CLEAVER OF SIN

William simply nodded at Asher's words as he, too, smiled faintly. Although many would have abandoned Finch without a second thought, William was not that type of person. Finch might not have been as talented or gifted as him, but that hardly mattered to William. In his eyes, friendship was not determined by strength or power. Besides, with Finch's strange streak of luck, who could say how strong he might become in the future? Perhaps fate had something peculiar in store for him.

"Since you don't have a third person to replace me," William said after a moment, leaning back with a casual smile, "just leave Ryaen and take Finch and me instead." His tone carried light humor, but there was also sincerity behind it, a counterproposal that tied him and Finch together as a single, inseparable package.

But Asher shook his head. "I still have Darissa to recruit as your replacement," he replied plainly, his tone calm and flat.

Hearing Asher's words, William merely nodded and said nothing more. There was no tension between them, only mutual respect for each other's decisions.

After a moment of quiet, Asher asked, "Why didn't you head to the Logistics and Missions Operations Hall?"

William took a sip of his juice before answering, "Well, after the Prince's announcement, I figured that place would be crowded. There was no reason to go there and shove through a sea of people just to get my mission details. I can go later when things calm down."

"True," Asher agreed after a brief pause. Without another word, he rose gracefully from his seat.

"You're leaving already?" William asked, glancing up at him while taking another sip from his glass.

"Yeah," Asher replied, his tone straightforward. "I have to recruit Darissa and Ryaen into my team. If I don't move fast, someone might snatch both of them before I get the chance." He gave a brief nod of farewell before stepping out of the balcony, his calm footsteps echoing faintly against the marble floor as he headed for the door. A soft click sounded as the door closed behind him, leaving the two friends alone.

Within the balcony, Finch gazed at William for a few seconds, his expression unreadable.

"What?" William asked with a teasing smile, setting his glass down. "Is there something on my face?"

Finch stayed silent for a moment before finally replying, "Thanks." His tone was quiet, but the gratitude behind it was unmistakable.

William raised an eyebrow, then chuckled lightly. "Friends don't say thanks to each other," he said, his voice filled with warmth. "Just make sure to use that weird, overpowered luck of yours during the mission. After all, I turned down the Tenth Sun for you."

Finch didn't say a word. He simply smiled and nodded, his eyes glinting faintly with emotion. Deep down, he knew that William had no idea about his special ability, the so-called Good Luck that always guided his fate.

William had assumed Finch's luck was nothing more than coincidence, since he had witnessed him stumble into one lucky encounter after another. Still, Finch found comfort in the fact that his friend believed in him, even if only jokingly.

Outside William's room, Asher made his way down the corridor toward another door marked with the number "7." This was Darissa's room, conveniently close to William's. Since he was already nearby, he decided to visit her before heading off to find Ryaen. Arriving before the door, he gave a few firm knocks and then took a step back, waiting patiently.

Within moments, the door swung open to reveal a young woman with soft pink hair and bright green eyes, Darissa Camber.

"Tenth Sun?" she said, her voice tinged with surprise. "I wasn't expecting you." Though she had met Asher about a month ago, during that memorable encounter on her balcony, she had known it was a one-time incident, nothing more.

"May I come in?" Asher asked politely, his tone smooth and refined, his posture that of a perfect gentleman.

"Please," Darissa replied, stepping aside as she gestured for him to enter.

Asher gave a slight nod and walked in without hesitation. Despite entering a woman's private quarters, he felt no trace of awkwardness. He was composed and confident, a man who had long outgrown the unease that such situations might cause in others.

The rooms of the top ten students shared the same architectural layout, though their interiors varied depending on personal taste. Familiar with the structure, Asher made his way toward the living room without waiting for guidance. But as he pushed open the door and stepped inside, he paused slightly, for he saw two familiar figures already seated there.

The first had brown hair and matching brown eyes, her posture calm yet regal. There was an unmistakable air of authority about her, the kind only those of royal blood possessed. Just from the way she sat, one could tell she came from a noble lineage. She was none other than Vaelra Lux Vanthelmor, the Imperial Princess herself.

Opposite her sat another woman, tall, poised, and strikingly beautiful. Her long white hair cascaded elegantly down her back, forming a captivating contrast with her deep black eyes. The quiet composure she exuded was both alluring and intimidating. She was Ryaen Silvershade, heiress to one of the Empire's great Dukedoms.

The moment Asher entered, both women turned their gazes toward him simultaneously.

"Ohhh, who would have thought the Tenth Sun himself would come to visit Lady Camber?" Vaelra said playfully, her lips curling into a mischievous smile as her eyes darted between Asher and Darissa, who stood just a step behind him.

Asher immediately realized what this meant. He had likely walked into a meeting of a newly formed team.

"It seems I've interrupted something. My apologies," Asher said politely, his tone composed. But inwardly, his mind was already spinning. 'They've already formed a team,' he thought, analyzing the situation instantly.

"What might I help you with, Tenth Sun?" Darissa finally asked, walking toward one of the chairs before gracefully taking a seat.

Asher didn't sit. He remained standing, tall, calm, and composed, his sharp gaze shifting subtly between the three women. He had already guessed that they might have joined forces, but he had to confirm it.

"I came to ask if you'd join my team for a mission," he said evenly. "And after that, I would have approached Lady Ryaen as well."

His words caused a brief pause in the room. Both Ryaen and Darissa exchanged glances before turning their attention back to him.

"It seems you're late, Tenth Sun," Vaelra said with a faint, teasing smirk. "The three of us have already formed a team, a team of powerful women. A team consisting entirely of female members within the top ten."

"If you had come earlier," Ryaen added, her voice calm and confident, "we might have been teammates. I respect your strength, Tenth Sun." Her deep black eyes locked onto his purple ones. There was a flicker of challenge within them, not hostility, but curiosity. She wanted to test herself against him, to see how far she had come since their last encounter during the entrance examination.

She wasn't naive enough to believe she could defeat him. She knew Asher's talent was extraordinary, almost monstrous. Yet, having trained rigorously for the past month, she wanted to see the gap between them for herself.

Asher nodded silently, acknowledging both their words and the situation. There was no need for further discussion. He understood perfectly.

"Until next time, ladies," he said with his usual calm smile. With that, he turned gracefully and walked toward the door, his movements steady and unhurried. The soft sound of the door closing behind him marked his quiet exit, leaving behind an air of mystery and respect.

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AUTHOR'S NOTE: We still have five days to achieve our goal. We still need your golden tickets.