Ryn briskly walked towards the main entrance, wanting to be out of the biting cold as soon as possible. He reached a small console which he presumably had to interact with, allowing the gates to be opened from a control room within the Centre. It was rally high tech, a holographic looking interface on a steel altar of sorts. He read through all the options, looking for what he needed to press.

[Request Gate Entry -->]

[Request Meeting -->]

[Scheduled Appointment -->]

[Call Control Room -->]

[System Status : Active]

[ver.1.4.345221]

'I need to request an entry inside, but… a scheduled appointment? Isn't the privacy a bit lax, if I just click on that, I could see all the appointments today and who's coming no?'

Ryn decided to click on the appointments out of curiosity to which he was met with,

[Appointment Code : _____________ ]

'Ah, I should've seen that coming, it'd be stupid to think that the Eternal Sword of all clans would be so unprofessional.'

Ryn went off of the appointments page and requested entry to the Centre. After clicking it, he was met with a beeping sound before a small camera slowly turned in his direction, presumably analyzing him, checking if he were a threat. The first gate slowly opened, granting him entry, a respite from the cold.

Upon entering, he was met with a hallway, lit with bright white lights, giving an artificial look to it. He saw a conveyor belt to his side, on which was a sign reading,

[Place Items Here.]

Ryn took off his backpack and placed it on the conveyor belt, the only thing he in it a phone. As he placed it on the conveyor belt, it passed through a small closed off box like mechanism, with it providing an X-Ray scan of what was inside, making sure he wasn't carrying anything dangerous.

Next he himself had to step inside a pod of sorts, a blue laser which covered the circular area of the pod scanned him from head to toe, checking for any objects or devices he should not have.

'Thinking back… I should've really checked out the rules for this place online. How could I make such a stupid mistake.'

Luckily, nothing out of the ordinary occurred and Ryn was soon allowed to step out of the pod, the once blue laser having turned a neon green.

After collecting his backpack, a sliding metal door opened automatically, allowing him access to the next stage of the security checks. Ryn entered the room, this one more warmly lit, giving his eyes a slight rest from the glaring white lights of the earlier hallway. There was a small wooden desk at the end of the room, a window behind it, allowing one to look out upon all of the Centre's institutes, everything behind the walls.

A middle aged woman who's youthful beauty still remained intact was sat behind the desk, her gunmetal hair and blue eyes staring analytically towards Ryn, as if assessing him already. A jovial, inviting voice soon spoke up.

"Ah welcome. Welcome. Take a seat young man. No need to be worried, consider this a mere formality."

The woman in front of him had a powerful aura around her, it felt as if everything within the room was in her control, as if one wrong move and his life could end right here. Ryn quietly took his seat before the imposing woman who carried on talking.

"My name is Claudia. Claudia of the Eternal Sword. What might your name be, young one?"

'Wait…. Claudia? THE Claudia.'

Ryn realized why he felt this overwhelming pressure from her, sat before him was none other than Vari of the Eternal Sword's wife, Claudia, an Aspirant…

"Ryn, Ryn Sylzar, a pleasure to meet you Aspirant Claudia."

"Please, Please, I'm more interested in you Ryn, you're joining the Centre quite late, September 26th, precisely 35 days away from the day all you Steeled are sent off to Anvil, are you feeling okay? Would you like any extra help?"

Ryn listened to her intently, hoping to find anything of use in her words. Her motherly tone seemed rather genuine, as if she was actually worried about him.

"Extra help? What does that entail, exactly?"

Her face became slightly more serious, a hint of sadness in her eyes.

"I spoke too soon. Please forgive me Ryn but… To be eligible for the extra help, one must already have the ability to manifest their heart's Sword at will, and dive into their Sword Hearts. Furthermore you must be able to view your personal status at any time. I'm truly sorry."

"Personal Status?"

Ryn was confused, he had no clue what this personal status was, nor what viewing it entailed. He patiently waited for Claudia to continue.

