Drifter, Friedrich, Luna, and Alma walked through the outdoor pathway, fnked by t green trees, the gentle sound of distant fountains filling the air. The crisp breeze carried with it the serene hum of nature, a trast to the weight of the unspoken tension that huween them. As they passed through a corridor, they arrived at the base of a t sapphire crystalliructure. Holographic text flickered he entrance: and Spire.

  Inside, Drifter’s gaze swept over a map projected onto the wall. Some ses were beled with familiar names—Surveiln, Grand Hall, aing Room—while others remained ambiguous, their bels absent, leaving their purpose a mystery.

  Their footsteps echoed softly as they moved deeper into the building, finally ing te dark brown door. Alma offered Drifter a casual wave before stepping aside, exiting with a brisk pace. Luna remained he door, her presence sile vigint. Friedrich, standing close by, approached the door. As he neared, it slid open with a soft hiss. He gave Drifter a subtle nod, a silent invitation to follow.

  The room beyond was vast, the high ceiling stretg toward the heavens above. Tall pilrs rose like giants, supp the weight of the space. The marble flleamed beh their feet, refleg the light from the grand deliers that hung overhead, their light bright enough to almost blind. The walls were adorned with intricate paintings and statues.

  In the ter of the room stood a rge round table, its surface gleaming in the ambient light. Four chairs were arranged in a loose circle around it, eae fag Drifter as he ehe atmosphere seemed charged, the silence almost oppressive, until the air shimmered, and fures materialized before him in a brilliant proje of light.

  As the figures materialized before him, Friedrich whispered to Drifter.

  "They are the Grandmasters now..."

  Drifter nodded slowly, his gaze shiftiween the four projected figures as Friedrich spoke.

  "The one on the far left, with silver hair, is Grandmaster Lysander," Friedrich tinued, his voice low. "Beside him is Grandmaster Ragnar, followed by Amisha and Mina."

  Drifter’s eyes lingered nar. The man resembled a lion, his wild white hair a stark trast against the sleek bck armor he wore. His sharp silver eyes gleamed with an uling iy, a gaze that seemed to radiate suspi. nar stood Amisha, a woman with long bck hair flowing like a dark river. Drifter noticed a raven perched near her, its bck feathers gleaming in the light. Finally, Mina—a woman with burgundy hair—caught his attention. There was something familiar about her, a faint memory tugging at the edge of his mind.

  So, she’s a Grandmaster now... Drifter thought to himself, the realizatioling uneasily in his chest.

  Drifter and Friedrich finally arrived he round table, the air thick with anticipation.

  Grandmaster Lysander broke the silence, his voice steady yet carrying the weight of authority. "We have all reviewed your report, Friedrio new Abyssal breach, but you found this man—someone from the past, as cimed... reciate your efforts."

  "Thank you, Grandmaster," said Friedrich, bowing politely.

  All the Grandmasters’ eyes shifted toward Drifter, who stood motionless beside Friedrich. A cold sweat formed on his brow as his heart raced. The weight of their gazes pressed down on him, like they were assessing a potential threat. He reized only Mina, though she hadn’t held the title of Grandmaster back then.

  Grandmaster Ragnar’s voice sliced through the tension, sharp and direct."Drifter, I presume... Please, present the evidence Friedrich mentiohe Lumina Core and the Cube."

  Drifter nodded and pced the heavy Lumina Core and Bck Cube oable before him.

  “The Lumina Core… It’s indeed an old model, but that…” Grandmaster Amisha’s voice faltered, unease in her gaze as she shifted toward the Bck Cube.

  Her words faltered, her bck eyes narrowing. “I’ve never seen that relic before. Does anyone here… know what it is?”

  But the room remained silent, the weight of unspokeions pressing down on everyone present.

  "This is the first I’ve heard of someone crossing time. There hasn’t been magic like that sihe a era. If this Cube is truly a, we would have known about it by now."

  He turo the randmasters, seeking validation.

  Lysander shook his head slightly in response.

  "Nnar. But that doesn’t rule out the possibility. There may still be things beyond our uanding."

  The heavy silence lingered as each Grandmaster weighed the implications of what had been revealed.

  "Do you know what happeo the First Grandmaster before you came here?" Mina's voice was sharp and urgent.

  Drifter hesitated, his gaze dropping briefly.

  "I’m sorry... I didn’t know," he replied softly.

  Ragnar’s voice cut through the tension, sharp and filled with disbelief."What makes you so sure that thing hasn’t already taken trol of you?"

  "An object like that... it must be cursed."

