Lane blankly stared at the man on the podium.
Everyone, including him, kept silent despite being bewildered. They weren't sure how to react. The atmosphere was too tense for them to just stand up and exit the lecture hall.
"That aura is what we call 'Enclore Sphae', and it caused quite a lot of trouble for the country. It caused supernatural things to occur. Diseases that couldn't be healed by normal means, monsters that couldn't be subdued by modern technology."
The man cleared his throat and pushed up his glasses. He smiled once more. Lane thought that he was the most relaxed person in the room, even having a fresh smile that almost looked fake.
'Come again?'
Lane had a look of disbelief. He wasn't sure whether they entered the wrong room, or this nonsense was the actual orientation of the Elite Club. He thought that rather than being called an Elite Club, they would suit the name Lunatic Club more.
He still listened to what the man had to say though. The following words made him sound crazier.
"But then, this was Shaldeia! Blessed by God Reimh. The kingdom was sure that god wouldn't abandon us just like that. He gave us a chance to counter the negative effects of the Enclore Sphae."
The man's voice rose up in excitement. He walked closer to the audience while still holding the microphone.
"We were granted an ability."
His eyes looked serious. Lane crossed off the idea that this man was pranking them.
"If some of you have read fantasy novels, you'll be able to imagine it easily. The ability to fight, to see, to converse, and to make. Something like an increase in physical ability, and maybe magic? However, the kingdom from the past just decided to call it 'sphae'."
He was raising his fingers for every ability he mentioned.
Lane was a person who likes reading fiction. Though he didn't enjoy reading textbooks, he did enjoy reading the imaginative works of different authors. It was refreshing to read about something that doesn't exist in the world. But now the man in front of him was saying that those things do exist.
"I'm sure all of you wouldn't believe what I'm saying. This is why I came prepared. You have no choice but to believe me."
The man spoke in a condescending manner, but even Lane didn't have time to think about the tone of his voice. Everything seemed like it happened in a flash.
An orb in green color suddenly appeared in the man's hand. It split off and was inserted to the 40 students inside the hall. They weren't even able to react due to the sudden occurrence. Images, or to be specific, memories that weren't their own entered their minds.
The memories were vivid. The wind made the trees rustle. The forest was silent, except for the few people in formation. The sun was setting, dyeing the sky in red.
But they didn't have any time to notice that.
They saw a spider. To be exact, it was a spider that was around 2 meters tall. The creature was being subjugated by people who were mostly holding weapons. There were also some who seemed like they were drawing with an unknown light.
"What the..?"
Lane heard a student near him react. It was unbelievable.
When the memory ended they snapped back to reality.
"I used my ability to transfer my own memories. I'm sure that right now you really have no choice but to believe me."
The man chuckled, seeing the disbelief in the students' faces.
"The academy had a very long history. But in reality, it was built up for a single reason. To train adolescents, like you students, in order to use your abilities and work for the kingdom."
Did he have an ability like that? Lane questioned himself. He was just a normal student. Everyone in the hall actually looks like a normal student. Sure, he was good at physical activities, but he never actually learned how to fight. He can't even do half of what the people did in the memory he saw.
"Of course, nothing is for free. Students who complete the training until their 3rd year of high school can even choose to go to college first or work immediately for the palace. The salary is, of course, confidential, but I'm confident enough to say that I, myself, is pretty rich compared to normal salarymen."
He pounded his chest as if to show how proud he is. He then returned to the podium and faced his audience.
"That is not all. You can get your wish granted if you are one of the top 5 students who completed the final examination in your 3rd year. Any wish, riches, items, anything that could be granted by the palace. After all, the strongest existence in Shaldeia would be the royal family, isn't that right?"
Lane's eyes widened as if he came into a realization, but he quickly switched to his stoic face. He squinted his eyes at the man who was also looking around the students. Their eyes met for a second.
"A wish.."
He mumbled as his gaze fell on his clutching hands.
By now, he completely believed what the man was saying, which he previously thought as crazy nonsense. After seeing 'that', you cannot just call the bespectacled man crazy.
'Maybe I'm the crazy one..?'
He questioned himself once more. Was he dreaming? Hallucinating? Did he have any brain damage for lack of sleep?
'I should've known.'
He should've slept for 11 hours like usual. He had to wake up early due to his schedule.
"Ah!"
Everyone looked back at the man who suddenly exclaimed.
"I forgot to introduce myself. I am the adviser of the Elite Club, Gadyl Loyo, at your service."
Gadyl took a mini bow and smiled when he raised his head.
