Ezra knew his body had never been strong.
Even before all of this, he had been the type to stay indoors. Cold weather drained him fast. Long movements left him dizzy. His family had always said it was just his constitution. Weak lungs. Weak stamina.
After gaining the ability to see memories of his past life, he had tried to change that. He controlled his diet. He trained when he could. He pushed his body harder than before.
Yet now…
His hands trembled against the floor.
Is it because of yesterday's awakening…?
The pain tearing through him was worse than before. Much worse.
"Argh…!"
His teeth clamped shut, but the sound still slipped out. His neck strained as he forced his head up, jaw shaking as he fought to keep his voice down.
Around him, the hall was loud.
Children groaned. Some cried out. Others shouted encouragement to their teammates. Bodies shifted. Guards moved. The noise swallowed his own struggle.
Only one person noticed.
Vera.
Ezra's breathing broke apart. The flow inside his body turned wild, slamming against his veins instead of moving smoothly. It wasn't because his Cognis surged too much. It was his mind.
Pain cracked through him like pressure splitting bone.
His half-formed star shook.
Thin fractures spread across its surface.
This is bad.
His lips parted. Blood slipped out as his teeth ground together. Veins rose along his neck and arms, red and tight. His chest hitched as air refused to settle.
I might actually die.
His fingers dug into the floor.
Endure it.
Focus.
Cut the waste.
He forced his thoughts into order, pushing everything else aside. The Cognis slowed, gathered, then moved with purpose. Each fragment locked into place, one after another.
The star stabilized.
A minute passed. Maybe more.
When it ended, exhaustion crashed into him. The remaining Cognis inside his body pushed slightly beyond Novice level. Enough to start forming a second star.
He stopped.
The moment he broke concentration, his body gave up.
Ezra's eyes opened as he collapsed sideways. His shoulder hit the floor. Pain spread, dull and deep. He lay there, chest rising fast, unable to move anything but his fingers.
"…You're still alive."
Vera's voice reached him, calm and close.
"Barely," he muttered. His vision blurred. He could make out her shape, but not her face.
She crouched slightly; arms folded. "Why would someone who just awakened yesterday try to cultivate Cognis the next day?" Her tone stayed flat. "Are you an idiot? No. You are an idiot."
Ezra let out a weak breath. "Now I get why Alchemists take so long to rank up." His voice shook. "Does it feel like this every time?"
"Obviously." Vera tilted her head. "Though from what I've heard, it gets easier after Adept."
"Hah…cough…!" Ezra grabbed his stomach, body curling slightly. "Are they… masochists or…"
He cut himself off as pain surged again.
Vera looked down at him.
He was pale. Sweat soaked his hair. His body twitched, but he still hadn't fainted.
"…Should I help?" she asked. She tilted her head to the side. No smile. "Massage?"
"Massage…?" Ezra echoed weakly.
"Bare feet or heels?" She lifted one leg slightly. "Choose."
"Wait…bare…" His words broke apart as his fist clenched.
"Relax." Her foot pressed lightly against his chest. "I'll be gentle."
"Your leg is already…" He shut his mouth tight.
She moved her foot in slow circles, pressure controlled, deliberate.
Ezra sucked in a breath and froze, forcing himself not to make a sound.
Around them, heads turned.
"Lady Vera is stepping on someone," a girl whispered.
"I wish that were me," a boy whispered back.
Cale blinked. "What is Lady Vera doing?"
"I don't know," Zack said, pushing his glasses up. "But I do know I'm jealous."
All around the hall, boys reacted the same way. Some glared. Others bit their sleeves in frustration.
Page crossed her arms. "You're all disgusting."
Gareth glanced at Felix. "Looks like she's playing with your prey."
Felix didn't answer. His eyes stayed forward.
"They aren't worth my attention," he said calmly.
"Wow, so cool," Lyra and Page said together.
The guards stepped forward again, forming their two straight lines.
Kyle Ashenlocke walked to the podium.
"The Third Trial has ended," he announced.
Silence followed.
"No one failed the cutoff. You all survived."
Some sighed. Others smiled.
"But don't relax," Kyle continued. "From here on, it only gets worse."
He turned and left.
The guards moved through the hall in pairs.
They lifted the children who could no longer stand, placing them onto stretchers one by one. Some struggled weakly before giving up. Others lay still, eyes open, staring at nothing.
Ezra was among them.
Cold metal pressed against his back as the stretcher rose. The ceiling passed slowly above him as they carried him forward. His arms hung to the sides, fingers twitching once before going still.
As they passed the gate, Vera lifted her hand and waved.
Her expression did not change.
The rest of the children were forced to stand and form lines. Two rows were made. The first row stretched long, filled with most of the survivors. The second row was much shorter.
But anyone paying attention could tell the difference.
The air around the second row felt heavier. The Cognis pressure coming from them was sharper, clearer. These were the children with the highest percentages.
One by one, metal tags were handed out.
Numbers.
Ranks from one to twenty.
When Nate received Number Seven, murmurs spread at once. Heads turned. Some whispered. Pamela froze when she saw her own tag.
Nineteen.
Her fingers tightened around it.
Priscilla burst into laughter.
She lifted her tag for Pamela to see. Eight. Her shoulders shook as she laughed, loud and careless. "Looks like I'm still above you."
Pamela didn't answer.
Then Priscilla's laughter stopped.
Her smile stiffened as she stared at the next number revealed.
Three.
Vera.
Vera glanced at the tag once, then frowned.
Nate frowned too.
Neither looked satisfied.
Vera's eyes shifted upward.
Two.
Veda.
He stood stiffly, sweat sliding down his cheek. His jaw tightened. He didn't turn around, even though he could feel her gaze pressing into his back.
Then the last number was announced.
One.
Felix.
The hall grew restless.
Whispers spread fast. Fear slipped into voices. The tyrant stood at the top. Worse still, Gareth stood close behind him at Four, and Page followed at Five.
The message was clear.
Strength gathered at the top.
The top ten were separated again. Guards guided them away from the rest. No one resisted. The others only watched as they were led down a different corridor.
Better rooms waited for them.
Soft beds, unlike the hard and slim ones used by most.
Bathtubs with hot and cold water.
Cool air flowing from hidden vents.
Access to foods that smelled warm and rich.
Things everyone missed but no longer had.
The rest of the children stood in silence.
No one needed to explain it.
From this moment on, the Trial of Steel would only grow harsher. Slower meant weaker. Weaker meant forgotten.
And if you fell behind for even a moment…
You didn't just lose.
You died.