The nobles' expressions changed instantly. Despair washed over them like a relentless wave. They all knew what was coming. Jayce wasn't lying, and that certainty hit them with the force of a death sentence. This wasn't new to them. Since they set foot in the academy, their parents had warned them of the risk: losing didn't just mean defeat—it meant slavery. Even so, they never believed it could truly happen. The gap between both groups was a chasm, and none of them had prepared to fall into it.
Some collapsed to their knees, trembling. Others cried out, tears streaming down cheeks stained with sweat and fear. Pleas filled the air:
—My parents will pay! I swear! Please don't do this!
—Please! Have mercy! I'm the son of the Duke of Redvale! He won't allow this!
—I don't want to be a slave! I don't want to…!
The hall, once filled with pride and arrogance, transformed into a purgatory of wails and heartbreaking screams. The fear was so thick it felt almost tangible. One noble clutched his head, rocking back and forth like a lost child, mumbling nonsense. Another pissed himself without even realizing it, paralyzed by panic.
Jayce said nothing for several seconds. His face remained serene, unmoved. But William, watching him, understood something that had puzzled him since they met. It wasn't contempt in Jayce's eyes. It wasn't hatred, nor superiority. It was disinterest. A complete void. As if nothing happening before him was worth his attention. He didn't just ignore the commoners—he ignored the nobles too. It was as if everyone was equally insignificant to him.
Finally, Jayce broke the silence:
—Your parents won't lift a single finger for you —he said calmly, as if speaking about the weather—. They've already been informed. There was no attempt at negotiation. Not a single one. And no, it's not because they're cruel… they simply don't dare to offend someone they shouldn't. From this moment on, your lives no longer belong to you.
Hysteria erupted like wildfire. A young noble pulled a hidden knife from his robe and, with a desperate cry, raised it to his own chest. But before he could harm himself, a figure moved like a shadow. A hand appeared out of nowhere, stopped the weapon with surgical precision, and with a swift twist of the arm, ripped the knife away and dislocated the boy's shoulder. The scream that followed was so sharp and agonizing it seemed to tear the very air apart.
The rest of the nobles, those who had considered suicide as a way out, immediately stepped back, eyes wide as plates. Soldiers were already moving in, surrounding them. Their gazes held no compassion. Only discipline. And power.
Jayce raised his voice again, that eerie calm now more terrifying than any shout:
—One more thing, nobles. As I just said, from now on, your lives no longer belong to you… and neither do your deaths. If any of you attempt to take your own life or escape in any way, punishment will fall upon your families, friends, lovers, servants… anyone connected to you will be exterminated. It's that simple. Try me if you don't believe it. Soldiers, proceed with the branding.
The door opened, and several soldiers entered, pushing braziers filled with glowing red coals. The heat filled the room—oppressive, suffocating. Branding irons lay submerged in the embers, their infernal glow illuminating the nobles' terrified faces.
The soldiers moved in. They began tearing off the nobles' clothes without the slightest regard. Men and women were left completely naked, exposed, trembling. Some tried to cover themselves with their arms, but they were shoved, thrown to the ground like cattle.
The commoners watched with hunger in their eyes. These were the ones who had scorned them, humiliated and trampled them their whole lives. But now they were the ones trembling. It was impossible not to feel the instinct for revenge. Jayce noticed, and spoke again, his tone unchanged:
—I know some of you want war prizes. Unfortunately, these nobles cannot be touched by their former opponents until they are sent where they belong. But don't worry. Many of you will be sent to the same place. If you find them in the market… you'll be able to buy them without issue. It's been that way for generations. Not even defeated commoners were sold to their noble enemies. You can trust that this tradition will remain. I swear it on my soul.
Tension eased slightly among the commoners, though greed still burned in their eyes. They longed for those slender, perfumed women—or those young aristocrats—to collect everything owed to them, with interest.
The soldiers pulled the irons from the brazier. They sizzled with cruel brilliance. The first was branded on the chest, right between the pectorals. His scream was so brutal it made several bystanders flinch. Then came a girl. They forced her to bend over and branded her on the back, between the shoulder blades. She screamed as if her soul was being torn out. One by one, they were branded. Screams, sobs, mucus, pee, feces… The hall filled with an unbearable stench, a mix of ammonia, blood, and despair.
Neither Jayce, nor Anthon, nor the soldiers flinched. It was a scene they had witnessed many times before. To them, this wasn't an atrocity. It was routine.
The screams went on for a long time until every noble had been branded. Without a shred of mercy, they were dragged outside, where more soldiers awaited. They forced them to march, using whips.
The newly arrived squad leader began shouting, swinging his massive whip through the air.
—Move, you damned slaves! From today onward, I'll teach you everything you need to know about being a proper slave!
Another crack of the whip echoed, followed by a soul-rending howl.
—I am your authority, your law, and your god! If anyone has a problem with that, feel free to speak up now!
But no one responded. The crowd, still in shock, lowered their heads. Their bodies moved like soulless zombies, dragging their feet on the floor as if the weight of reality was crushing them. One by one, the nobles were forcibly led to their new destination, while the cafeteria fell into a deathly silence.
The commoners who witnessed everything were paralyzed. No one moved. No one spoke. They didn't know what to feel, or what to do. The world they knew had just become darker.