Qiris trembled with excitement, his eyes fixed on the heritage stone. Little Idiot, beside him, was literally vibrating, his small green body stretched towards the spherical object as if drawn by an invisible magnet.
"Calm down, Little Idiot" Qiris whispered, gently grasping the frog's skull between his hands. "I know it's tempting, but let's think for a moment."
As he held Little Idiot, Qiris recalled the contents of one of the books he had bought before coming to the tower. His voice took on a professorial tone as he explained, as much for himself as for his companion.
"You see, Little Idiot, there are three ways for a summon to learn new abilities. The first, which you know well, is through fighting. That's how you got your [Propelled Headbutt] and your [Aquatic Reinforcement]. Not bad for a little frog, huh?"
Little Idiot slightly puffed up his cheeks, as if to say "I'm not that small."
Qiris chuckled softly before continuing. "The second way, much rarer, is precisely what we've found here: a heritage stone. These marvels awaken the memories of a summon's lineage. This one is linked to the water element, which is perfect for you!"
He paused, thinking. "You know, we were really lucky. Some heritage stones have more specific restrictions. Imagine a stone that would only work for aquatic felines. Not very useful for us, right?"
Little Idiot emitted a "Ribbit" that sounded like agreement.
"And the third way," Qiris continued, "is the rarest and most complicated. You have to complete an entire tower and choose a skill from the proposed rewards. These skills are often at the top of their rank. But well, we're not there yet, are we?"
Qiris looked at Little Idiot, his expression becoming more serious. "You know, I've seen the summons of the young masters, their impressive potential. And us... well, we almost lost at the first floor. We're far, very far from the talents of this world."
He sighed deeply. "I could have sold this stone, you know? It would have brought us a small fortune. But..." He tightened his grip on Little Idiot, looking him straight in the eyes.
"The best investment is you, my little green friend. This stone could make all the difference."
With a smile, he released Little Idiot. "Go on. Show me what you can do with it."
Without hesitation, Little Idiot leaped towards the stone. As soon as he touched it, it liquefied, seeping into the frog's body. Qiris watched, amazed, as a huge water lily appeared under Little Idiot, spinning majestically.
[Little Idiot has learned Aquatic Lily Pad]
"Incredible" Qiris breathed, observing Little Idiot absorb the power of the stone.
Meanwhile, in the circular room at the exit of the labyrinth...
The atmosphere was heavy and tense. It had been several days now since the majority of participants had emerged from the labyrinth. About 80% of the young people who had presented themselves before the Astral Tower were now gathered here, impatiently waiting for the door to open.
The air was tainted with the smell of sweat and frustration. Faces were drawn, eyes were ringed, and patience was wearing thin with each passing hour.
"This is ridiculous!" exclaimed a young man with tousled hair. "We should all have arrived long ago. What exactly are we waiting for?"
A girl with blue braids sighed heavily. "Maybe some got lost for good in that cursed labyrinth."
"Or maybe they found a secret exit and abandoned us all here" muttered a chubby boy, his summon, a small crystal golem, glimmering faintly at his feet.
Suddenly, a cry of rage rang out. A muscular participant, at his wit's end, rushed towards the great door and began to strike it with all his might.
"Open up! Damn door!" he yelled, his fists hammering the metal to no effect.
Two other summoners rushed to restrain him. "Stop! It's useless!"
The young man collapsed, panting. "We're going to die here, aren't we? It was a trap from the beginning?"
An anxious murmur ran through the crowd. Fear and doubt were beginning to settle in their minds.
Zephyr, still impeccable despite days of waiting, rolled his eyes. "Pull yourselves together. This is probably just another test of our patience and determination."
Aurora Lark nodded. "Zephyr is right. We must keep our calm and dignity. The Astral Tower wouldn't have brought us here without reason."
Despite these reassuring words, worry persisted. Some had started rationing their food, fearing an even longer wait. Others had grouped into small clans, wary of their neighbors.
Bolin, sitting in a corner with Pon, muttered to himself. "Come on, Qiris. Wherever you are, I hope you're okay."
As the invisible sun marked the passage of another day in this windowless room, the summoners could only wait, hoping that the next stage of their trial would soon be revealed.