"Five bodies were found dead some time ago. A new student, an alchemist, and three sharpshot students. Suspects are already captured, and you all know the consequences of this action," a baritone voice announced over the institute's speaker system, echoing around the place. The tone was formal but carried a hint of fury.
"What’s the consequence of killing someone?" I asked bluntly, with my curiosity feigning though I already knew the answer.
Sandra quickly hushed me before answering. "Death, but not just death—a painful one," she whispered. My lips turned into an "O" as if I was surprised with her answer. She promised to explain more once we were back in our dorm. I nodded while paying close attention as the speaker continued.
---
"So, this is the hall of the greatest and most successful members of the Shadowveil family. Here is Aurcel. He almost won the tournament representing our family once, but he was cheated out of it.
Aurcel? That name sounded familiar.
"And this is Xaelleine. She secured third place overall and was the best Viperclaw student there ever was. Though she wasn't originally a Shadowveil student, due to her remarkable effort and assistance to Aurcel, her partner, and to our family, she was considered one of us."
Xaelleine, huh? I glanced at her large portrait. She wore glasses and had an air of intelligence. She seemed like she knew everything.
"Wait, you two actually look alike. Is she your sister or a family member?" Sandra asked. I looked again at the portrait. There was no way we were related.
"No," I answered simply and kept walking.
Sandra then explained that there were three types of offenses in this school.
"The light, the moderate, and the extreme."
"Light offenses are symbolized by a yellow card. Examples include violating simple rules like not throwing trash in the right trashcan," she explained.
My expression remained stoic. This seemed like a child's play. How could the best graduates come from this institute?
"Moderate offenses are represented by an orange card. Examples include physically hurting someone or participating in prohibited events."
"And finally, the red card represents extreme or major offenses, like killing someone. If you ever kill someone, you'll be in serious trouble," she emphasized dramatically.
"If they notice me," I joked. Her expression turned serious.
Stolen from its rightful author, this tale is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.
"Everyone notices. So, better not do it. Unless—" She cut herself off again, withholding information.
I hated when people do that. "Unless what?" I pressed.
"Unless the school allows you."
---
The school allows me to kill? That couldn’t be true. Why would they allow students to kill each other? That was messed up.
"Anne, am I right?" I was startled to find Amy at my room door. I hadn't even noticed her approach.
She's quite a sneak.
"Yes, that's me," I replied.
"I apologize for the informalities due to what happened earlier. Don't worry, the culprit has been found and is now being questioned," she said, and I felt somewhat relieved. That guidance officer must be ashamed for trying to make me admit to a crime I didn't commit.
"Well, with everything that's happened, I failed to properly orient you about the school's rules and procedures. Let me introduce myself. I’m Amy Nightfall, the school counselor," she said, before getting to the point.
She explained the rules of the school. The curfew was at 9 PM, and no one was allowed out after that time. While everything around the institute could be used, it all had to be paid for. She mentioned markets, malls, and various stores within the institute. After covering the basics, she handed me a phone.
"What’s this for?" I asked, confused as I already had a phone.
"It’s a special phone that tracks your achievements on the premises. It’s also used for purchasing things here," she explained, piquing my curiosity further.
"How about money? Is it not used here?" I asked, and she laughed.
What was so funny about that?
"Oh honey, money is useless here. You have to earn everything. Every day, there will be tasks for you to complete. You can avoid doing them, but you’ll have to pay the amount required. On the other hand, you can earn digital coins by completing tasks. There are also special prizes for completing tasks, but if you don’t, you’ll be punished. The punishment depends on the task you failed to complete," she explained.
This was unusual. A place where real money was worthless? How was that even possible?
"Here’s a million digital coins to start with. Your balance can either go up or down depending on your performance. For your schedule and school uniform, you can go to the store on North Eastwing. It's not that hard to find," she said before leaving my room. The door closed behind her, and I was left alone with my thoughts.
I looked at the phone she had given me. It was heavy and thick, a phone that is similar to the one I had however Its functionality seemed limited. As Amy said, my account showed a balance of one million digital coins. I scanned through the phone’s features, finding tasks both for myself and for a family group. Each task had a specific time allotted, as stated in the manual.
Curiously, I checked my tasks and found one standing out:
Buy a Katana (23:54:08).
---
The market was quiet when I arrived. A few students were browsing the stalls, their faces tense and watchful. The silence was unsettling, as if something dangerous is just out of sight. I couldn’t shake the feeling that I was being watched.
So I just walked further there. I found the store that sold katanas and approached the counter. An aged man stood behind it, his eyes sharp and assessing.
"How much for this Katana?" I asked, pointing to one displayed prominently.
"That would be 64,000 digital coins," he replied.
I was taken aback. "64,000?" I repeated, needing to be sure I had heard correctly.
"You must be new here, kiddo," the man said with a wry smile. "That katana is not just any sword. It's a piece of art, with intricate craftsmanship, historical significance, and cultural value. Hand-forged by master swordsmiths using traditional methods passed down through generations. The process can take months to complete."
He showed me the katana’s features, his hands moving with reverence over the blade. "The quality of the materials, such as high-grade steel, and the meticulous attention to detail in creating a perfectly balanced and aesthetically exquisite weapon contribute to its high value."
Despite the cost, I found myself agreeing to buy it. The katana was heavier than I expected, its weight, a constant reminder of the fortune I had just spent. I left the stall, the sword in hand, wondering if it would be worth it.
---
As I walked out of the market, I heard noises coming from a nearby alley. My curiosity grew as I moved towards the sound, keeping my senses sharp and my guard up.
"Curiosity may kill the cat," I thought, "But this cat never fears death."
I crept closer, staying hidden until I could make out the voices clearly.
"A simple task, and you couldn't even do it," a man snarled.
"You know how much money we would lose because of this? You're such an imbecile," another voice chimed in.
"But the alchemist died, sir," came a desperate reply.
"Yeah, and so did your companions. You're going to pay for what you've done. If LG knew about this, you'd be in even bigger trouble."
I listened intently until the voices faded. The mention of someone named LG intrigued and unnerved me. Whoever LG was, they were someone to be feared.
I slipped away, my mind racing with questions. Who was LG? What kind of power did they hold?
I this really the school for me?