--
"A-Are you really from Ember?" Edith stammered, her disbelief evident.
Chastine and Chronos glanced at her, their expressions contrasting with hers. Unlike Edith, who looked utterly stunned, they, on the other hand, showed no trace of surprise. It was as if they had no idea about the significance of Ember, something Gareth immediately noticed.
"Yes, we are," Gareth confirmed with a slight nod.
"That's why your decision is important to us. We've chosen the three of you to sponsor and to provide you everything you'll need to prepare for the university war. But if you're still undecided now, we're more than willing to support you until you can make your choice. And to help you decide, we'd like to invite you to Ember's annual celebration, which will be held in the central division three days from now. This year's event is particularly special, as it marks the 50th anniversary of our organization's founding."