  Drifter met Ragnar's gaze without fling, his voice steady despite the turmoil within."If that were true, Grandmaster, wouldn’t you have already se? I am still standing here, in trol. That alone should be suffit evidence."

  He paused briefly, then tinued, his tone resolute."I apologize for the interruption, but may I ask one question, Grandmasters?"

  The Grandmasters exged gheir curiosity piqued.

  Lysander nodded, signaling Drifter to proceed."Thank you... Why have you not returo Paxluma? There is only one remaining... the st Abyssal breach. After seveuries, why is Paxluma still as it was?"

  A tense silence fell over the room as the Grandmasters exged uneasy looks.

  Lysander's voice cut through the stillness, low but firm."We have attempted, Drifter. Teams were dispatched to Paxluma after the operation... none of them returned."

  He paused, allowing the weight of his words to settle in the room.

  Grandmaster Mina's expression softehe sternness fading from her features as a flicker of sorrow repced it."We have sent our best, Drifter. Every st one... lost," she said, her voice tight with suppressed emotion.’

  Grandmaster Amisha interjected, her tone ced with uainty.“There’s a rumor that the final Abyssal breach is... different. It ot be sealed by ventional means. Although, the one who first spoke of it... well, they arely reliable.”

  Drifter’s mind raced. “Different? What does that mean?” he thought, memories of the past flooding his mind. The Void Rift—the core of an Abyssal breach could be destroyed... Was the core special, or did it even have one? Or…. He g the cube, uainty gnawing at him.

  Drifter stepped forward, his resolve clear."Then, I request permission to go, even if I must go alone," he said firmly. "You are all aware that I retrieved the cube from the Cataclysmaris. It could very well be the key to sealing the final Abyssal breach."

  His voice trembled with emotion as memories of his home, the lost city flooded his mind. After seveuries, the darkness still held it in its grip. He ched his fist, his determination unwavering.

  Grandmaster Ragnar folded his arms, his expression unreadable. Meanwhile, Grandmaster Mina’s gaze turned distant, lost in thought.

  It was Grandmaster Amisha who finally spoke, her voice calm and measured.

  "He’s made up his mind," she said. "Perhaps granting his request isirely reckless. We might uncover something—something we’ve missed."

  Drifter’s shoulders straightened slightly, a flicker of relief crossing his face.

  But Grandmaster Lysander’s voice sliced through the moment, sharp and decisive.

  "Too risky, Amisha."

  "Sending him to Paxluma would be sending him to his death. I ot do. We should study the Cube first, us purpose—aroy it if it’s cursed."

  Grandmaster Mina nodded and said, "The Cube should remain urict guard here at the academy. Our best artifact researchers focus on unraveling its secrets." She turo Amisha. "Send Chimia aeam to iigate ruins worldwide and gather clues. Their expertise in trag artifacts is unmatched."

  Grandmaster Amisha responded with a slight nod. "That works for me. Chimia will get results."

  Grandmaster Ragnar interrupted once again, his tone sharp and decisive, his suspi dripping from every word.

  “I object to this. There’s ohing I know for sure—destroy the Cube now! That thing will bring doom to us all.”

  Grandmaster Mina’s eyes narrowed as she spoke. "Do you truly believe an artifact of this nature simply be destroyed, Ragnar?"

  "Let him prove he hasn’t already been corrupted—destroy the Cube, Drifter, or I will destroy you!" Ragnar said, rising from his chair, arms crossed and gaze unwavering.

  Drifter stood firm, his expression hardening as his body tehe challeruck sharp and direct, like a blow to his chest. His hand tightened around the Bck Cube, his grip unyielding.

  Beside him, Friedrich’s eyes widened as he watched Drifter, the out a deep sigh.

  "Ragnar, that’s going too far. He’s just returned from a nightmare none of us even begin to prehend," Grandmaster Amisha interjected, her tone firm.

  "Amisha is right," Lysander added. "Let him rest, Ragnar. We’ll discuss this again ter."

  Befnar could respond, Drifter’s voice cut through, resolute and unwavering.

  "No, Grandmaster. I’ll prove it now."

  As he stared at the cube, alien whispers cresdoed in his mind, their otherworldly nguage pierg through his thoughts. Fear crept into his sciousness, but he refused to let it paralyze him.

  In one swift motion, Drifter materialized Exaltare, his dark gray sword fshing ience. Without hesitation, he sshed at the Bck Cube. The sound of the strike echoed through the room, sharp and resonant, but the Cube remained pletely unscathed.

