CLEAVER OF SIN

Asher felt the familiar ripple of space stir once again as the blinding white light consumed him whole. In that brief moment of distortion, he could not help but feel as though his comprehension of spatial understanding was deepening, his awareness expanding with each successive teleportation.

But he knew this was only an illusion, a shallow sensation. No true progress was made simply by being transported from one place to another. Still, the subtle pull and bend of reality brushed against his senses, teasing him with a power just beyond his reach.

When the light faded, solid ground pressed beneath his boots. Asher opened his eyes, blessing this filthy world with his purple gaze.

Around him, the scene unfolded in an all-too-familiar manner. Students were once again vomiting violently, unable to endure the disorienting waves of teleportation. The sound of retching echoed across the room, mixed with groans and muffled curses.

Some of them, having already endured it once the previous day, managed to control themselves better this time. Their faces merely tightened with discomfort, lips curling as they forced the nausea down.

Others, however, fared no better than before. They clutched their stomachs, trembling, coughing up saliva as their bodies rejected the experience altogether.

Beside Asher, William stood perfectly calm and steady. His expression betrayed no sign of weakness, as though he had already adapted after experiencing teleportation only once.

Asher turned his head slightly toward him, studying him for a fraction of a second, before shifting his gaze away and keeping his thoughts carefully hidden. There was no need to speak.

Up ahead, his eyes landed on Jane. She stood erect with a posture of complete authority, her back pressed lightly against the wall. Her arms were crossed over her chest, beside her was a black door.

Asher's sharp eyes scanned the chamber in full. It resembled the very first room they had appeared in yesterday upon their arrival at the Star Academy, yet there were subtle differences that kept it from being identical.

'What is with these people and throwing us into rooms with four white walls and a single door?' Asher mused inwardly, though he had the wisdom not to voice his thoughts aloud.

The consequences of a misplaced word could be dire. If Jane decided to disqualify him for insolence, all of this would be over before it truly began.

His gaze lingered on a large orb mounted on the wall directly above the black door. Its smooth surface seemed dormant for now.

Around the room, rows of chairs were neatly arranged, almost as though the students were expected to sit and wait for extended periods.

At Jane's feet sat a wooden box. Its top was sealed, save for a small, perfectly round hole, just large enough for a single hand to pass through. Through his Omni Perception, Asher's senses pierced beyond the exterior. Inside, he saw stacks of folded papers, each prepared meticulously. The intention was clear: each student would soon be required to draw one.

Jane's voice cut sharply through the lingering haze of sickness in the room. "Yesterday, we cleaned after your mess. That will not happen again."

Her words silenced the faint groaning, and every head lifted toward her. The implications were clear, and many frowned deeply. If no one would clean the room, then the puddles of vomit would remain where they were, forcing everyone to coexist with the stench and filth. It was an unpleasant thought, yet Jane's tone left no room for negotiation.

Asher, however, remained unmoved. Nobody near him had vomited, and with a simple adjustment, he reduced the range of his Omni Perception, shutting out the disgusting images from entering his awareness. To him, it was nothing worth dwelling on.

Jane's expression remained perfectly indifferent. She neither acknowledged the discomfort etched into their faces nor offered any sympathy.

"You are not children," she continued "we will not coddle you. If you cannot stomach your own weakness, you are free to leave now."

Her boot shifted slightly as she tapped the box at her feet, pushing it forward. "Each of you will take one paper. The exam will begin soon. Be quick about it."

A girl from the front row moved forward hesitantly. Bending down, she lifted the box carefully and slid her slender hand into the hole. A moment later, she withdrew her hand, unfolding the paper she retrieved.

A bold number, 83, was written across it. She nodded, then passed the box to the student behind her. That girl drew number 12.

The process continued, slow but steady, as the box moved through the group of students. Each person reached in, pulled out a paper, and revealed their number to the room.

Nobody yet understood the purpose of these numbers, but all of them knew instinctively that their fates were tied to them.

Eventually, the box reached William. He smiled faintly as he withdrew his slip, turning it around to reveal the number 179. With an easy flick of his wrist, he handed the box to Asher.

Asher's hand slipped into the hole without hesitation. His fingers brushed against the folded papers, and he selected one at random. Drawing it out, he unfolded it with calm precision. The number 233 stared back at him.

Minutes later, every student had received their number. The box was returned to Jane, who had not shifted from her position at the wall. All eyes turned toward her, waiting for the explanation that would shed light on the random numbers.

Many of them had anticipated a written test, a direct battle, or perhaps even another grueling physical challenge. Instead, they were met with this cryptic system of numbered slips.

Jane's lips finally parted, her voice steady and clear. "Now, listen carefully. This is your first exam. I will not be telling you what it entails."

Her words fell heavily across the room. Confusion sparked immediately, though none dared interrupt her.

"You see the orb above the door?" Jane gestured casually toward it. "When it glows green with your number displayed upon it, you may leave this room. Outside, you will face whatever is waiting for you. Until then, you are not permitted to leave." She paused, letting the weight of her words sink in.

"If you attempt to leave before your number is displayed, you will be disqualified instantly. Furthermore, anything you see or hear outside, you are forbidden from revealing to those who remain here. The only time you may speak of it is when the exam concludes and all of you are released together."

Her gaze swept the room, sharp and unyielding. "The orb does not display numbers in any particular order. It is completely random. My advice to you is simple: take a seat, conserve your strength, and wait patiently."

When she finished, silence settled across the chamber.

"Any questions?" she asked.

For a moment, nobody moved. Then, William raised his hand. Jane turned toward him, her chin dipping ever so slightly in acknowledgment.

"What happened to the rest of the students, the ones who were standing on the staircase? I don't see them here," William asked.

Jane's answer came swiftly, without the slightest hesitation. "Disqualified."

A ripple of shock passed through the crowd.

"I told all of you to wait in the lobby," she said calmly, "but it seems some of you thought I was joking."

A girl to the side raised her voice timidly. "Then… where were they sent?"

This time, Jane's lips curved into a small, almost playful smile. "Back to the Canestane Barony."

The room fell utterly silent.

Almost as one, every student swallowed hard.