"No witnesses."
"What do you mean, no witnesses?"
Aurelia's wand begins to glow light blue.
The rogue—Koan, I assume—walks toward us slowly. His dagger glows a faint purple.
Aurelia looks at me and moves her head toward the axe beside my bed.
"Can you still wield it?"
"I'm not sure. But I can try."
He dashes forward. Aurelia fires a beam of water—he dodges. I run the other direction, toward the axe.
I turn. He's close. His dagger ready. His posture too committed.
I duck. He swings—cutting deep into the wall.
I move back. The axe is six beds away. I need to move faster.
He adjusts. I look back and see Aurelia point her wand at us. I roll to the side as the beam hits the man, sending him flying into the wall.
He jumps up. Runs at me.
He's slower than Dominio. The first time I fought Dominio, he was teleporting. This guy? Manageable.
He dashes again. I grab a bed and flip it, blocking his path. I move around and kick his back, throwing him off balance.
I keep running. Jump over the first bed. The second. The third.
The axe feels further away than it should. Like I'm on a treadmill. Like the room is stretching.
I look back. Both his feet connect with my chest—throwing me against the wall.
He runs at me. Aurelia's water snakes wrap around him, stopping him.
I look up. She's looking at me from across the room. Her mouth moves—urgent. What is she saying?
I look right. The man is gone.
I twist my body, kicking at his neck—but I feel nothing.
He's not there.
Then his feet collide with my shoulder, slamming me against the floor.
What's going on?
He runs at me again. I raise my knee—it connects with his chin. I move my body and kick his jaw. But again—I feel nothing.
Every time I hit him, he disappears. Like he's flickering.
He's slower than Dominio. I can grab him. I just need to let him hit me.
High risk. High reward.
I get into my stance. He jumps from wall to wall. Lands. Runs at me.
I blink. There are four of him.
I stand defensive.
One slashes—I feel nothing. Another slashes—nothing. I feel a cut on my side. Blood escapes.
Found you.
I open my arms and wrap him in a bear hug.
"Aurelia. Shoot."
She points her wand. A massive water serpent erupts, smashing against the rogue's chest—throwing both of us against the wall.
I let go. He collapses.
The infinite beds. The windows. Gone.
My senses come back.
I get up. Give Aurelia a thumbs up. She smiles and runs to me.
"You okay?" She holds my shoulder.
"I'm alright." I sit on the bed, holding my side.
"It's clear Zora sent this guy after we snuck out. He probably didn't want us to know he's a psychopath."
I look at the rogue's body.
His skin shifts. The light complexion smudges like makeup. Underneath—black skin. Purple patterns across his forearms. Like island tattoos.
"Who are you?" I whisper.
A voice interrupts.
"His name is Koan. He's from a place far, far from here."
I turn. Zora leans against the doorframe. Arms crossed. Looking like a father who caught his child stealing.
"Aurelia, I told you not to do something. But clearly, you didn't listen." He laughs to himself. "Is it a Zendorian thing? Or just nobles being nosy?"
Aurelia points her wand at him. "So you're a psychopath."
"Of course I am." His voice is calm. "Even if I wasn't, I'd still kill bastards to get to my goal."
Blue screens materialize in front of us. Handwriting—old, Shakespearean—scrawls across them.
Rows of names and faces. At the top, in bold: CHOOSE WHO YOU SUSPECT TO BE A PSYCHOPATH. THE ROOKIE WITH THE MOST VOTES WILL BE ELIMINATED.
The list scrolls on its own. Names. Surnames. Faces.
I see Dominio. Rela. Aurelia. Dozens of rookies I've never met.
Then I see my face.
Zain. Between Zora and Rowan. Like the moderators are mocking me.
I'm not a psychopath. I didn't kill for points. I killed to survive.
But the priest. The war. The jaw I tore from a man's face.
In their eyes—I'm no different.
Aurelia looks at me. Her eyes are glued to the screen. Her jaw is tight.
"Three days," she murmurs. "Three days have led to this point."
She glances at Zora. Her eyes narrow. She speaks in Zendorian—a whisper, a curse. Cursing Zora and Rowan for killing people for this. Now it's her chance to get rid of men like them.
I look at the names side by side. Zora and Rowan. Almost like the moderators see it as a joke. Even after all they've done—putting the two men who killed rookies.
Then I see my face. My name. Between the two.
The psychopath in the eyes of some. The man who killed a priest. The man who declared war. The man who ripped the jaw off a man.
I'm not even a psychopath. But I honestly act like one in the eyes of others.
How ironic. The man who tries to stop evil through evil deeds.
Aurelia looks at me. "Zain, you're not like them. I understand the things you did. You acted out of impulse. Even I killed that priest on this ship with you. You're not alone in this. I guess we're both psychopaths." She pauses. "But unlike Rowan and the Eighty—we trust each other. We appreciate one another. Make your choice, Zain. I trust your decision. I'll support you."
I look up at Zora. He's sitting on a bed across from us. Arms crossed. Smiling.
"Make your choice." His voice is calm. Amused. "Choose which rookie you think is a psychopath."
"Who will it be, Zain? Me—your only ally? Or some poor rookie who probably won't even reach the Highlands?"
He leans forward.
"Choose wisely, Zain. Choose wisely, Aurelia."
I look down at the names. Rowan. Zora.
A pen appears. Blue. Glowing.
I grab it. Sign my name. Next to Rowan.
The pen and screen disappear.
Aurelia finishes writing. Looks at me.
We both smile. Nod.
Zora gets up, picks up Koan, and walks toward the door.
"I hope you made the right choice."
He leaves. Closes the door.
Aurelia sits next to me. She places her head on my shoulder.
"I'm tired of this, Zain. All of it. The killing. The scheming."
She's quiet for a moment.
"A small part of me regret the things I've done here. But I'm glad I'm still alive."
"Me too." I look at the ceiling. "But I'm glad you're all alive. I started off alone... and now look."
She laughs. Soft.
"You're a unique man, Zain. Really unique."
I laugh with her.
The psychopath exam is over.
I'm alive. I'm back at full strength.
And I'm ready to face the world again.