  Drifter stood unmoving, his gaze fixed on the Cube, his grip steady."Again!"

  Drifter sshed relentlessly at the Cube, summoning spectral swords with each strike, but the surface remained untouched, unyielding.

  Friedrich watched in wide-eyed disbelief, while the grandmasters stood, their expressions hardening as they observed the fruitless effort.

  “Stop… Drifter, you've done enough…,” Amisha's voice broke through the tension, quiet yet firm.

  Drifter halted, his breath ing in uneven gasps. His gaze lingered on the cube, a silent battle raging within him. With a sharp exhale, he let his sword fade, its edges dissolving into shimmering blue particles, the spectral bdes vanishing into the air like smoke.

  Ragnar sighed, sitting ba his chair with his arms crossed. "There’s no other choice. We’ll proceed with this pn."

  Lysander’s voice cut through the tension, firm and authoritative.

  "Then it is decided. The Cube will remain at the academy under heavy guard. Drifter, you will stay here. Friedrich, ehe artifact’s security."

  Drifter nodded, his voice barely a whisper amidst the deepening quiet.

  "Uood, Grandmaster."

  Friedrich’s response was swift and resolute.

  "It will be done."

  The room fell silent once more as the glowing holographic projes of the Grandmasters began to fade, their figures dissolving into shimmering light. Drifter stood motionless, his gaze sweeping across the room. His eyes lingered on the paintings ad the walls. Oed a golden-haired elf woman, her spear of light raised high as she battled a swarm of bck creatures, their tendrils writhing and red lowing ominously. Another painting showed a white-haired man wielding a sword, locked in fierbat with an army of silver-haired elves with red eyes, all bck armor. In a quieter, more somber se, a white-haired woman in a flowing gown and hood k beside a child, her long hair casg gently as she teo the child’s wounds with tender care.

  As Drifter took in the images, he felt the subtle shift in the air beside him. He turned slightly, notig Friedrich had moved closer, his preseeady and unspoken.

  "Go ahead. Luna is waiting outside. She’ll show you to your quarters." His voice was calm, yet anding.

  Drifter nodded in aowledgment.

  "Uood. Thank you." His voice was quiet.

  As Drifter stepped outside, he spotted Luna standihe edge of the corridor wall, her gaze fixed on the holographiterface glowing above her wrist. Narrowing his eyes, he caught a glimpse of Grandmaster Lysander’s fa the dispy—she seemed to be speaking with him.

  As he approached, Luna swiftly deactivated the Lumina Core and turo face him, her expression unreadable.

  "Here," she said coolly, extending her hand, where two small items rested in her palm.

  "Your new Lumina Core... and your identification card."

  Drifter took the items from her hand and examihem with wary eyes. The Lumina Core was small, deceptively light, and pure white, its smooth surface almost slick beh his fingers. At its ter, a set of bold numbers glowed unmistakably—18:47.

  The other item, the Vytros Seal, was a bd-white crystal card etched with intricate runes. It caught the evening light, projeg a spinning hologram of his own face alongside lines of text. His name. His affiliation—Evocair Order. But then—his in. Verm. A pce he had no e to. And his date of birth… 01/01/1060. A fabricated number, as if someone had simply filled in the bnks.

  "Your Lumina Core is synced with your identification," Luna expined, breaking his thoughts.

  "Keep the card as a backup."

  Drifter nodded slowly. "Thank you," he said quietly, his voice barely above a whisper. He avoided her gaze.

  Luna’s eyes remained fixed on him, her tone cold and resolute."The Grandmasters have ordered the Bck Cube to be iigated. Hand it over to me."

  The Cube in his hand pulsed strongly, almost defiantly, as if rejeg the thought of separation. Its energy surged through him, warm and alive, like a part of himself. But orders were orders. Relutly, he loosened his grip ahe Cube pass into Luna’s hands.

  As soon as it left him, ainess engulfed him, as though a piece of his soul had been ripped away. The whispers vanished, repced by a sileoo stark to ehe world felt colder, quieter. He tried to draw a breath, but the air felt thinner, less real.

  Luna examihe Cube carefully, her brow furrowing slightly."Why... isn’t it glowing anymore?"

  Drifter froze, his heart pounding. The Cube, once brimming with energy, now sat i, a lifeless object devoid of the vibrant pulses it once radiated.

  "What does this mean?" Drifter’s voice trembled with fusion as his hand reached out instinctively.

  Luna scrutihe Cube for a long moment, her expression unreadable.

