They didn't give me time to breathe.
A horn blasted through the sky—sharp, metallic, echoing like it had been carved into the bones of the air itself. Everyone around me stopped. Even the girl floating on purple mist froze mid-glide and dropped to the ground like gravity suddenly remembered her.
Then came the voice.
> "All new arrivals. Proceed to the Hall of Judgment for orientation and classification. Failure to comply will result in demerits and bloodletting. We look forward to your survival."
Cheery.
A glowing arrow lit up in the sky, pointing toward a staircase that hadn't existed a second ago. It spiraled up into the air, leading to a massive marble building that hung just below the floating college like an upside-down temple.
The students started moving in silence. Some in packs, others alone. A few flexed magical energy—fire crackling in their steps, shadows curling around their shoulders, halos dimly glowing. Me? I stumbled after them like a kid who missed the tutorial level.
I didn't belong here.
But my chest still burned where the glyph had marked me. I didn't know what it meant yet. But I knew it wasn't going away.
---
The Hall of Judgment lived up to its name.
Massive columns. Floating torches. A floor made of mirrors that showed... not your reflection, but your fears. I tried not to look down too much after I saw mine. It looked a lot like me—alone, unnoticed, screaming without sound.
A woman waited at the front. Not Lisa. Different woman. Short, grey-skinned, wearing a red robe and a mask made of obsidian.
> "Step forward," she said. "We will identify your potential and assign your Sigil Path."
One by one, students stepped onto a glowing platform. It scanned them, whispered in tongues, and then announced their category in a voice like shattered glass:
> "Celestial—Subclass: Battle Choir."
"Demonic—Subclass: Flesh Warlock."
"Hybrid—Subclass: Bone-Touched Tempest."
"Beastkin—Subclass: Lunar Maw."
"Deity Fragment—Subclass: Memory Devourer."
I didn't understand any of it. But they all seemed to. Some students grinned. Some looked disappointed. One girl burst into tears when hers got announced.
Then it was my turn.
I stepped onto the platform. It was cold. It vibrated under my feet.
The glass voice hesitated.
Longer than usual.
Too long.
The masked woman tilted her head. "You are... unregistered. The system doesn't recognize your bloodline."
> Yeah, welcome to Earth, I almost said.
The platform buzzed harder. Symbols spun beneath me—chaotic, random, violent.
Then—BOOM.
A surge of red and black light exploded upward from the pedestal, knocking a few people back. My chest burned again, and this time, the glyph showed itself—glowing through my shirt like a brand.
> "Unknown Class Detected."
"Origin: Human (Unconfirmed)."
"Sigil Path: ???"
"Title Assigned: Blank."
"Potential Rating: Red."
"Warning: Student may pose systemic risk."
"Dream College is not responsible for outcomes."
Then silence.
You could hear a pin drop.
Blank. No class. No label. Not divine, not demon, not beast. Nothing. Just me.
The woman stared at me for a second too long before motioning me off the platform.
> "Go. You'll be... observed."
---
I barely made it out of the hall before someone shoved me hard from behind.
I turned fast, adrenaline kicking in. The guy was tall. White hair. Gold eyes. Wore his arrogance like a second skin.
> "They let a Blank walk around unchained? Hilarious."
"Got lost on your way to community college, human?"
His friends laughed. All of them had fancy glowy auras and swords bigger than my dreams.
> "I'm Riven. Platinum Circle." He stepped closer. "This is your only warning: stay out of our way, Blank. Or you'll disappear."
> "Noted," I said.
> "Good boy."
He turned and left like I was already beneath notice.
But he made a mistake.
Because I saw it in his eyes.
Fear.
Just for a second.
---
I went to find Lisa after that. I needed answers.
She was waiting at the balcony that overlooked the college's inner sanctum—a vast glowing garden full of floating platforms, energy beasts, and dueling students.
She didn't turn around when I approached.
> "You're causing ripples," she said.
> "I didn't do anything."
> "Exactly," she smirked. "And that's what's terrifying."
> "What am I?"
She glanced at me then, her eyes gleaming behind those glasses.
> "Not sure yet. But Dream College summoned you for a reason. That glyph on your chest? It's not standard. It's ancient."
> "And that's good?"
> "That depends." She stepped closer, voice lower. "On whether you plan to submit to the system... or break it."
I didn't answer.
But something inside me did.
It pulsed once.
Hard.
And the balcony cracked beneath my feet.