Chapter 22 - One Of The Monsters
Leo's heart throbbed violently in his chest as he waited for the wave of guilt to wash over him... but it never came.
After brutally murdering his teammate, Leo had expected to feel ashamed, even disgusted by his actions—but instead, a strange sense of satisfaction settled over him.
'What's wrong with me?'
'What sort of monster am I?'
The thoughts circled in his mind as he stared at the blood smeared across his arms in confusion.
'Did your companionship mean nothing to me?' Leo wondered, looking at the dead body of Felix at his feet. Yet no matter how hard he tried to summon some remorse, he couldn't find any.
There wasn't even a flicker of regret within him. Only a hollow void where his humanity should have been.
"Yep, I'm a stone cold killer. As bad, if not even worse than the others here.... Maybe I do belong in this place" Leo muttered lightly, as despite losing his memories, he felt assured of his identity as a killer after this incident.
He instinctively knew where exactly to target a man to pierce their heart, and also knew the precise method to slit one's throat to cause one minimal pain, but instant death.
These were moves deep-seated in his bones and the ease with which he performed them, told him all he needed to know about himself.
He was an assassin.
A merchant of death.
"I did give him a chance to fight back. I gave him twenty seconds and charged from the front.
As far as I am concerned, everything from that point onwards was fair—" Leo mouthed, as he realized the reasoning behind why he felt no remorse.
Introspecting, he felt as if by giving Felix the warning before he came at him, Leo had absolved himself of all blame.
Whatever came next, was simply fate and if Felix had the spine to fight back, he could have perhaps survived.
It wasn't Leo's fault that he was such a coward while sober and hence he could not carry the burden of his death on his shoulders.
"Monster.... Leo Skyshard, you're a monster. But it's okay, at least you are not a dirty monster" Leo concluded, as he sat cross legged beside Felix's body, waiting for the second round of tests to end.
************
(18 minutes later)
18 minutes later, as the timer on the wall turned to 00:00, all the glass wall restrictions were lifted simultaneously.
A section of the pristine white walls of the room shimmered and dissolved, revealing a hidden door through which medics flooded into the room.
Healers worked swiftly, casting spells and applying potions to stabilize the victors, their practiced hands moving with urgency.
Meanwhile, the defeated were carried away on stretchers, their lifeless bodies treated with a cold efficiency as they were tossed onto loading racks like sacks of potatoes.
Leo remained seated on his tile, watching the scene unfold with a detached gaze, until a kind looking healer approached him, holding out a vial of shimmering green liquid.
"For your stamina," the healer said, his tone brisk and kind, as Leo accepted the potion without a word.
*POP*
Uncorking the potion, Leo took a cautious sip, the liquid burning his tongue and throat slightly as it made way down to his stomach.
'Delicious–' he thought, as the potion worked its magic instantly.
A wave of warmth coursed through his body, pushing back the fatigue that had settled deep in his bones.
However, just as he tilted the vial to drink more, the sound of heavy boots clicking against the tiled floor drew his attention.
The medics around him straightened, their movements slowing as the Major entered the room, flanked by a small group of military personnel.
The Major's entry instantly drew everyone's attention, as the survivors worried whether or not there was a secret round 3 waiting for them at the end of the Major's speech.
Fortunately though, it did not seem to be the case, for the Major began his speech by congratulating all for finally making it into the academy.
"Congratulations," the Major said, his voice sharp and unwavering. "You've proven your worth. Out of the hundreds of thousands who applied, you are the 125 individuals who have earned the right to join our prestigious Assassin Wing of the Rodova Military Academy."
"You've endured trials that tested your strength, your instincts, and your resolve. You've made sacrifices—some harder than others. But let me make one thing clear: this was only the beginning." The Major said, his tone sounding congratulatory, but also ominous.
"Outside this chamber," the Major continued, gesturing toward the newly revealed exit door, "transport ships are waiting to take each of you to the academy grounds. There, you will receive your student identification badges and the official academy robes. These are not just ceremonial garments—they mark you as a part of the elite."
The mention of robes and badges elicited a few murmurs among the survivors, but most remained quiet, too drained to do much more than listen.
The Major's gaze swept across the room, landing briefly on Leo and then moving on. "Tomorrow, the aptitude testing and orientation will begin. Every one of you is expected to attend, dressed in your academy robes and nothing else. Failure to comply will result in immediate expulsion."
Leo's brow furrowed slightly at the last statement. He had not even officially entered the academy and yet there were threats of expulsion already being made.
Even now, there seemed to be no room for error.