  "Perhaps... it only responds to you," she said softly, her tone firm and measured.

  Drifter hesitated, the words lingering in his mind.Responds to me?... Why is that? he wondered.

  As his eyes locked on the cube again, a surge of desire ripped through him—an almost primal urge to cim it. His right hand twitched, drawn to it, but the moment he reached out, something heavy and cold settled in his chest. A shiver ran through him, and without thinking, his left hand pressed against his right, as if to stop it.

  He ched his jaw, the taste ret lingering bitterly on his tongue. Luna’s gaze bore into him, unreadable, silent.

  After a brief silence, he spoke softly. "So... what should I do now?"

  Luna’s gaze didn’t waver as she replied."For now, you are free to explore the academy. This is your home now—learn, train, and find your pce here."

  Her tone grew more resolute."But you won’t return to Paxluma. Not without the Grandmasters’ permission. It’s too dangerous. Too many have died there already."

  "Uood," he replied, his voice tinged with resignation.

  Without a word, Luna turned and walked toward the Residential plex. Drifter followed, his steps slow, his mind heavy with doubt.

  Each footstep echoed, the weight of uainty pressing on him. Was this truly home—or just a cage waiting to close in?

  I’ll py along for now... but if they think they just leave me to rot here... they’ll regret it.. Drifter thought.

  When they arrived, Luna activated the lights, illuminating a modern room with a dark gray palette. The space was well-furnished, with a sleek bck sofa in the living area and a simple staircase leading to the sed floor.

  Strange geometric devices surrounded him—their purpose unclear. In the er near a long dining table lined with chairs sat a white regur object. At the front of the room, two small bck boxes rested he sofa, while one of the walls was dominated by a rge, white panel, its smooth surface eerily pristine.

  Luna turo him, her voice cold but tinged with a faint hint of uanding.

  "If you have trouble figuring anything out, tact me or Friedrich. Any questions?"

  Drifter shook his head slowly."No. Thank you, Luna."

  She nodded and walked out with measured steps, leaving the room.

  The door clicked shut behind her, and Drifter was left alone in the spacious, unfamiliar quarters.

  He stood there for a long moment, unsure where to begin. After a while, he sank into the bck sofa.

  His gaze flickered to the Lumina Core on his wrist. The s came to life, dispying a sharp, modern interface with sleek, stylized text.

  -Ventras, 4th Vespera, 1092, Ventras 19:07-

  So, it's Ventras today... and the month of Vespera... 1092 Ad Felicitas...

  The st time he could still track the time was when the first abyssal breach appeared at Paxluma—368 Ad Felicitas. After that, he lost track of the years. He couldn't remember how much time had passed sihe operation to retake it. He might check the history ter.

  He hesitantly touched the Lumina Core, and a holographic dispy flickered to life above it. Is with text appeared, floating in the air:

  -Are work, ARF s, Calls, Applications, Settings-

  What are these for? he wondered.

  His fingers hovered over the Are work option, and a white box appeared with a small circle of li the right edge. The background was blue, with a circur rune logo at the top.

  As his finger brushed against the small circle, a chime echoed, followed by a syic female voice.

  "Good evening, how I help you?"

  Drifter’s eyes widened as he quickly sed the room.

  "Who? Show yourself," he demanded.

  "I am your Lumina Core assistant. Is there anything you'd like to search for?" the voice responded.

  Drifter stared, unsure what to make of it. This Lumina Core talk?

  "What do you mean?" he asked, still unsure, his mind rag.

  "If there’s an answer you seek... I help you search through the Are work database," the female voice replied.

  A slight smile tugged at the er of his lips.

  These things really do that? Find the book I want? Any information... that's amazing if it's true, he thought.

  " you give me a map of where I am?" he asked.

  "Certainly," the syic voice responded.

  A visual of map materialized before him.

  Drifter stared at it, fusion clouding his expression.

  He stood there for a long moment, his gaze unwavering.

  "That's a long way to Paxluma...," he thought, his mind rag.

  “ you show me the route to Paxluma?” Drifter asked.

  “I’m sorry, that information is unavaible iabase,” the syic voice responded.

  "I see..." he muttered, his gaze unfocused as he stared ahead. The hologram lingered above his Lumina Core, casting ahereal glow in the dim room. He tried swiping at it, but it remaiubbornly in pce, an uling reminder of just how out of pce he was in this strange new world.

  He didn’t know how to turn it off.

  And for the first time in a long while, he felt truly lost.

  The soft hum of the Core was the only sound as he sat there, the weight of everything pressing down on him.