Entry Ceremony

The guild master made a sweeping gesture towards the portal, his piercing gaze sweeping over the gathered young summoners. His voice, deep and solemn, resonated in the air charged with anticipation.

"Young summoners, the time has come. May your courage guide you in the Astral Tower! Remember, this is not a simple test, but a trial that will forge your destiny. Be vigilant, for each step could be your last."

A shiver ran through the assembly. Qiris felt his heart race, a mixture of excitement and apprehension. Suddenly, a silver flash cut through the air, shooting towards the portal at superhuman speed. Qiris blinked, stunned, his brain struggling to assimilate what he had just seen.

"Was that... Zephyr?" he asked, incredulous, his voice betraying his astonishment.

Bolin nodded, an admiring smile on his lips. "Yeah, it's a hereditary talent of his family. [Talent - Wind Step]: he can share the speed of his summons. Handy, right?"

"You could say that" Qiris muttered, a hint of jealousy in his voice. He quickly composed himself, aware that this was not the time to get distracted. "Well, shall we go?"

Bolin raised a hand, his face suddenly serious. "Wait a second" he said, looking worried. His eyes scrutinized Qiris intensely. "You did bring enough provisions, right? We don't know how long we'll be in there. Rumors say some have stayed for weeks."

Qiris felt a knot form in his stomach at this thought. He glanced at his bag, checking its contents for the umpteenth time. "Yes, I have everything I need. Dehydrated food, water purifier, first aid kit... And you?"

"Same," Bolin replied, patting his bag. An affectionate smile lit up his face. "But I also brought extras for Pon. You know how he gets when he's hungry."

At the mention of food, Qiris couldn't help but look at Pon, Bolin's rock pig, with a hungry expression. His stomach growled loudly, betraying his hunger. Little Idiot, perched on his shoulder, perfectly mimicked his master's expression, his small green tongue slightly out, a thread of drool running down his jaw.

Bolin noticed their looks and shuddered, instinctively hugging Pon closer. "Hey, stop that, both of you! Pon is not edible! He's a companion, not a snack!"

Qiris shook his head, embarrassed, his cheeks reddening slightly. "Sorry, it's just that... your pig looks so... appetizing. These last few days of intensive training have worked up my appetite."

"Ribbit!" Little Idiot enthusiastically agreed, his bulging eyes fixed on Pon.

"You're creepy" Bolin muttered, taking a step back, his arm wrapped protectively around Pon. "I'm warning you, Qiris, if I catch you looking at Pon like that in the labyrinth, I'll leave you to fend for yourself!"

Qiris raised his hands in a peace gesture, a contrite smile on his lips. "I promise, I'll behave. Pon is safe with us."

They headed towards the portal, Ralls trotting beside them, his coat shining under the setting sun. The atmosphere charged with electricity as they approached the mystical entrance. Qiris felt his skin tingle as if the air itself was charged with magic.

Just before crossing the threshold, Qiris took one last look back. The guild master was watching them, his impassive face masking his thoughts. Beside him, his giant praying mantis stood motionless, its sharp blades reflecting the dying light.

Taking a deep breath, Qiris stepped forward and entered the portal.

Once alone in the square, the old man turned to the praying mantis, a smirk on his lips. "So, old friend? You've just recovered from your last confrontation with your rival, haven't you? How long has it been... several years now?"

The mantis turned its head, its blades trembling slightly.

"Ah, the child of those two... A weak frog, huh? Who would have thought" he murmured, stroking his beard. "Well, let the current flow. With their strength, they should find treasures to increase the potential of this summon."

He began to walk, accompanied by his summon, and grumbled into his beard, "If I catch the one causing all this trouble in my city..."

***

The world around Qiris seemed to dissolve, colors and shapes blending in a dizzying whirlwind. For a moment that seemed to last an eternity, he floated in an absolute void, his body seeming to disintegrate and reform simultaneously.

Then, as suddenly as it had begun, everything stopped. Qiris found himself plunged into a black space dotted with twinkling stars, so vast and so close that he felt he could touch them. Little Idiot was the only familiar presence by his side, his small body trembling slightly against his neck.

Suddenly, a mechanical voice rang out, seeming to come from everywhere and nowhere at once.

"Trial number 638 is in progress. Subject: Qiris. Status: Anomaly detected."

