Karma, steam bun in hand, gesticulated at a sleek black door.

"This"—munch—"the one?"

"That it is. Lord Lance has assured me our accommodations are of the highest standard," replied Lorenzö, procuring a Jade Slip.

Blinking, Karma repeated, "Our? I'm flattered, truly; I'm just not sure our relationship is ready for such a big step …"

Lorenzö's eyes nearly popped out from his skull.

"You ... What ... Huh!?"

"I'm not in the market for a Daoist partner," intoned Karma.

Patting Lorenzö's shoulder, he comforted, "I am sorry. Please respect my disinterest in the art of romance. My heart has room for only one; it wouldn't be fair to you or any other."

Lorenzö quivered, grunting curtly, "I'm engaged."

Raising a steam bun to his lips, Karma paused. Scrunching his nose, he scolded, "You would rather sleep with an adolescent over your own fiance? One whom you've only known a few hours?"

Complexion morphing between anger and indignance, Lorenzö mutely offered Karma the Jade Slip.

"My hands are full," complained Karma, raising a half-eaten bun in one hand and a bag of ten more in the other.

Lorenzö stared.

"You're no fun."

Grumbling, Karma crammed the remainder of his meal in his mouth and snatched the Jade Slip.

"Open!"

Creak.

Waltzing into the apartment, Karma gasped at its opulent interior. The expansive living room roughly equaled Elder Li's lecture hall in size. Handcrafted, platinum furnishings stood atop lustrous maplewood flooring, interspersed with woolen carpets dyed in a midnight blue.

Karma turned to Lorenzö with his hand thrust backward, squealing, "I get to live here? For free?"

Lorenzö nodded.

Karma, sporting a massive grin, froze upon recalling Senior Brother Lione's interrogation when presented with the 'free' vouchers.

Eyeing Lorenzö suspiciously, he questioned, "Free as in free of charge? Or, pay in installments under threat of indentured servitude free?"

Karma gasped, precluding Lorenzö's response.

"Is that how they got you?" Looking left and right, he whispered, "Did it happen in this room?"

Lorenzö rubbed his forehead.

Where did this blubbering idiot come from? Did I hallucinate the terrifying individual from before?

"You did not."

Startling, Lorenzö watched Karma's playful demeanor recede into cold indifference. Darkness crept into vision as a swarm of haunting cries and ominous portents corroded his thoughts, plunging him into an inescapable hellscape.

Karma's cheerful voice cut through the encompassing oblivion, dispersing the illusion and reverting reality to its normal state: "Hello? Why won't you answer? Is it actually a scam …"

"Free! I swear it on all I hold dear, there is absolutely no charge!"

Karma arched an eyebrow.

"Truly?"

"I dare not lie."

"Then I'm at ease. Phew, had me worried there for a second."

Without further ado, Karma spread-eagled onto a plush sofa and began wriggling in its soft embrace.

Unauthorized reproduction: this story has been taken without approval. Report sightings.

Sigh—"Isn't this nice?"

Lorenzö practically shouted in response, "Supremely nice!"

**

Excusing himself, Karma retired to his bedroom: a palatial chamber belying its designation.

Somewhat accustomed to the grandeur, Karma found his way to a comfy recliner, a book cradled in his arms. Soon, flip's of pages overtook all else, shepherding tides of knowledge into a furnace of indelible curiosity.

The Mechanics of slicing originate from three fundamental maxims.

1. A dull blade does not slice; it maims.

2. A path slicing through others knows no surrender; its momentum is absolute.

3. A slice represents infinite variations, all walking on the continuum of precision.

To distill the treasure within is a personal odyssey that cannot be circumvented.

Understanding is ephemeral; nothingness imparted onto another is a gift most worthless.

What of that which is not taken but earned?

Priceless.

Placing the book down, Karma sank into his inner world as he sought inspiration from within.

When have I experienced sharpness?

After filtering through his every recollection, a vague image played out in his consciousness. Buoyed by a viscous green liquid, shards of glass raked gashes in his throat.

Momentum required little thought. Ouroboros's words carried such impossible force they had breached boundless emptiness in their reach toward Karma.

Precision came through instinct rather than logic.

