Nobody spoke to me when I came out of the portal. I walked past familiar faces with screams ringing in my head. All the time I had invested, getting to know each and every one them…it had all been swallowed into a void.

I grabbed my head and pushed through the silent crowd as the agonized voices of those I had freshly killed rang in my head. Some were my age and some were as young as I was when I had my first exam. All those futures had been devoured by me. That was my truth and nothing could change that.

BladEagle’s desire to die made perfect sense to me now. What awaited me in the future but more voices clawing at the back of my mind?

WarWolf came out from the crowd and grabbed my hand. She pooled her power into me and she placed my hand on her.

That’s right. I have her and a child. I have to keep going. I have to pass the exam.

The sixty-nine screaming voices tore at my psyche, but no longer would I let them weaken my resolve.

BloodBlade throws a knife to the ground, gathering everyone’s attention. “There is but one final preparation before the exam. Single file line. Alphabetical order.” She slices the air and carves a portal.

We all line up and enter. I’m the last to enter, barely able to walk without WarWolf’s support.

“No matter what they make you do…I love you.” She holds my hand to her cheek and kisses it.

My hand comes out of its numb form from her heat and touches her cheek. I try to say the same but my shivering makes my words a jumble.

BunBun comes out from the line and pats my cheeks till life returns in them. She then pokes my forehead. “Looks like you got a lot of new friends with you. All I have is momma right now but one day I’ll get way more than you so don’t feel so bad. An assassin should be proud of his kills.”

I nod.

I did the right thing, didn’t I?

Right or wrong? Who knows? Natural though. Bloodshed is our life.

StarBorne spoke from behind me. “When cornered, a Weech will use its teeth to kill despite only needing some blood to live. You were cornered. Either way, the exam is nearly upon us. You must focus.”

They’re right. I need to calm myself.

Together, the Assailants enter the portal.

Jagged rocks, a red pool and a crack in the cave’s opening, letting in just a bit of sunlight greet us on the other side.

BloodBlade acknowledges that we are present. “There is said to be a crimson pool on the other side of the world brought about by the repeated slaughter of Water Primordials. Legend says the Primordials’ blood turned the entire pool red and gave it mystical properties. Kings are said to have bathed in this Fountain of Eternal Denial to avoid that which they sought to escape. Some say it is the reason why the dictator of this land retains his youthful visage despite the generations that have whisked by since his acquisition of the throne.”

“Is it safe?” asks a student.

“Well the legend says that those who regret living even a bit are absorbed by the waters and add to its magical capabilities.”

Our final exam is a test of our will to live. BunBun won’t survive this. I don’t think I will either.

I look out at the students.

Only the true loyalists will survive. This isn’t a test. It’s a culling.

BloodBlade clangs her bladed fingers together. “Before the last decision is made, there is one final preparation.” She slices the ground, forming a portal. “One at a time.” She looks over a scroll and closes the portal once the first student enters and then carves another portal.

BunBun waves us farewell when she is called upon. “I’ll be okay.”

I hope those aren’t the last words I hear from her.

WarWolf holds my hand tightly. “We should have asked Guru what the test was.”

“He has faith in us. We’ll be okay.”

Goopy didn’t say a word and entered as soon as the portal opened. StarBorne simply flashed us a smile.

WarWolf releases my hand when she’s called upon.

When it’s my turn, only a handful of students remain.

BloodBlade looks at me. “State your name for the last time.”

The last time?

“Weech.”

BloodBlade carves me my portal. “Kill yourself and you may return.”

More cryptic nonsense from the Black Guild. Am I going to fight my own shadow?

I enter a space of total darkness.

Is this the realm between realms? What was it called? I can’t remember. Too many voices.

I feel something crawl up my leg. Then another and another. The creature sinks its suckers into me.

Weeches?

I look down at the glowing parasites and grab one. It gazes into me, making my hand freeze in place.

Too cute to remove. I won’t let my story end here.

I close my eyes, erasing the cute afterimage of my attacker in my head. I then pull out my father’s blood-soaked knife.

I take you into me, not out of malice but out of devotion.

Twenty-one Weeches are dead and I’m left in total darkness.

If I had to face Weeches, then that means WarWolf is in danger. And there’s nothing I can do.

Their screams are the cutest I’ve tasted.

Eventually a RiftRipper appears to fetch me.

Guru.

“The exam has been moved up a day, but that won’t affect the plan.”

“What is the plan? I want to know now.”

“No. You must stay focused. All you must do is survive. Trust in me.”

“I do. But what about the pool of blood? If I go in it, I’ll die.”

“The Black Guild’s weapons are its lies. Seize the truth and carve the illusion.” He forms a portal and beckons me to return to the cave.

“I won’t see you until after the exam. Will I?”

Guru embraces me. “I wish there was another way.” He then pushes me into the portal.

I arrive back in the cave with the red pool and immediately search for WarWolf.

I’m feel a warm hug from behind.

“Glad ya made it through.” BunBun pats me. “Hey, I found a cheat. If you kill them when they’re happy then they sing instead of scream. I hear lotsa little dead BunBuns squeaking a symphony in my head.”

“Where is WarWolf?” I ask.

“Oh, right. She made it, but she’s not doing so well.” BunBun led me to the back.

WarWolf had a cut on her stomach and she was patching herself up. “I’m okay. Just didn’t expect a third one to come out from behind me.”

We hear the clang of metal and BloodBlade speaks. “Congratulations, you’ve shed your identity and become nobodies. Your transformation is nearly complete. Now. Enter the pool. Those who refuse will be discarded.” The RiftRipper’s shadow becomes jagged.

BunBun’s eyes shine with fear.

I hold her hand and StarBorne helps WarWolf into the pool of red.

Some of the students scream.

Bodies.

Appendages, chunks of flesh and even a few heads float in the pool.

These bodies…

We hear the clang of blades again. “The location of the Fountain of Denial has been kept secret by only the most powerful monarchs. The pool you see before you is where the students who fail come together. Cleanse yourself quickly. Then get dressed. Your true final test is at hand. Fight well and you won’t be brought back to this pool of blood.”

All the Department Heads appear and create portals.

I splash the blood on my face.

This is the blood of those I killed. This is my sacrifice. I will make sure it is not one made in vain.

I am the last to exit the red pool.

“State your name,” says Guru, looking at me as if I was a stranger.

“Weech.”

“State your name.”

I put my hood over my head. “I’m nobody. I have no name.”

“Enter.”