As the days passed, more and more children arrived at Eclipse. After seven days, the welcome ceremony was organized. The children gathered in the palace courtyard.

  Ms. Celestine stood at the top of the turbine with four teenagers, around sixteen to eighteen years old. They wore identical black outfits specifically designed for assassins. Crystal daggers hung at their waists, and their faces were concealed behind black or grey masks.

  Celestine was speaking with the teachers while the children chatted among themselves. Some discussed the rumours they had heard about this place. Others talked about the miracles that occurred after the Goddess descended. A few silently grieved for their families.

  Soul stood at a corner, observing the four masked assassins. One of them felt his gaze and turned toward him. Realizing it might seem rude, Soul quickly looked away.

  They look so cool. They seem younger than the teachers. Are they students like us? If so, will I also get that outfit? he wondered.

  “Hey, aren’t you from Eldoria Arcanum?” a boy asked.

  “Yes, I was there,” Soul replied, trying to recall if he knew him.

  The boy was tall and muscular, dressed in fine garments that reflected his noble status. Most people would have recognized him instantly, but Soul struggled even to remember names of those he had met multiple times. So remembering someone after looking them once was impossible for him.

  “I’m Glenn Astor,” the boy said. “I was also present at the Ceremony of Attaining. They look cool, don’t they?”

  “Yes. I wonder how I would look in that outfit,” Soul said, glancing again at the masked teenagers. Then a doubt struck him. “Weren’t there only a few students who attained their powers? How are there so many children here?”

  “Eldoria isn’t the only academy where the Ceremony was held. There are five such places,” Glenn replied.

  After a pause, he leaned closer. “Do you want to know a secret?”

  Before Soul could respond properly, Celestine’s voice echoed across the courtyard.

  “I am Lyra Celestine, Headmaster of Eclipse Sanctum. This institute has raised the finest assassins in the universe. But to become one, you must endure hardship — immense hardship.”

  She gestured toward the four masked figures.

  “These are the qualified assassins of the 158th batch. Out of 500 students, only four managed to survive. Now the top assassin is going to address this event.”

  The young man in black stepped forward as Celestine moved aside.

  “Three years ago, I stood where you stand now,” he said calmly. “I admired the assassins before me. I was ready to do anything. I did everything I could.”

  He paused.

  “Today, I am one of them. I am no longer the person I once was. None of us are.”

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  He unsheathed his dagger and raised it.

  “This is the Crystal Dagger of Eclipse. Those who secure it during the final test will become assassins. But there are only four. The rest of you will die.”

  A wave of shock swept through the crowd.

  “If you have the slightest of doubt, step back now. You will be taken to the Holy Crystal. It will absorb your powers before they fully merge with your spirit. You will return to being ordinary humans. This is your last chance.”

  Confusion erupted. The students had already gambled their lives once to gain these powers and now they have to do it again. Not to mention that the stakes odds are worse this time.

  Soul clenched his fists.

  Is this some kind of test again? Why do they keep dropping such heavy twists in the beginning? I wonder how they managed to survive for 158 years? Jokes aside, I don't think I can back off here. If I want to see her again, I have to become strong.

  Only four out of six hundred stepped back.

  The assassin added softly, “Just because you have the blood of assassins doesn’t mean you can become one. I killed my comrades to stand here and you should be ready to do the same. May the Hope… May the Goddess bless you.”

  “What the? His voice. It didn't show any emotion in the beginning, but his last lines. I can sense regret in it.

  “It is like he is trying to make us quit. Yes, he doesn't want us to continue.”, Glenn thought as he was taken aback by the assassin's words.

  Later, Celestine whispered to him, “You didn’t have to reveal that much.”

  “My little brother is down there,” he replied emotionlessly. “I don’t want him to choose this path.”

  Hearing this, Celestine went silent for a moment. She seemed to understand what he meant.

  Many children decided that they don't want to continue and as a result they offered their powers to the Holy Crystal. Then Celestine came forward and said, “You have all chosen to continue this journey and I respect your decision. We have arranged a banquet for you. This is the last time you are going to have fun together so enjoy it to your fullest.”

  Her message was simple, yet it had a force that everyone felt through their hearts. The banquet started and the children devoured the dishes. Many of them belonged to the poor background, so a feast like this was non-negotiable for them. Soul was looking at the food when Glenn said, “Soul, do you want to meet the assassins from before?”

  “Can you do this?”

  “Yes, one of them is my brother. I can identify his voice anywhere. Let's go. We don't have much time. They might leave at any moment.”

  [In a hallway of the palace.]

  The four assassins were walking together, but none of them was saying anything. The echoing of their footsteps was pierced by a voice from behind.

  “Harold”, screamed Glen while running towards his brother. Soul was following right behind him. Though three years younger, Glen was same height as his big brother. Harold was facing his brother while waving the other three assassins to continue.

  “It's been three years, Harold since you last talked to us, mother and father always talks about you.”, Glenn asked while catching his breath.

  “Code of Assassin. I don't have any family until I retire, so you better stop calling me, Harold. What is your level?”

  “Level four”, Glenn replied.

  Harold took a deep breath as he was disappointed with this answer. He said, “It's not enough. You are not enough to continue on this path. Go, talk to Miss Celestine and surrender your powers.

  Glenn was in disbelief. He met his brother after such a long period of time and yet there was no sign of love in his voice. His parents always compared him to his brother. Harold was good at everything while Glenn was just average which always made him felt inferior. He time and time tried to be better than him at something so that his parents might felt proud of him but it never happened. The constant taunt, comparison and abuse made him hate himself. The only person who gave him power during this time was his brother. He encouraged him to push forward. But now, the person standing in front of him is feeling like someone else. He is not the person who had protected him from his traumatic past. Who is he? ''You know I can't do it. I can't go back. I can't face them. I… I can't leave.''

  Glenn was repeating his words. He was frustrated.

  “Why did they send you here in the first place? This is madness.”, Harold thought.

  “It's up to you to choose Glenn, goodbye.”, Harold said while walking away.