Initiate,

  You have done well to inform us of this matter. It would have been a problem if the karmic seal were weakened due to a planning oversight. We have restricted areas of the library housing technique manuals, and they will only be accessible via contribution. Your claims about the histories are also reasonable. As such, access to them has been restricted as well. For your valuable contribution to the sect, you will receive 2,000 pointOne more resource cut off from his enemies. Seth's face came to mind, and Johan was grateful to the man. Attacking initiates in the halls had been straightforward, but needlessly risky. Some of his people had even started wondering if fighting against Seth was worth the risk. After his own encounter with the man, he agreed with them. No, this solution was far safer and more certain.

  Leyin Wei - Head Librarian

  It was unfortunate that he couldn't bring Seth over. The man was a competent fighter, smart in a ruthlessly practical sort of way, and not a complete boor. If he came and begged Johan for forgiveness, he would accept without hesitation. Partly because he would be an asset, but mostly because it would take a dangerous element off the table. If the Andirs heir came begging for forgiveness...no, he couldn't dwell on that. Their family had been doomed the moment Lord Andirs bore his fangs at the Thrisbanes.

  No, he would crush his enemies here, slowly but surely. After that, he would crush his enemies back home. A smile played at the edges of his mouth as he burned the letter.

  POV - Seth

  The empty job board could have been bad luck. The completely filled training blocks, however, smelled of foul play. The other initiates had left dejectedly after seeing there was nothing for them. Seth and Therus had stayed to investigate the books, partly because the magic in them was interesting. The training signup book had some sort of magic that prevented writing an additional name in a slot once a name was filled in. Also, once a name was filled in, the required contribution points were automatically deducted from the contribution points ledger. The contribution points ledger had similar magic, but it prevented him from writing on it at all. He tried spilling a drop of ink on it. That drop slid off and stained the floor.

  The most suspicious were the training sessions that required contribution points. How had people gotten enough points to reserve them all for the next two months? Taking a closer look, the spots were reserved by the same twenty or so names. The final piece fell into place when one of the names rewrote itself in front of Seth's eyes.

  He ended his investigation at noon and went to get lunch. The walk was oppressively silent and peaceful, as if the world was mocking his caution and wariness. The weirdness of the situation put him on edge, waiting for the awful jump-scare that would make a mess of his life.

  When he arrived at the library, Therus hurried over, clearly distraught.

  "They blocked access to the technique manuals," whispered Therus, dragging Seth behind him.

  When they got to the technique manual section, there was now a red translucent barrier between them and the section. There was also a sign that read:

  > Access to technique manuals section will cost 200 contribution points per day.

  > Certain manuals may cost additional contribution, as marked on the manuals.

  Seth and Therus had a grand total of 0 points, so could only stare at the barrier.

  "I take it this isn't normal?" asked Seth.

  "Of course it isn't," whispered Therus, "the point of making some manuals available is to make the selection process more fair. The fact that they're doing this..." said Therus, letting the thought trail off.

  "What do you mean fair? Why would we expect these assholes to be fair?" asked Seth, earning an angry glare from Therus.

  "Do not badmouth the sect, especially here. They're required to be fair; it's how the karmic seal hiding this place functions."

  "Why would they need to hide?"

  "There are some powerful people who don't like transforming people into resources."

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  "...and you do?" asked Seth, locking eyes with Therus.

  "It's better than the alternatives. Most people are here because of the protection agreements between their worlds and the sect. For a powerful sect's protection, sending a few people to an initiation is dirt cheap."

  "But still, what they're doing is evil."

  "Evil? You should read some histories about how protection arrangements normally go for planets. There are groups who offer protection just to bankrupt a planet, and enslave the whole populace."

  "Are there any groups that aren't shitty?" Seth asked.

  "Of course, but even they aren't cheap. They can't afford to be; advancing isn't cheap."

  "Our advancement doesn't seem to be that expensive."

  "Yes, but that's just the qi condensation stage. Trying to get through foundation establishment has been known to bankrupt families."

  Seth filed that bit in the ever-growing "research more," list. They both had their own goals, so they parted there. Wanting to dig in to see where any of the potential ruins Therus was talking about may be, he went to the history section. Or tried to go to the history section, as that was blocked off by a similar red barrier. *This is starting to get ridiculous,* Seth thought to himself, going to ask a librarian about what's happening.

  "Excuse me, may I ask a question," Seth asked the first librarian he could find.

  "What is it, initiate?"

  "I noticed the history section was off limits. May I ask why?"