Qiris's heart skipped a beat. Anomaly? What did that mean? He tried to speak, to ask for explanations but no sound came out of his mouth. Panic began to rise in him, his breathing becoming rapid and shallow.

The voice continued in an incomprehensible language, a cacophony of sounds and syllables that made no sense to Qiris. Then, everything became blurry, the stars stretching into lines of light before disappearing completely.

When his vision cleared, Qiris found himself in a vast circular plaza. The floor beneath his feet was made of blue marble veined with silver, polished to reflect the diffuse light that seemed to emanate from everywhere and nowhere at once. In the center of the square, an imposing fountain spewed crystalline water that sparkled brilliantly, creating a soothing melody that contrasted with the tense atmosphere.

But what truly captivated Qiris's attention was the immense labyrinth that extended beyond the square. Colossal walls, made of dark blue stone veined with luminous lines, rose as far as the eye could see. They seemed almost alive, gently pulsing with mysterious energy that made Qiris shiver to the bone.

A thick, undulating mist enveloped the labyrinth, revealing only the blurred outlines of the first walls. This mist wasn't static, it swirled slowly, sometimes forming ephemeral shapes before dissipating. At times, Qiris thought he glimpsed ghostly silhouettes in these swirls, but they disappeared as soon as he tried to focus on them.

The entrance to the labyrinth was marked by a majestic arch, covered in glowing runes that pulsed gently. These runes seemed to constantly change and rearrange as if trying to communicate a message that Qiris couldn't yet understand.

"Hey, Qiris! Are you planning to stand there all day?" Bolin's voice abruptly pulled him from his contemplation, bringing him back to reality with the force of a punch.

Qiris started, his heart racing. He turned to Bolin, noticing Ralls' suspicious gaze fixed on him with piercing eyes. "Sorry, I had a... moment of absence."

"A moment of absence?" Bolin repeated, raising an eyebrow. "You look like you've seen a ghost! You're as white as a sheet, man."

Bolin's smile quickly faded after seeing Qiris's troubled expression. His tone became more serious, tinged with worry. "Is everything okay? You look shaken up."

"I... I don't know," Qiris admitted, passing a trembling hand over his face. He hesitated for a moment, weighing the pros and cons of sharing his experience. Finally, he decided that Bolin deserved the truth. "I saw something weird when crossing the portal. Some kind of starry space, and a voice... It was talking about an anomaly concerning me."

Bolin frowned, his expression shifting from concern to confusion. "Uh, dude, I don't know what you're talking about. We just crossed the portal and found ourselves here. No starry space, no voice. Are you sure you're feeling alright?"

"What just happened to me wasn't in the guides" Qiris thought, his mind racing. "Since the others are already in the labyrinth, it must have only happened to me. Maybe my reincarnation has something to do with it? I'll have to investigate this. But for now, I can't afford to appear weak or unstable."

Out loud, he forced himself to adopt a light tone, masking his trouble. "It's nothing, I must have been dreaming. The stress of the trial, you know how it is. Come on, we have a labyrinth to explore."

"Ribbit!" Little Idiot cheerfully approved, hopping on Qiris's shoulder.

As they approached the misty entrance of the labyrinth, Bolin couldn't help but ask."By the way, why does your frog always say 'Ribbit'? I thought frogs went 'Croak-croak'."

Qiris shrugged. "Honestly? I have no idea. But I'm glad he doesn't say 'Oink-oink', otherwise your Pon would be in danger."

Bolin grunted, but an amused smile played on his lips. "Not funny, man. Not funny at all. I'm starting to regret choosing you as a partner for this trial."

"Too late to change your mind now" Qiris replied with a wink.

They entered the labyrinth, the mist closing behind them like a curtain, cutting off any possible retreat. The runes on the entrance arch seemed to glow more intensely as they approached, as if to welcome them... or warn them.

The mist parted slightly as they passed, revealing the beginning of a winding path that led into the depths of the labyrinth. Each step took them further from the relative safety of the central square, plunging them into a world of mysteries and dangers.

Qiris cast one last look back, towards the fountain and the circular plaza. For a reason he couldn't explain, he had the feeling that when he saw this place again, nothing would ever be the same. With a deep breath, he turned forward, ready to face whatever the labyrinth had in store for them.

"Forward" he whispered, as much to himself as to his companions. 

And with these words, they plunged into the mysterious depths of the Astral Tower.