The Guildmaster leaned back in his chair, his eyes never leaving Dion.
"Where are you from?" he asked, his tone deceptively calm.
Dion hesitated. His mind was blank—he didn't know.
But before he could think, his mouth moved on its own.
"Filia," he said softly.
The word slipped out effortlessly, though it felt foreign on his tongue.
The Guildmaster's expression didn't change, but his gaze sharpened.
"...What's your name?"
"Dion." He paused, almost as if the rest of the words were being pulled out of him. "Dion Lourette."
He spoke with a plain, steady gaze, but inside, he was startled. Lourette? He didn't know where that came from.
The Guildmaster's eyes widened slightly. "Did you say Lourette…?"
"Yes," Dion replied.
A short silence followed before the man leaned back again, his fingers tapping lightly against the desk.
"…Okay."
Just then, the door opened. An attendant Dion hadn't seen before entered, carrying a spherical device that shimmered faintly with soft fumes of pink, white, and purple swirling within.
"Ah, you're here," the Guildmaster said, his tone returning to that cool, commanding calm. "Place it down."
The attendant nodded and set the orb gently on the desk before stepping back.
The Guildmaster turned his attention back to Dion.
"Place your hand on it."
For a moment, Dion stood still. His instincts whispered caution—but he raised his arm anyway. After a brief hesitation, he pressed his palm against the smooth surface of the orb.
Immediately, light flared.
The orb glowed with a brilliance that filled the entire chamber, casting sharp shadows across the walls.
"Your… soul essence…" the Guildmaster whispered, his eyes widening in shock. "Impossible…"
He quickly opened a drawer beside him and pulled out a folded sheet of paper. After a brief glance, he handed it to Dion.
"Read this."
Dion took the paper, unfolding it carefully. The heading was bold and official:
World Alliance Summer Academy
—A summer academy? Dion thought, frowning. Isn't the World Alliance one of the strongest factions?
His eyes moved down the page.
Taking in Youth for the Opening of the Summer Aperture!
Take the test at any of our branches.
Dion looked up, confused. "What is this?"
The Guildmaster's tone grew firm, almost excited. "You can become a Core Master once you enter the Summer Aperture and return alive. You have a lot of potential, Dion. More than you realize."
He leaned forward, eyes gleaming with a mix of admiration and calculation.
"The academy will train you until the Aperture opens. They'll provide food, lodging, and resources—free of charge—if you apply."
Dion's eyes brightened, a spark of hope flickering in them for the first time.
"Where do I apply for it?" he asked quickly.
The Guildmaster's smile faded, his expression turning grave.
"Are you sure you're willing?" he asked quietly. "Many who enter the Aperture… never come back out."
The room fell silent. The orb's faint glow still lingered on the table between them, casting a soft, red shimmer on Dion's face.