Elder Li. Every discussion, as if decreed by fate, magically concludes strictly as he envisions. Any free will on the students' part is an illusion hidden within the inescapable folds of conformity.

Karma exhaled, trickling his spiritual energy-augmented Will into the surrounding environment.

Intent.

At the center of an endless expanse, numerous glinting particles ruptured bloody scars in space, capitulating to an otherworldly siphoning force.

Mechanics.

All shall conform to convergence's sovereignty.

Karma raised his finger, a glimmering azure sphere coalescing inches overhead. He felt his spiritual energy plummet as it shot out with frightening velocity, honing into the point above in an omnidirectional saber of pure light.

Karma smiled.

**

Re-entering the main living area, Karma found Lorenzö seated at its bar. Several empty receptacles lined the counter before him, save for his own cup.

"Good evening, Renzy! Could I trouble you to help me test something? It'll be real quick, I promise."

Lorenzö turned sluggishly, shrugging his shoulders in acquiescence.

"Burp. Fineeee with me. Nobody cares what old Lorenzö thinks anyway."

"That's the spirit! Hold still, I have no clue whether this will hurt or not."

Lorenzö tipped over his stool, crashing onto the floor. Crawling back, he shouted, "Wh-what are you planning on doing to me?"

Appearing slightly embarrassed, Karma explained, "It's a mix of I don't know, and I can't say. It should be harmless, however."

To Karma's shock, Lorenzö's visage became incredibly tranquil.

"I've long prepared for death. Please proceed; I only ask that my family be spared following my sacrifice."

Karma scratched his chin, enunciating, "I'll keep that in mind for the future? Anywho, let's begin with the experiment!"

Nearing Lorenzö's shocked figure, an ion beam sprouted from Karma's finger. Ouroboroi revolved in each eye as myriad golden threads projected onto reality.

Scanning the assortment, he found the member who best reminded him of Lance and took aim.

Lorenzö watched in resigned dread as the glowing blade arced through the air with a swoosh.

"Done."

"That's it? But I'm still alive!"

Karma looked at Lorenzö strangely.

"Do you ... feel any different?"

Peering down at himself, Lorenzö unassuredly voiced, "I don't think so? Everything seems normal."

"Weird. What about Lance? Any changes in your impression of him?"

"Who?"

"Lance, you know—"

Karma halted—his countenance one of intent surprise.

"Who is your employer?"

"Why, it's always been Grandmaster Frederick."

"Not his son?"

"He has no sons, only three daughters."

Before Karma could question him further, Lorenzö interrupted, "No, wait! He does have a son, his name is ..."

Following a minute of silence, he continued, "Ah, yes, Lance. Lord Lance is my employer; why ask such a silly question? Didn't I introduce myself using his name?"

Karma abstained from answering, his lips curving up into a mischievous grin.

Well, this is interesting.

**

Lance gazed down at a heap of Jade Slips scattered across his mahogany desk. One by one, he brought each to his forehead, read their contents, and then paired them with a partition of SSF.

Slowly, the pile shrank until only one remained.

Clapping his hands, Lance rose from his seat.

"Finally distributed everyone's compensation, but why do I feel like I've forgotten something?"

Exiting his study, he concluded, "Oh well. If I can't remember, it's probably inconsequential anyway."

...

As Lance scoured his pantry for a midnight snack, he felt his communication artifact buzz in his pocket.

"Yes?" he asked, grabbing a set of tea leaves.

"Lord Lance, it's Lorenzö, the one on the Abyssal Crow disciple task."

"I haven't forgotten you, Lorenzö. Why have you called?"

"Lord, was there an issue with this one's performance? I don't recall erring to such a degree—"

"I'll stop you there. Rest at ease; your work has been most satisfactory. Is there anything else?"

"Well, it's like this: I didn't receive this month's pay, and don't understand why that is."

"... I will look into it. You're likely the victim of an accounting oversight. Good night."

Lance sighed, retracing his steps to his study.

"On second thought."

Striding back, he exchanged the tea leaves for a jug of bamboo wine.

Much better.

**

Lying in bed, Karma gradually drifted into a dreamless sleep, his last introspection fading into steady breathing.

I've got no golden threads; how do others remember me?