For a second time, Lane and Gadyl made eye contact. Lane frowned as he felt uncomfortable that he was being stared at. Gadyl then took his eyes off him and stared at his front.
He spoke again with a dignified voice.
"Welcome to the Elite Club."
—
Lane looked around the students who were raising their hands. They were told that they were free to speak up if they have any inquiries regarding the topic.
Some asked about stupid questions whether or not they can summon demons. Some even asked if the wish could be 1 million in Shaldeian currency. Gadyl's answer was a no and a yes respectively.
"The palace is rich after all. But are you really gonna waste your wish for money?"
Gadyl asked the girl back.
The girl had no expression on her face even when she spoke.
"Yes. Money is what keeps us alive after all."
Gadyl chuckled. Lane mentally agreed with her even if he is someone who came from a rich family.
"Well, it is not my business to worry about your wishes."
Lane was deciding whether to ask a question right now or ask one later, but his thoughts were interrupted when Eon who was beside him spoke.
"Sir, what are the abilities you mentioned?"
Gadyl sat down on one of the lecture hall's seats before answering his question.
"Hmm... I am a green sphae-user. You're probably wondering why green? Colors are used to name sphae, as it is what we can physically see. The 'we' I mentioned are green sphae-users like me. We can see the color of the sphae around a person. We can also transfer our own memories to another person. And we can delete the memories of a person within 24 hours. We cannot touch the memories past the time limit."
Gadyl explained in a simple manner.
"There are also red sphae-users, which have increased physical prowess. There are the yellow sphae-users who can interact with the spirits. Well, not those ghosts and occult stuff okay? And lastly, the rarest and hardest to train would be the blue sphae-users whose power is somewhat similar to 'magic' that is described by fantasy books."
Gadyl stood up again and went back to the podium.
"Well, you'll naturally learn more about it when you agree to join. And for everyone's information, only awakened sphae-users can utilize their abilities."
Eon nodded and said his thanks. It was the first time he spoke after entering the room. The initial atmosphere really did make everyone shut their mouths. Even talkative ones like Eon.
Gadyl once again asked the students whether they have any more questions. No one raised their hand. Lane who was just deciding a while ago also kept quiet.
"Now then, is there anyone who doesn't want to join?"
Gadyl looked if there was anyone who raised their hand.
He then smirked.
"Oh? It's the first time that every 1st year wanted to join. Some usually declined, and I ended up erasing their memories."
A woman with brown hair walked towards the students while holding papers. She was the same person who stopped Lane and Eon before they entered the lecture hall.
She then handed out the papers to the students. Before anyone started asking what it was for, Gadyl spoke first.
"It's a contract."
"A magic contract to be exact. It states what you would do at the Elite Club until your 3rd year. It also states that you have to keep quiet about anything regarding sphae. The magic contract would help in keeping your mouths shut when you even think of mentioning it to a person who's not related with sphae in any way."
Lane read the contents and summarized them in his mind.
[1] They have to keep this a secret no matter what.
[2] Every Friday afternoon, the time for clubs, they would have to attend 'classes' in the same lecture hall they were at.
[3] In his first year, they would have to learn anything about 'Enclore Sphae' and 'Sphae-Users'. They also have to learn basic combat in case a dangerous situation happens.
[4] In their second year, they would be split up based on the color of their sphae, and learn depending on it.
[5] In their third year, they have a virtual field study. Immersion of a sort in an illusion.
And lastly, [6] They have to take tests every now and then.
Lane inwardly sighed.
"This is.."
A lot of learning. He continued in his mind.
He went to the Sports Course to avoid studying. Now he has to study? He even has to dedicate his body, not just for basketball, but also for combat training?
He frowned. However, he thought it was worth working hard just to get that wish. He wondered what the final examination would be.
"You can just sign below. After signing, Miss Anna Sparrow over there would receive a copy of her own."
Gadyl pointed to the woman with brown hair.
"By the way, Miss Anna is also a green sphae-user like me. She would be one of the people who'll teach you about any information on sphae."
Lane looked over the contract before signing. He grumbled, saying that putting effort was not his style.
—
"Aren't you gonna go out?"
Eon asked Lane who was still seated in his seat despite everyone else leaving the lecture hall.
"I'm not asking you to wait for me. But do as you like. I have to talk with Sir Gadyl first."
Lane casually replied as he got up in his seat. He walked towards Gadyl and greeted him politely. He was wearing a stoic face after frowning a lot a while ago.
"I have a question I didn't manage to ask."
Lane immediately went to what he wanted to talk about.
Gadyl stared at him with a poker face before smiling again.
"What may it be?"
"Can the wish be to look for a person?"
Gadyl had a look of surprise in his face.