The castle’s grand hall buzzed with a mix of excitement and nervous energy as the twenty victorious participants stood in tidy rows. These were the lucky few who had passed the grueling entrance exams. Gilded banners in crimson and gold draped the walls, gleaming beneath towering chandeliers. The smell of polished wood and faint armor oil hung in the air, a tangible reminder of the significance of this gathering. Shunjiro stood among the others, heart pounding, though not from crushing insecurity this time. Instead, he was charged with anticipation. I’ve come this far. I’m not going to look back now. Every so often, he snuck glances at the grand staircase where the Gilded Blades assembled in regal armor. Their presence radiated strength and command, marking them as the kingdom’s elite. At the center of the formation stood Kaito. Though his stance seemed casual, a keen intelligence shone in his eyes. When he stepped forward, the entire hall quieted at once. “Congratulations to all of you,” Kaito said, voice warm yet firm. “You’ve proven yourselves worthy by passing the exams, and now you stand on the threshold of a new journey. From this day forward, your lives will change.” An undercurrent of excitement rippled through the group. Shunjiro breathed steadily, letting Kaito’s words sink in. A new journey… and maybe one day, I’ll finally catch up to Takeshi. Kaito continued, sweeping a hand outward. “Tonight, you’ll stay here in the castle as honored guests. Food and accommodations have been prepared. More importantly, this evening marks the beginning of your futures as adventurers.” Shunjiro’s nerves flashed briefly. Futures as adventurers… This is it. He set his jaw, determined to step out of Takeshi’s shadow once and for all. “You’ll each meet with the five of us in private,” Kaito went on, indicating the other Gilded Blades. “Share your aspirations, your strengths, your goals. By the end of the evening, each of you will be chosen by one of us to join a squad. These squads will be teams of five, led by one of the Gilded Blades. What you do within those squads is up to your leader.” The announcement sent an electric thrill through the room. Shunjiro’s heart thumped. I wonder who’ll pick me. Or who I’ll choose to follow. Kaito offered a confident grin. “For now, eat well and prepare yourselves. Tomorrow marks the start of your new lives.” On cue, servants drifted in, pushing tables laden with roasted meats, fresh bread, and colorful fruits. The smell alone made Shunjiro’s stomach gurgle. With the speeches over, the newly minted adventurers dispersed to fill plates and find seats. Shunjiro snagged a modest plate of food and scanned the hall. Yoshinori, his quiet, analytical teammate, sat alone near the far wall, methodically picking at the meal before him. Nearby participants laughed and talked in small clusters, but Yoshinori seemed content in his own space, a slight distance in his gaze. Beside Shunjiro, Itsuki grabbed some bread and caught him looking. “Yoshinori?” she asked softly. Shunjiro nodded. “He’s on his own. Let’s go check on him.” They crossed the busy hall and paused near Yoshinori’s table. Yoshinori glanced up, seemingly surprised to see them. Before he could say anything, Shunjiro smiled, lifting his plate as a friendly gesture. “Mind if we join you?” Shunjiro asked. Yoshinori shrugged, eyes shifting from Shunjiro to Itsuki. “Suit yourselves,” he said, but there was no hostility in his voice, only a guarded politeness. Shunjiro and Itsuki took seats across from Yoshinori. Itsuki bit into a piece of bread, then gave a content sigh. “Pretty intense speech, huh?” she remarked, eyes flicking between the two boys. “Definitely,” Shunjiro agreed, slicing into a piece of roast. “I mean, we’re talking about squads with the Gilded Blades… It’s exciting. And a little nerve-racking.” Yoshinori poked at his food with his fork. “Squads of five,” he echoed, sounding thoughtful. “Could be chaos, five teenagers, different strengths and personalities. Not exactly a recipe for harmony.” Itsuki raised an eyebrow. “I think it depends on the leader. If they know what they’re doing, they’ll make it work.” Shunjiro nodded. “Yeah, and besides, if we could handle ourselves in the exams, a little group coordination can’t be the hardest thing, right?” Yoshinori gave a light shrug, then took a sip of water. “We’ll see,” he said simply. Despite his aloof response, Shunjiro sensed he wasn’t entirely dismissive, just cautious. He remembered how crucial Yoshinori’s calm intellect had been in their previous battles. They lapsed into a comfortable lull, each taking a moment to savor the castle’s fare. But Shunjiro couldn’t help glancing around at the other confident-looking recruits. The glow of excitement in the hall was infectious, though a kernel of anxiety lingered. Yoshinori noticed. “You’re overthinking it, Shunjiro,” he said, almost reading his mind. A slight smirk curved his lips. “You’ve got that look, that face you make when you’re imagining everything that might go wrong.” Shunjiro froze, mid-bite. “Hey, c’mon,” he protested, flushing. “I’m not that bad.” Yoshinori’s smirk deepened. “Sure you aren’t. Relax. You’ll be fine, just don’t trip over your own feet when you walk into that meeting.” Itsuki laughed, and Shunjiro couldn’t help but chuckle too, any lingering nerves melting under their friendly teasing. He bumped Yoshinori’s elbow lightly. “Yeah, yeah. I appreciate the vote of confidence.” They chatted about smaller things after that: which Gilded Blade was the most intimidating, what the next day might bring, random gossip about the other participants. Yoshinori, though still reserved, offered a few deadpan observations that coaxed soft laughs from Shunjiro and Itsuki. Time passed, and one by one, participants were called to private rooms to meet the Gilded Blades. Each time a name echoed through the vast hall, everyone paused to watch. Finally, a servant stepped in and announced: “Shunjiro.” Shunjiro’s stomach flipped in excitement rather than dread. This is it. He stood, setting his plate aside. Itsuki flashed him a supportive grin, and Yoshinori gave a subtle nod. “Go get ’em, barf boy,” Yoshinori teased, referring to Shunjiro’s unfortunate nickname from earlier mishaps. Shunjiro rolled his eyes, smiling. “Thanks… I think.” He straightened his shoulders, heart pounding but full of resolve. He’d come a long way from the timid recruit who doubted he even belonged here. I’m going to prove myself, no matter what. As he made his way to the door, Shunjiro couldn’t help a final glance back at Yoshinori and Itsuki. They both gave him small, encouraging smiles, and Shunjiro grinned in return. I’m not alone in this. The heavy door swung shut behind him with a soft thud. Inside, five sets of eyes, belonging to the Gilded Blades, were fixed on him. Shunjiro inhaled slowly, forcing his pulse to steady. No turning back now. He felt the weight of their gaze as he prepared to speak, the knowledge that this conversation would help determine his path.