  "Ah, it was pointed out to us that having access to this planet's history may unfairly bias the initiation in favor of the educated. After review, the claim was found to have merit, and so was made off-limits to all initiates."

  Seth thanked the librarian and left. No longer wanting to read, he made his way back to his room and did qi control exercises for the rest of the day. He also made sure his supplies were in his bag. Johan had made a move, and it was time to put their own plan into motion.

  The next day, he tried to get to the job board, but found his path blocked by initiates. He didn't try and push through. Rather, he spent the time remembering the face of everyone who was doing the blockade. After that, he made his way to the laundry room, where Tobias was working on laundry.

  "Hello Tobias," said Seth.

  "Hello initiate Seth, how may I help you?" said Tobias. His smile was still warm and friendly, but he was still bound by the rules.

  "Can you help me with some laundry? I got a particularly nasty stain on it, and would like some help getting rid of it."

  "Come with me," said Tobias, opening the door for the laundry chamber. Seth followed, and the door closed behind them.

  "So, how have you been?" Seth asked, once the door was closed.

  "Haha, things have been well. Some of the other servants wish you were back."

  "Aww, they miss me already?"

  "No. You being gone means more work for us," They both started laughing after Tobias said that.

  "Anyway, would you know of any work for contribution that wouldn't be on the job board? The boards seem to be empty whenever I arrive?"

  "There is no such thing, sorry to say. Though if I hear of an open job, I will let you know,"

  "No need to get yourself in trouble..."

  "No trouble at all. One of the elders actually told us to give some minor assistance to initiates who aren't...politically connected," said Tobias, a grin on his face.

  "Anything you want from me?"

  "Something good from the initiates mess would be a nice change of pace."

  "Will do," said Seth. They joked around a bit more, then Seth left Tobias to his work.

  The next few days settled into a routine. In the morning, he'd check in with Tobias after breakfast, then try and observe the initiates who blocked his path to the job hall. When they were eating, he asked them to stop blocking his path to the job hall. Most of these offers were either laughed at, or given a half hearted, "I'll consider it." All of those who "considered," were back to blocking the very next day.

  Afternoons were research, cultivation, and sparring. After five days of observation, he had a good idea of where the best places to ambush his targets was, so he and Therus put their plan into motion.

  As expected, his target came to the cafeteria at their normal time, and left at their normal time. He recognized the kid's purple freckles, remembering the time he had asked Seth whether he was from an important family. Back then, he had looked nervous, but now he was full of confidence. Seth started to feel bad for the kid, and had to remind himself that the kid made his choice. The target followed their normal routine, and ditched their friend group for a minute to go to the bathroom. Seth followed, staying out of sight as long as possible. Eventually, they were completely out of sight from the main road, and Seth attacked.

  What followed was not a fight. There was no resistance as Seth stomped his knee from the side, feeling the joint give. As the kid was reeling in shock, Seth took one of the kid's arms, and infusing his own muscles with qi, snapped it. By the time the kid started screaming, Seth was retreating to an unoccupied building he had scoped out to be a safehouse.

  The next two days were repeats of the first. Most of Johan's group were being careful, but there was always one who was overconfident, or simply careless. The target on the second day went down without much of a fight, having been crippled before he could react. The next target managed to defend himself from the initial attack. Seth didn't push his luck, opting to flee rather than get in a protracted fight. Therus had better luck on his attacks, getting both of his targets.

  The following day, Seth had arranged to check in with Tobias. On his way there, two members of Johan's group ran into him. Instead of fighting, they did an about-face and speed-walked away. Making it to the laundry room, Seth knocked, and Tobias answered.

  "Any news?" Seth asked.

  "Heard the formation master will be getting some help. Took long enough; our jobs are not getting easier."

  "That's great! You hear anything else?"

  "Unfortunately, nothing I'm allowed to talk about. Rules and all that," said Tobias, rubbing his head as if embarrassed. As he did, a scrap of paper floated to the ground. Seth leaned down to pick it up.

  

Position: Formation and Array Apprentice

  Type: Long term

  Reward: 2,000 contribution per month

  Interested initiates will report to Elder Frerren's office on the fifth day of the tenth month for evaluation.

  Elder Frerren

  "You dropped this," said Seth, handing the paper back to Tobias.

  "Hahahaha, clumsy me. I sure hope you didn't see that."

  "Of course not. On a completely unrelated note, where could I find the formation master's office."

  It took Tobias some time to explain where it was, as it was in a part of the compound that Seth was not familiar with. However, he felt a tingle of anticipation grow throughout his body. The evaluation was going to be held on the very next day.