm down,” he said, pausing for laughter. “It’s normal. It’s just a joke.”
The boys looked at him in disbelief.
“A joke?”
“Yes, a joke. The juice is not a healing potion!”
The professor pointed to Juro, who was kneeling on the floor, foaming at the mouth.
“Look at him!” he exclaimed. “He’s cleansing his stomach of all impurities!”
The professor laughed a little more.
“Ah, poor boy!” he shouted between laughs. “I’m afraid you’ve fallen for the oldest trick in the book. Confusing appearance with reality.”
Juro looked up at the professor, his eyes bloodshot.
“But... you said... this potion... would make me stronger...” he gasped with great effort.
The professor sported a benevolent smile and shook his head gently.
“I did indeed say so, and you believed me without question,” he replied in a measured voice. “But you see, things are not always as they seem at first glance.”
With that, he approached Juro and knelt beside him with a compassionate expression. He placed a hand on his shoulder as Juro writhed and emitted sickening sounds.
“In fact, the concoction contained a powerful purgative,” the professor explained. “Right now, you are violently evacuating everything that was in your stomach and intestines. But don’t worry, the effect is temporary. It’s good for eliminating toxins from the body!”
Juro tried to curse him, but could only vomit more. The professor patted his back.
“Take it easy, son. You’ll feel as good as new soon,” he consoled him. “And hopefully, you’ve learned a valuable lesson: not to rush blindly, without first analyzing the situation well. That is the path to suffering and deception.”
Everyone watched the scene, dumbfounded. No one had expected such an outcome.
The professor stood up and addressed the rest of the class again with a serious expression.
“Remember this, young people. Life rarely conforms to our simplistic expectations of heroes and villains, victory and defeat,” he continued. “There are infinite shades of gray between black and white. An act of apparent kindness can conceal dark intentions. An action that seems cruel may be motivated by compassion.”
Everyone kept a respectful silence in the face of his words.
“The lines between good and evil are more blurred than we think, shifting like the sands of the desert,” he emphasized. “The decisions we make, the judgments we pass, are often based on our subjective perception of what’s happening around us. But always remember that reality is more complicated than that, and the sooner you accept that reality, the better prepared you will be to face the challenges of the real world, where there will not always be absolute answers.”
The professor surveyed the room, stopping at each face.
“This lesson is an invitation to open your minds, to question your assumptions, to humbly seek a deeper understanding before judging,” he said solemnly. “Only then can you glimpse the truth that lies beneath the surface of things.”
With that, the professor winked at them mischievously.
“Now, who wants to try the next plant?”