CLEAVER OF SIN

As Darissa's door closed behind him, Asher let out a long sigh, one that carried the weight of quiet defeat. He had started the day with the intention of recruiting William, but that attempt had ended in rejection, since William had made it clear that he came as a package deal with Finch. Now, to make matters worse, Darissa and Ryaen had turned him down as well, explaining that they had already formed a team with the princess herself.

"It seems I'll be heading back to William's room," Asher muttered gently as he began walking down the dimly lit hallway. His footsteps echoed faintly against the polished marble floor. There was no one else left whom he could reasonably recruit. Yes, the Academy was full of strong individuals, some even outside the top ten, but Asher preferred to surround himself with people he understood, rather than strangers whose abilities and temperaments were unknown to him.

'Hmm… I wonder why the Prince and Princess aren't on the same team,' Asher thought as he strolled along, his mind turning over the matter.

'If they're not together, then the Prince has probably already recruited Beryon Ravencroft and Caelan Stormveil,' he reasoned silently. 'Truly, the strong only stand with the strong. The top ten are already gathering among themselves.'

With a tired sigh, Asher pushed the thought aside. There was no point in brooding over what he could not change. He had never been one to dwell on politics or alliances for too long; his focus remained on progress, on doing what needed to be done.

When he finally arrived once more at William's door, he gave it a firm knock before stepping back slightly. Moments later, the door creaked open, revealing Finch standing there once again. Without exchanging a single word, Asher stepped inside, and Finch quietly closed the door behind him.

William was exactly where Asher had left him, seated out on the balcony, his posture calm and composed, a glass of juice in hand and a jug of the same drink resting on the small round table beside him. The afternoon light filtered through the open space, casting warm tones across the balcony floor.

"You've returned already?" William asked, his lips curling into a faint, amused smile as his gaze shifted toward Asher. "It seems they didn't need much convincing, after all, you're literally Rank One."

Asher exhaled softly at William's words. With a simple flick of his wrist, a glass appeared in his hand. He poured himself a serving from the jug resting on the table, the liquid catching the sunlight as it filled the glass.

"I've come back to recruit you both, you and Finch," Asher said directly, his tone carried no trace of pride, only practicality.

William raised an eyebrow, mild confusion flickering across his face. "What happened?" he asked. Although he had his suspicions, he preferred hearing the explanation rather than guessing.

"Darissa and Ryaen already formed a team with Vaelra," Asher explained, his expression steady. "When I went to Darissa's room to recruit her first, I found the other two there. I made my proposal, but they turned me down, they said they'd already decided to form an all-women team."

William's gaze shifted toward Finch, who sat quietly to the side. The moment their dark eyes met, both men burst into laughter, the kind that came from shared understanding rather than mockery.

William was laughing at the absurdity of Finch's luck. The very Tenth Sun who had rejected him earlier was now back to recruit him, barely a few minutes later. It was almost poetic in its irony.

Asher simply watched them, confused but unconcerned. He didn't understand what they found so funny, yet he could tell it was one of those silent, inside-joke moments between friends. Choosing not to ask, he remained unbothered, sipping his juice in silence.

After several moments, their laughter died down, both William and Finch wiping the faint tears that had gathered at the corners of their eyes.

"So," Asher asked, setting his glass down, "are you in or out?"

"Do you even need to ask?" William replied with a small. "We're in."

"Thank you, Tenth Sun," Finch added politely from the side.

Asher turned toward Finch, a faint smile tugging at his lips. "Aren't you angry… or at least… something?" he asked calmly.

Most people in Finch's position, those who had been rejected at first only to be chosen later out of necessity, would have felt insulted. Being treated as an afterthought was enough to stir resentment in anyone. But Finch merely shook his head, his voice even and composed as he replied,

"Why should I be, Tenth Sun? The world is one where the strong make the rules and the weak obey. And I," he said with an indifferent shrug, "am part of the weak. What would anger achieve? What power do I have to make my anger matter? I simply recognize reality, nothing more."

He paused briefly before adding with finality, "Besides, just by being near the Tenth Sun, I'm sure I'll gain unimaginable benefits."

For a few seconds, silence lingered between them, broken only by the soft rustle of wind sweeping across the balcony.

Asher regarded Finch quietly before speaking again, his tone light but sincere. "You can call me Asher from now on."

The words struck Finch like thunder. For a moment, his thoughts went completely blank. 'Did he just…?'

He understood the weight of what Asher had just said. It wasn't a mere permission, it was an acknowledgment. The Tenth Sun, the strongest among the students, had just accepted him as a friend.

Finch had always assumed that his only connection to Asher existed through William, nothing more than a distant acquaintance. But now, that had changed. The barrier between them had fallen, and he had been welcomed into Asher's inner circle.

He sat frozen for a few heartbeats, unable to process it. Then, after a moment of quiet disbelief, he nodded, slowly at first, before smiling like a child who had just caught Santa Claus in the act of placing gifts beneath the Christmas tree.

If his Good Luck ability could take physical form, Finch thought he would embrace it right now. He had long developed the habit of attributing every fortunate event in his life to that ability.

There was, of course, no evidence to suggest that his Good Luck had influenced Darissa, Vaelra, and Ryaen to form a team at precisely the right moment, or that it had somehow caused Asher to return and offer him friendship. But Finch didn't care. In his heart, it was all the doing of his Good Luck, and nothing could convince him otherwise.

William watched him with a gentle smile. He was genuinely happy for Finch, his friend had just crossed an invisible line that few could even approach. After all, both of them were merely heirs of a Barony, individuals who had never imagined forming such a connection to a Ducal household, much less the Wargrave family itself.

As the breeze brushed past, William leaned back in his chair, his thoughts drifting for a moment. 'Maybe one day,' he mused silently, 'I'll meet the First Sun… or even the Duke himself.'