Shan entered the grand castle, his eyes scanning the sprawling halls and towering pillars, each adorned with intricate carvings that seemed to tell stories of ancient gods. After a few minutes of navigating the maze-like corridors, he finally stumbled upon the door to his squad's base. Taking a deep breath, he pushed it open and stepped inside.
Immediately, a man sitting near the entrance turned to him, his sharp eyes narrowing in suspicion. "Who are you?"
Shan stood tall, though he felt the weight of the stranger's scrutiny. "I'm new to this squad," he said, trying to sound confident.
The man crossed his arms. "Oh, yeah? Then where's your squad costume?"
Shan sighed internally. "I'm new," he repeated, this time with a slight edge of frustration. "Elesta Ma'am asked me to join her squad. If you don't believe me, feel free to ask her."
The man studied Shan for a moment, then nodded begrudgingly. "Alright, you're good to go."
As Shan walked further inside, the lively chatter and hum of the room grew louder. A group of girls sitting near the corner spotted him and immediately turned their attention to the newcomer.
"Who are you?" one of them called out, her tone both curious and teasing.
Shan rolled his eyes slightly, muttering under his breath, Do I have to explain this to everyone? Out loud, he replied, "I have to answer every single one of this squad that I'm new?"
The girls giggled. "Oh, a newbie!" one of them said with mock excitement.
Shan decided not to engage further, brushing past them as they continued whispering and laughing among themselves. He walked down the hallway leading to Elesta's private quarters and finally arrived at her door.
Knocking lightly, he heard her familiar voice. "Come in."
Shan stepped inside, and Elesta looked up from a set of scrolls she was examining. Her face lit up with a welcoming smile. "Ah, Shan! You made it."
There was a warmth in her tone that instantly put Shan at ease. He nodded, finally letting himself relax a little. "Yeah, it took me a while to find this place, but I'm here."
Elesta stood and gestured to a seat across from her. "Good. Welcome to the squad. We've been needing someone like you. Now, let's get you officially settled in."
Elesta pulled out a beautifully crafted golden outfit and a badge adorned with intricate patterns that symbolized their squad. She handed it to Shan with a sense of pride. "Here you go, Shan. This is your official squad uniform and badge."
Shan eagerly took the outfit and changed into it. Standing before a tall mirror in the corner of the room, he admired his new look. The golden outfit fit him perfectly, radiating a sense of authority and belonging. He smiled, a mixture of pride and excitement lighting up his face. "This is amazing," he said, almost to himself.
Elesta leaned back, crossing her arms with a faint smile. "Glad you like it. Now, Shan, let me ask you something—do you know all the squad names?"
Shan glanced around, caught off guard by the question. He hesitated before giving a sheepish shrug.
Elesta smirked knowingly. "That's a no, isn't it? Fine, I'll fill you in. Our squad name is SAVE—and we're ranked Top 2. The Top 1 squad is called DESTROY, the Top 3 is HEAL, the Top 4 is SUN, and the Top 5 is MOON. Got it?"
Shan nodded slowly, processing the information.
Elesta tilted her head, raising an eyebrow. "Okay… at least tell me you know the captains' names?"
Shan shook his head, looking slightly embarrassed.
Elesta sighed dramatically, placing a hand on her forehead. "What kind of man are you, Shan? Fine, I'll make it easy for you." She began listing them off:
"Top 1 Squad Captain is Toron—he's a brute, but skilled. Top 2, of course, is me, Elesta—no need for an introduction." She smirked. "Top 3 Squad Captain is Clara—she's a healer but don't underestimate her. Top 4 Squad Captain is Cyrus—a bit hot-headed but reliable. And lastly, Top 5 Squad Captain is Rufus, the silent type but incredibly sharp."
Elesta finished, giving Shan a pointed look. "Got it memorized now?"
Shan nodded quickly, not wanting to disappoint her again.
"Good," Elesta said with a grin. "You'll need to know this if you want to survive in this castle. Welcome to the squad, Junior God Shan!"