"Huh? All of you guys are actually still standing here?" Aleister asked as he opened the door to Luo Yu's office the following day. "I'm actually surprised none of you just walked away."

In a hoarse and cracking voice that was clearly being forced to have energy within it, the half-elf said, "T—There's no way I would give up."

The rest of them agreed with head motions, clearly too exhausted to add any words to the conversation.

"Well, glad to see that all of you truly are determined. Well then, your punishment is over." Aleister placed a large jug of water, several glasses, and a box of assorted breakfast pastries onto the table. "Here's some water and food. You guys deserve it."

All of them scrambled to grab a cup. The human male asked, "How long have we been in here? I lost track of time."

"Uh, yeah about that." Aleister looked away, feigning embarrassment. "I got a bit sidetracked and honestly forgot about this whole thing, so its been about four days."

Eh, was that too fake?

The exhaustion on their persons seemed to deepen and get heavier.

Perfect.

"No wonder." Malozar heaved as he struggled to continue standing up.

Aleister watched carefully as they quenched their thirst and sated their hunger. After the box was cleaned and the jar emptied, he smirked. "And I'm sorry about this, but unfortunately, I can't afford to give you time to sleep."

"Why not?" the half-human asked, pissed."

"Well, you didn't let me finish. What I was going to clarify is that you can go to sleep if you wish, but it might be the last sleep you ever have."

"I don't think I understand what you mean by that?" the man asked.

"You have little time left alive in this world because I poisoned the water you drank and the food you ate."

His words seemed to not have registered with the four of them as they gave him perplexed looks, not sure if he was joking or not.

"I'm serious. I told you I was going to put you through the ringer. And in the ring you forfeit your chance to live. So in order to gain a better understanding of each of you, I walked around the areas in the city you grew up in and talked to some people you might know. This is why it took me a few days to get back to you guys."

Have I drilled in the few days part enough? Maybe it's actually a bit too obvious. Well, they won't figure it out unless they ask questions super hard, but they probably won't.

"Are you fucking with me?" the half-elf said, still putting up a front of energy that Aleister could obviously see through. "I agreed to the intense training, but not this!"

"Then leave," Aleister said, removing the emotion from his voice. "I won't stop you."

"But you poisoned us. Give me the antidote and I'll leave."

"I won't. I already gave you the chance to give up a few days ago. You also had the chance to leave at any time while standing in the room. However, none of you did. Which means you're committed fully. I obviously can't stop you from leaving, but since you will break your promise, you must suffer the consequences of your actions."

Malozar stood still in the center of the room. His complexion was sickly, and his face slightly paler than normal.

"What's wrong?" Aleister asked, fully knowing what the problem was.

"Did you really poison us?"

"That is what I said."

"Then, are you not afraid of the repercussions this could bring? I could go report this to the City Watch right now."

"Would I have told all of you what I did if I was afraid of the repercussions? Go ahead. Tell them." Aleister forced a dismissive look. "Luo Yun over here is a friend with one of the crown princess's of the Empire. And who do you think holds the most power in the city?"

"You're fucking crazy," the half-elf said.

"If that's how you feel about me. Then so be it. But your words will not cause me to change my actions. In fact, nothing can change them. I did what I had to. Now, you can only focus on how to solve this situation. This is what this first test is all about."

"Then—"

"Wait," the man interjected, and cut her off. "You are right. All of us, including me, agreed with this. But, if the poison you fed us limits our time alive and I don't want to waste it here, listening to her bicker and argue with you. So, if you could tell us where the antidote is located first before you continue, I and the other I'm sure would appreciate it."

"Fair point. You asking the pressing questions shows your incentive and dedication, which is an outstanding trait to have," Aleister said. "So, as I was saying, I talked to some people you know, and scouted the locations you live it. So someone you know or some place you are intimate with holds the antidote. Don't worry, I left plenty of clues behind for you to find it. You have about 'till the sun sets to locate them. And since the sun just rose, that gives you about half the day. Oh, and don't tell anyone about you being poisoned, or else something else may kill you instead."

The man nodded, and power walked past Aleister. The half-human furrowed his brows and stared at Aleister with an obvious malicious intent, but quickly left as well. The half-elf tightened her fists and punched against the wall.

"Don't go damaging my property now," Luo Yun said. He had been standing behind Aleister this entire time. "It's quite expensive."

"May the gods damn the both of you," she said before running off.