After registering to his Wilderness Survival class via Aspirant Claudia, Ryn was instructed to head to an assembly being held in the central building within the Steeled Centre. It was a grandiose building made using the pinnacle of modern technology, a statement piece emphasizing the prestige of the Eternal Sword and all those who have conquered Anvil and its forges. No matter where one was in the Centre, they’d be able to see it, a pyramid of purest silver with engravings depicting several scenes carved onto it, like a page from a book made real.

Ryn walked quietly by himself, Aspirant Claudia had merely come to deliver his timetable to him and sign him up to his classes. He saw a few of his peers also walking towards the pyramid, all in a sleek black uniform with white accents lining their blazers, they all seemed to have a hint of anxiousness on their faces.

‘I wasn’t told about this… I’m in my normal clothes, since when was there a uniform? And why didn’t Aspirant Claudia tell me? Ah, this is really going to be a long day.’

He carried on walking, slightly reducing his pace so he could end up near the end of the assembly hall, being one of the last ones to enter. That way, he could leave fast and be hidden from as many people as possible, not having to be seen as the odd one out not wearing a uniform. As he approached the pyramid, he could make out some of the engravings on its shiny surface. One depicted a faceless man stood within a large cavity of a tree, the tree looking as if it extended towards the heavens, its luscious leaves and fruits for all to gain benefit from. Another depicted the Sun, Moon and Earth, all in their orbits, though the Earth looked bigger than it should have been, dwarfing the Sun as well as the Moon.

Ryn thought back to Lunar Whisper and his Sword Heart, wondering why Aspirant Claudia couldn’t see his Sword Heart and just what exactly a class was? He’d only been here an hour or so and his mind already felt convoluted with questions, questions he was unsure could be answered.

He slowly entered the pyramid with the inside being well lit, although the temperature inside was drastically warmer than the outside, perhaps due to the substantial amount of people within it. A sea of black uniforms stretched out before Ryn, he was lucky in the sense he’d opted to wear darker colours today, otherwise he’d have stood out more than he already did. He was seated at the back of the rows of fellow Steeled, able to slightly see the raised platform at the front of the hall they were in, presumably where the assembly’s organizer would speak. He’d already been given a few glances by the people around him, though they looked away after a few seconds, seemingly not interested. Ryn sighed a gentle sigh of relief, happy he didn’t stand out nearly as much as he thought he did.

‘Well that makes sense I guess, they’re probably worried about entering Anvil in a month rather than what I’m wearing. I honestly have no clue why I’m stressing this much about it. I should probably try make conversation with the people around me, seen as how nothing’s started yet.’

Just as he was about to open his mouth, Ryn heard an authoritative and firm voice, the whisperings of the Steeled instantly silenced.

“Ahem… It’s a pleasure to see all five-hundred and sixty-seven of you this week, we’ve had a few new additions to the Centre so I hope you treat them well and show them hospitality.”

‘What? Aspirant Claudia told me I was the five-hundred and sixty-eighth, so how is there one less? I mean I saw her update the system right in front of me so I can’t have not been included.’

The man stood on the platform had a rather burly appearance, quite short and stocky, his face was wide, hair buzzed to a centimeter or so. Ryn found his appearance quite comical to say the least, almost like the macho men he’d see in movies and comics.

“For all those new here, my name is Marco and I am of the Fledgling rank. Two years ago I was in your position, preparing to enter Anvil.’

‘There’s no way in hell this guy’s eighteen.’ Ryn stifled a laugh at the thought of the stocky man’s young age.

“I was quaking in my boots… yet I survived, I survived Anvil and its first forge. I’m here now to tell you all, you too can. I was nobody and I made it out, you who have the Centre and its infinite resources, can, and will, survive… You must believe in yourselves, stick together and be desperate for victory. If you haven’t found allies then make some, if you’re afraid to talk to your peers then know that you will regret that fear when you face your first Forge Creature. You must take initiative now, take it now and you will thrive. That I promise you.”

