The first mistake was breathing.

The second was resisting.

By the time Sky realized what was happening, he was already being dragged into the outer courtyard.

A horizontal beam loomed over the space like a gallows. From it hung two long ropes. At their ends swung wooden poles, each holding a basin filled to the brim with water, suspended in perfect balance. Not a single drop trembled. They looked like blades, ready to execute the first mistake.

Sharlok spoke with the same calm one might use to announce the day’s temperature.

“The rule is simple. You will remain upside down for the entire day, maintaining the balance of the basins. If even a single drop touches the ground… the punishment will be repeated tomorrow.”

Sky went pale.

“Wait. All day?!”

Sharlok barely glanced at him, as if that voice were nothing more than background noise.

“You heard correctly.”

A nod.

The ropes tightened.

Bodies rotated into the void.

The Captain walked away without looking back, with the ease of someone who considered this a simple routine. Something not even worth a second of his time.

The midday sun burned their skin.

Sky was drenched in sweat, his arms on fire. His hands trembled as he desperately tried to keep his balance.

“Damn it… damn it!” he snapped, his voice cracking from the strain.

“What are you whining about, clown?!” Shark snarled, his face as red as his hair.

Sky turned his head slightly. The basin wobbled dangerously.

“Clown?! We’ve been hanging here for hours with these boulders in our hands!”

Shark glared at him, pride burning in his eyes.

“A guy who wears sunglasses even at night… what would you call him?”

Sky clenched his jaw.

“Listen, carrot-top… this is all your fault we ended up here!”

“Like hell it is!” Shark growled. “Who asked you to jump into the fight first?!”

Sky grinned. Cocky. Unforgivable.

“You didn’t exactly look like you had the numbers on your side.”

“I could’ve taken that cook and his goons by myself!”

The truth was simple: together, they had sent five regular soldiers and two cooks to the infirmary.

And even if they would never admit it, they had earned the silent respect of more than one recruit who had watched them fight.

Day slowly gave way to night.

The moon was high when Sky and Shark were still hanging in the void, exhausted, motionless, like dying bats. At some point, the body gave in before the will. They fell asleep like that, swaying in the silence.

At dawn, with the rooster’s first cry, Sky opened his eyes.

Captain Sharlok stood before him. Arms crossed. The gaze of a man who felt nothing.

Sky swallowed.

“…Uh. Good morning?”

Sharlok tilted his head slightly.

“You spilled all the water.”

Sky lowered his eyes. The ground beneath them was soaked. He didn’t even remember letting go. Beside him, Shark was still asleep. And snoring. Peacefully.

“Wait, Captain! I can expl—”

Sharlok raised a hand. His fingers cracked. A dry sound, like thunder.

The ropes snapped.

Sky fell, slamming face-first into the ground. Shark landed on the back of his head. He woke up screaming like a beast.

Still dazed, Sky lifted his head and saw Sharlok walking away, not granting them even a glance.

His icy voice cut through the air.

“Punishment. Repeated.”

—

Next Episode — The Way of the Empire