[Scene: Gate 13 – The Trial Chamber, Minutes Later]
The room had settled into a strange calm — not peace, but tension dulled by disbelief.
The screen above the stage flickered to life.
Speaker (even-toned):
"Now that everyone has either pressed a button… or allowed time to run out—"
"We will view the results of that offer."
The massive crystal screen pulsed once—
Then displayed three words and their tallies:
YES – 18
NO – 31
NO RESPONSE – 1
A low ripple passed through the chamber.
The speaker's expression didn't change.
Speaker:
"Eighteen candidates in this room chose to abandon their guilds in favor of immediate licensing."
He raised his hand, slow and deliberate.
Speaker:
"Those who clicked 'YES' may now exit through the main gate.
Your participation ends here."
Murmurs. Shuffles. Then—
"Wait... I got my license?"
Someone said it out loud. A tone of joy — or maybe shock.
Two candidates fist-bumped mid-row.
A few others looked around, grinning.
A squad of officials moved in and calmly ushered the 18 out of the hall. Their footsteps echoed like the end of a story.
Then after the exit of all those who clicked yes—
The screen flickered again.
New text appeared, white against black:
FAILED – 18
Panda blinked.
Then raised his hand.
Panda (confused):
"Um… sir? The screen says 'Failed – 18'... but the trial hasn't even started yet, right?"
Katrina sighed audibly.
She lowered her head and gently pressed a palm to her forehead.
Katrina (internal):
"He didn't get it… That was the trial."
The speaker adjusted the angle of his mic crystal.
His voice remained level — but laced with judgment.
Speaker:
"Narcissists who place their own safety above loyalty,
Who abandon guildmates for personal gain…"
He let the room hang in it.
Speaker:
"...are not worthy of an Adventurer's License."
Silence.
Heavy and final.
Speaker (calmly):
"That is all I'll say."
Then, without raising his voice or hand—
He simply snapped his fingers.
A hum rang out from the northern wall.
Light spiraled outward from the stone.
A previously invisible gate revealed itself — metallic, carved with runes, humming faintly with power.
Speaker (turning):
"The second trial awaits you through there."
No more drama.
No more buildup.
Only a path forward.
Katrina took the first step.
Others followed.
And Panda?
He shuffled behind, clutching his now-useless device like a souvenir of a choice almost made.
[Scene: Simultaneous – Other Trial Chambers]
Across the fortress, in mirrored halls cloaked in silence, the same offer was unfolding.
Gate 5 – Rhask's Trial
The speaker here looked different — older, gray-bearded, yet equally cold.
Still, the offer was the same.
As the screen above the stage lit up:
---
YES – 23
NO – 37
---
Rhask stood near the middle of the room, arms folded, quiet as ever.
He hadn't said a word since entering.
He didn't need to.
He didn't even look at the device before pressing NO.
Rhask (internal):
"If you abandon the ones you bled with for convenience…
you're not worth the armor you wear."
---
Another room. Another silent culling.
---
Gate 9 – Kael's Trial
Kael scratched the back of his head, grinning at the blinking device like it owed him money.
Kael (muttering):
"Oh man. This smells like a scam…"
He didn't look serious.
But his thumb? Already hovering over NO.
Kael (internal):
"Whisper's Light might be a circus… but it's my circus."
On the screen:
YES – 17
NO – 40
Gate 3 – Solis's Trial
He didn't hesitate. He didn't flinch.
When the official approached to hand him the device, Solis simply stepped back.
Solis:
"I won't take that."
The room turned.
The official stared.
Solis (firm):
"It's against my morals. I don't need a shortcut. I need the truth."
For a long second, it looked like he might be removed.
But instead—
The official simply recorded something on his clipboard and nodded once.
On the screen:
YES – 20
NO – 32
NO RESPONSE – 1
---
Gate 6 – Eron's Trial
People around Eron panicked. Several scrambled for YES.
Eron (internal, amused):
"The more people who leave… the higher my odds.
Statistically advantageous."
He pressed NO without a second thought.
Above him, the screen pulsed:
---
YES – 11
NO – 34
---
Gate 12 – Arjun's Trial
He watched the official's phrasing carefully.
He caught the pattern.
Caught the tone.
And by the time the device reached him, he already knew.
Arjun (internal):
"It's a test of loyalty. Not a real offer."
He pressed NO. And then quietly watched.
---
YES – 29
NO – 30
Few minutes later –
FAILED – 29
Arjun folded his arms.
His lips twitched slightly — something between a smirk and sympathy.
Arjun (quietly):
"Harsh… but fair."