A silence ensued in the room, but Ryn noticed a slight change in the atmosphere, there was a sense of hope spreading throughout the eyes of the seated Steeled. Some who’d abandoned any hope of living seemingly being lifted up. Fledgling Marco spoke up again.

“This week’s board has been updated, for those of you who are interested in checking their ranking, you may check once I leave… Make sure you are orderly and uphold the integrity of the Centre.”

That last part sounded almost like a warning, perhaps something had occurred in the past, Ryn was left clueless.

‘Ranking? Well it would be nice to see what the competition’s looking like.’

Fledgling Marco slowly left the hall and almost instantaneously, Ryn realized his mistake. Staying at the back meant… he wouldn’t see that leaderboard anytime soon. Hundreds of his peers were heading towards it, chaos erupting throughout the hall.

‘Now I get what he meant…’

Quickly leaving the hall ensuring his safety, Ryn breathed out a sigh of relief, happy to have escaped that hellhole. He took a look at his timetable and noted that he had no lessons for today, they would start tomorrow.

‘Tomorrow, from tomorrow I have to give my all, even more than that. But for now… Let’s go see my room.’

Ryn headed towards the dormitories, he’d been surprised when he’d found out that accommodation was free, it sure was a relief, he’d hate to make his parents be put under more tension. As he walked he summoned his status again analyzing it as much as he could.

[Name : Ryn Sylzar]

[Rank : Steeled]

[Class : Steward of the Moon]

[Class Description : Destined for a life of loyalty to his Lunar partner, a humble steward, once worthless, had the flames of hope reignited in his heart. Protecting his partner's secrets from those deemed unfit to unravel their meanings, a humble steward of immeasurable potential.]

[Scars : 0]

[Scars needed until class evolution : 1000]

[Sword : Lunar Whisper]

‘I still don’t understand anything, what is a class? I know scars are obtained from defeating Forge Creatures but what does that have to do with a class? And, if my class evolves, that must mean it has some sort of ability no?’

He quickly dismissed his status, growing more frustrated with it.

“Ahh, tsk, I’ll look at it again tonight.”

Ryn had said that aloud, though nobody was around him to hear. He continued walking until he reached the dormitories. Not sparing a glance towards the mundane squarish building, he searched for his room.

‘Hmm, door number twenty-nine…. Twenty-nine…. Good, found it.’

The door automatically unlocked when Ryn approached it, slightly catching him off guard.

‘Fancy but… how does it know who I am?… it must have been from that full body scan earlier.’

Ryn entered his room, the smell of freshly cleaned sheets immediately entered his nose. A small smile formed on his face as he closed his eyes and took a deep breath.

‘I guess this is home for the next month.’

Ryn walked through the small entryway before reaching his actual room; it wasn’t too big nor small, slightly larger than his room at home. He took a look around, a small window overlooking some facilities of the Centre was on his right, the silver pyramid visible through it. The bed was slightly larger than a single but not quite a double, either way it looked comfortable and clean enough. Ryn wasn’t too fussed. He immediately set his bag down onto the oak desk in the corner of the room before gently sitting on the edge of his bed.

‘Come to think of it, that assembly was rather short. What even was the point of it?’

Ryn thought back to the assembly, the tense look on his peers’ faces before the assembly and the eyes filled with hope after.

‘Perhaps it’s just a weekly dose of motivation, for those who give in easily. It’s only once a week on my timetable at least. Man, I wanted to see that ranking, just for my own curiosity, I want to see how well I stack up against these guys.’

Raising his arms and stretching them, Ryn loosened up his slightly stiff body, he had plenty of things to do before the day ended…

Ryn manifested Lunar Whisper into his hand before channeling his essence into it, he had a few things he’d like to try. A few things to learn about the abilities his sword had.

‘Sure I signed up to Wilderness Survival, but who said I can’t practice my sword alone.’