CLEAVER OF SIN Chapter 711: Commoner [Castle Bonus - ]

Two more days had elapsed, and the day designated for the grand announcement had finally dawned. Throughout this period, neither Finch nor William had sought out Asher; they had remained confined within their chambers, dedicating every moment to cultivation, as if believing a two-day sprint could bridge any gap. Asher, for his part, did not disturb them, understanding that their paths would inevitably cross during today's announcement.

Asher had already risen. His prior conversation with Finch and William had established the announcement time as precisely ten o'clock, with all students required to be present a full half-hour prior.

It was now a mere five minutes past nine. Asher's attire was understated; while he anticipated many students would don their finest for the occasion, Asher felt no compulsion to do the same. Though his clothes certainly befitted a Ducal Noble Household, they were deliberately free of ostentation, designed to attract no undue notice.

With that resolve, he simply made his way to his bed and took a seat. Unfamiliar with the precise location of the gathering, he decided to bide his time, waiting for the top ten students on his floor to commence their movement, whereupon he would follow them with minimal effort.

A few moments passed, and then he stepped into the hallway. The instant he entered the corridor, his gaze swept over every member of the top ten within his cohort: Vaelra Lux Vanthelmor, Vaelric Lux Vanthelmor, William Canestane, Caelan Stormveil, Beryon Ravencroft, Darissa Camber, Oliver Twist, Ryaen Silvershade, and Lucifer Morningstar.

For a brief spell, they regarded one another, then exchanged nods of mutual recognition, a silent acknowledgment of strength by strength. Without a surplus of words, they advanced, their paces measured and controlled. Asher positioned himself amidst the group, content to trail the nine.

"Good morning, Ryaen, it feels like an age," Asher greeted, a faint smile gracing his lips.

"Morning, Asher, I trust you are well," she responded, her long, white tresses cascading gracefully behind her with each step she took.

As their brief pleasantries were exchanged, the Prince, Vaelric, moderated his pace, drawing alongside Asher and Ryaen.

"A fine morning to you both, Tenth Sun, Lady Ryaen," he offered, his tone courteous yet composed.

Asher and Ryaen returned his greeting, and the trio continued their light conversation, largely centered on speculation regarding the imminent proceedings, their curiosity palpable beneath their composed veneers.

After a period of walking, they arrived at a structure housing a singular, vast expanse – a grand hall, to be precise. The remainder of the Star Academy's student body had already convened. A low hum of conversation filled the air as they entered the hall one by one, a subtle undercurrent of excitement weaving through the atmosphere like an unspoken current.

Within the capacious chamber, numerous illuminated candles adorned the walls, while a colossal chandelier suspended from the ceiling bathed the entirety of the hall in a refined luminescence. The seating was arranged with what appeared to be deliberate precision, the entire venue radiating an aura of opulence, influence, and an unmistakable sense of grandeur.

Asher's gaze fell upon a random seat. He observed three stars emblazoned upon the headrest, preceded by a double-digit number. His eyes scanned the hall, noting that every seat bore a designation of one star or more, up to a maximum of three, each number preceding the stars in a clear and structured pattern.

It required no more than a second for Asher to comprehend the seating arrangement; any individual with even a modicum of perception could decipher it.

"Let us proceed to our assigned places then," Ryaen declared before moving forward. Asher fell into step beside her. They reached a distinct section of the hall where three seats were grouped together, with others following in sequence, extending deeper into the venue.

Asher’s attention was captured by his own seat, marked with the numeral 1★. His seat was situated between two others: to his right sat one designated 1★★, and to his left, another labeled 1★★★.

'So, in essence, all the first-rankers are seated collectively,' Asher mused internally as he made his way to his designated spot. He took his seat with an air of detached calm. Ryaen was positioned directly behind him, her seat bearing the mark 2★, with William occupying the seat behind her, labeled 3★, and the sequence continued in this orderly fashion.

Asher simply crossed his legs, rested an elbow on the armrest, propped his chin in his palm, and fixed his gaze forward in silent contemplation. Minutes later, the first-ranker from the second year made his entrance – his elder brother, Thalric Wargrave. He proceeded directly to the 1★★ seat to Asher's right and took his place.

"Good morning, Thalric," Asher greeted, turning his gaze towards him.

"Morning, how fares everything?" Thalric inquired as he settled into his seat.

"Quite well, thank you," Asher replied, his expression serene.

Thalric acknowledged the statement and fell silent, having no further points to contribute. Asher’s gaze drifted to the seat to his left. Following a short pause, he inquired,

"Which Noble Household secures the top position for the third year?" Asher’s voice carried a tinge of genuine curiosity.

Thalric’s attention turned towards the vacant seat before responding, "The individual holding that rank does not hail from any Noble Household; he is a commoner from a Viscount’s territory," his tone remained flat and unconcerned, as if the matter held little personal significance.

Asher raised an eyebrow, his surprise evident. The possibility of a commoner achieving such a high rank had not crossed his mind. It wasn't a matter of looking down on commoners, but rather the overwhelming dominance of nobles in these rankings had led him to automatically assume the top spot would belong to a noble.

Observing Asher’s reaction, Thalric remarked, "You seem surprised, don't you?"

Asher emerged from his reverie and simply offered a nod in reply.

Just as Asher was about to resume speaking, he sensed an approaching presence from the front. His purple eyes shifted towards the approaching figure. It was a young man, standing precisely seven feet tall, his blue eyes sharp, his black hair impeccably styled, and his physique possessing an imposing quality that commanded silent respect.

Upon seeing him, Asher knew without guessing that this must be the first-ranker of the third year.

The young man’s eyes briefly flickered towards Asher and Thalric, as if evaluating them both in a single, sweeping glance. After a moment, he offered a slight nod in their direction before proceeding past them without a word, taking his seat with an air of quiet confidence.

Despite being a commoner, he wielded power and displayed talent that most nobles could only dream of possessing... his name was Teo Swig.

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