"Yes, a personal status, or status for short, is the ability to view a set of runes brought by the Heart of Sword. The understanding of said runes comes naturally to a fully awakened Steeled, however most Steeled are not capable of manifesting their swords, let alone diving into their Sword Heart's or being able to understand the runes."

Ryn was in shock.

'Huh— I thought all Noble kids, or most at least could manifest their swords…. Wait… those runes I could see, that's a status? Wait… I need more information.'

"I understand, just for my own curiosity if you don't mind Aspirant Claudia, how many of the Steeled this year are able to manifest their swords, use their Sword Hearts and understand the runes."

Claudia, had a slight smile on her face, almost as if proud about something. She slowly opened her mouth to answer.

"This year's batch, more than usual."

"And that is?"

"One. Just one."

"Huh-" Ryn audibly gasped. Unable to comprehend what he'd just been told.

"And how many Steeled joined the Centre this year?" Ryn needed more information.

'Just one? Just one? How could that be real?'

"This year in Neo Nebulas, five-hundred and sixty-seven Steeled have joined us, you'd be the five-hundred and sixty-eighth , a shame, the numerical sequence of the numbers in five-hundred and sixty-seven is ruined by the eight. Don't worry I jest."

 Aspirant Claudia let out a warm chuckle, she had a friendly air around her. Ryn could hardly take note of that though, his mind was currently going through the motions.

'Just one… in five-hundred and sixty-seven, well I make two, but… to think one is considered more than usual… So that means usually none awaken fully before they enter anvil. What's even the point in offerin-'

"You must be thinking what's the point in offering these extra lessons on top of your normal lessons, if there's only such a small chance someone has fully awakened their Sword Heart."

'How did she know?' Ryn gently nodded, letting her continue.

"It's just the practice I have to follow, if… on the slim, slim chance, we encounter someone who fits the criteria, they must be helped, so that they can thrive, thrive and help humanity fight off the Heart of Sword once and for all, freeing us from Anvil and its iron grip."

'Ryn nodded, but he felt it was… something wrong. I mean sure, most couldn't truly utilize their Sword Hearts and were unable to manifest their swords, but still, it was almost like abandoning them, abandoning them to favour the few. Ryn didn't like that, not one bit. But he also saw their point, they had to look at the bigger picture, what was a few deaths compared to the salvation of humanity?'

"I understand."

His eyes met Aspirant Claudia's, she seemed to be constantly assessing him, in what regards, Ryn had no idea.

'Should I tell her I've awakened fully? I mean it'll surely help me but… I'd instantly ostracize myself, I wouldn't fit in with anyone. Though… What does fitting in matter when my life's on the line, I have to do something, anything to survive.'

"You mentioned there was one, one who fit your criteria. Who is it?"

A warm, tender and motherly smile lit up across her face, one which he recognized instantly. It was the same as the kind his mother would give him when proud of him.

"Dahlia, Dahlia of the Eternal Sword. My daughter." Aspirant Claudia spoke, a hint of pride in it. Ryn had heard of Dahlia, next in line to inherit the Eternal Sword clan, raised by one of humanity's few Arisen, Arisen Vira, he'd seen her name in many news outlets.

"Ah I see… Well… With that all being said. I'd like to take those extra lessons."

"…What?"

"Those extra lessons, I'd like to take them."

"I'm not quite sure you heard me Ryn… The criteria for those lessons…."

Ryn let her explain again before speaking up.

"I've awoken my Sword Heart fully, can see the runes and am able to manifest my sword."
 He willed Lunar Whisper into existence, it's hilt forming in its hand, already grasped. Aspirant Claudia watched carefully, the blue of her irises deepening ever so slightly, her pupils slightly widening.

"The blade is exquisite, but that does not mean you've manifested your sword, this could merely just be a relic you obtained, able to store in your Sword Heart. I need to check your Sword Heart myself to see if you speak truthfully."

"Fair enough... How do we do that?"

"Take off your shirt."

"Huh-" Ryn was baffled. Unable to process what he'd just been told to do.

'The Steeled Centre really is something else.'