Elliot sat in the guildmaster’s office, his heart pounding as the guildmaster poured two cups of tea. The room was filled with an eerie silence, broken only by the soft clinking of the teacups. The guildmaster, a tall man with a graying beard and piercing blue eyes, finally sat down across from Elliot and pushed one of the cups toward him.

  “Drink,” the guildmaster said. “You look like you need it.”

  Elliot hesitated but took the cup, his hands trembling slightly. “What’s going on? What’s all this about?”

  The guildmaster leaned back in his chair, studying Elliot carefully. “You’ve stumbled upon something far bigger than you realize, Elliot. The artifacts in that chest? They’re not just trinkets. They’re pieces of a much larger puzzle.”

  Elliot frowned. “What kind of puzzle?”

  “A dangerous one,” the guildmaster said. “Centuries ago, a powerful mage created a device capable of controlling the flow of magic itself. It was called the Aether Core. The mage intended to use it to bring peace to the world, but his creation was too powerful. It was shattered into pieces, and those pieces were hidden across the land to prevent anyone from reassembling it.”

  Elliot’s eyes widened. “And the artifacts in the chest…?”

  Stolen story; please report.

  “Are some of those pieces,” the guildmaster confirmed. “The guild has been tasked with protecting them, ensuring they don’t fall into the wrong hands. But recently, we’ve received reports that someone is searching for the pieces. Someone who wants to rebuild the Aether Core for their own purposes.”

  Elliot’s mind raced. “Who?”

  The guildmaster’s expression darkened. “We don’t know for sure. But whoever they are, they’re powerful—and dangerous. That’s why we’ve been keeping a close eye on new recruits. We need to make sure none of them are working for our enemy.”

  Elliot’s stomach churned. “You think I’m a spy?”

  The guildmaster shook his head. “No. If I thought that, you wouldn’t be sitting here right now. But you’ve proven yourself resourceful—and curious. That’s why I’m telling you this. I think you could be an asset to us.”

  Elliot blinked. “Me? I’m just a rookie.”

  “You’re more than that,” the guildmaster said. “You have potential, Elliot. But you’ll need to decide if you’re willing to take on this responsibility. It won’t be easy, and it won’t be safe. But if you’re willing to help us, we could use someone like you.”

  Elliot stared into his teacup, his mind swirling with questions. He’d joined the guild to escape his boring life, not to get caught up in some ancient conspiracy. But at the same time, he couldn’t deny the thrill of being part of something bigger.

  “What do you need me to do?” he asked finally.

  The guildmaster smiled. “For now, keep this to yourself. Train hard, learn as much as you can, and be ready. When the time comes, we’ll need you at your best.”

  Elliot nodded, though he still felt a little overwhelmed. “I’ll do my best.”

  “Good,” the guildmaster said. “Now, get some rest. You’ve got a long road ahead of you.”