Silvercross Academy's courtyard sparkled under the afternoon sun. Students milled about after combat drills, their chatter a mix of gossip and admiration.
"Did you hear? Kael Draven beat Leon again!"
"He's unstoppable!"
"No—his phoenix did everything!"
Kael ignored the whispers as he walked across the stone bridge connecting the dorms to the guild annex. Ember rested on his shoulder, preening lazily. Aegros trotted beside him, tail swishing, scattering leaves.
"You know," Kael said, "people talk like I'm some kind of celebrity."
Ember chirped.
"I was hoping for privacy, not popularity."
Aegros gave a low grunt, unimpressed.
As they entered the annex, the air shifted. Guild clerks snapped to attention. Even the receptionist, who once fainted at Ember's sneeze, managed a polite nod.
"Mr. Draven," she said nervously. "Guildmaster Varin requests your presence in the council chamber."
"I didn't break anything this time," Kael said automatically.
"He said you didn't. This time."
The Council Chamber
The chamber was vast, circular, and filled with glowing sigils that projected maps of the Five Kingdoms. Varin stood near the center, flanked by Guild Officer Lira and two strangers wearing foreign insignias—representatives from neighboring kingdoms.
"Ah, Draven," Varin greeted. "Punctual for once."
"I got lost," Kael said. "Accidental punctuality."
Lira hid a smile. "We've reviewed your performance reports. Frankly, they're… impossible."
Kael crossed his arms. "I'm taking that as a compliment."
One of the visiting officers, a stern woman with snow-white hair, stepped forward.
"So this is the SSS-Rank summoner causing ripples across the Guild Network."
"Ripples?" Kael asked. "I prefer waves."
Varin coughed. "Draven, the Guild's decided to assign you an official classification: B-Level Adventurer. You'll begin receiving official missions and invitations."
Kael blinked. "You mean work?"
"Exactly," Lira said.
"Tragic."
The white-haired officer handed him a sealed scroll marked with crimson wax.
"Your first invitation—an inter-branch cooperation trial. A short joint mission with the Eastmarsh Guild. Low risk. Observation purpose only."
"Low risk?" Kael asked. "You said that about my exam hall."
Varin chuckled. "This time, the field's outside the city, but within protected wards. Think of it as… practical training."
Kael sighed. "Fine. When do we leave?"
"Tomorrow morning," Varin said. "You'll meet your team at the eastern gate. And, Draven—try to keep the collateral damage under 'historic.'"
"No promises," Kael replied.
Back at the Academy
By evening, the news had already spread.
Ryn nearly tripped over himself running to Kael's dorm.
"You're leaving for a mission already? The entire Guild's talking about it!"
Kael was lying on his bed, hands behind his head. Ember perched on the windowsill, and Aegros lay curled at the foot of the bed.
"It's just a trial," Kael said. "Probably boring."
"Boring for you means someone else's nightmare."
"Optimism noted."
Ryn's eyes gleamed. "Do you realize what this means? You'll get your Guild crest, your name registered across the kingdoms! You're practically famous!"
Kael groaned. "That's exactly what I was afraid of."
Preparation
The next morning came too quickly. Kael arrived at the eastern gate half-asleep, Ember fluttering beside him. Aegros walked alert, every step ringing softly against the cobblestones.
Four figures waited there: two adventurers, one academy mage, and one Guild escort. The escort stepped forward—a tall man with bronze skin and short, neat hair.
"Draven, right? I'm Captain Halric. I'll be leading this short-range exercise."
Kael nodded. "Exercise. Nice word for 'trouble ahead.'"
Halric chuckled. "You catch on fast. We'll patrol the outer training zone—simple scouting, no deep forests. Standard protocol."
Kael frowned. "And if something goes wrong?"
"Then we run," Halric said cheerfully.
"I like your leadership style," Kael said.
The Mission Begins
The group set out along the cobblestone path that wound into the low hills east of Valenhardt. The wind carried the faint scent of mana-rich soil, and birds darted through the glowing treetops.
Kael walked at the rear, half-listening to the chatter ahead.
"These fields used to be part of an old dungeon," Halric was saying. "The Guild keeps them sealed. Good place for testing energy flow."
Aegros's ears twitched.
Kael's relaxed posture shifted slightly.
"You sense that?" he murmured.
Ember gave a low chirp, feathers bristling.
A faint ripple moved through the air—like heat distortion, but colder. The grass shimmered, and the air smelled faintly of ozone.
Halric noticed it too. "Mana fluctuation. That's… odd."
Before anyone could react, the ground ahead pulsed with blue light. A crack appeared—small, flickering, like a broken mirror.
Kael's eyes narrowed. "That's not normal training field energy."
The others stepped back as spectral shapes flickered inside the rift.
"Rift projection?" Halric whispered. "But those are restricted to the southern zones!"
"Congratulations," Kael said dryly. "Looks like our 'low-risk mission' just got promoted."
Containment
The air distorted again, and a translucent beast clawed its way halfway through the tear—a malformed wolf with crystalline eyes.
"Don't panic," Halric barked. "It's a projection, not physical!"
Kael sighed. "It's trying very hard to be physical."
Ember launched forward, her flames weaving into a tight spiral. Aegros howled, the sound ringing like metal striking steel. Their combined energy hit the beast just as it breached the surface.
Light exploded outward. The rift collapsed, leaving scorched grass and a lingering hum.
When the smoke cleared, the group stared at Kael in silence.
Halric lowered his weapon. "Remind me to file this mission as high-risk later."
Kael stretched. "You're welcome. Can we go home now?"
Aftermath
Back at the city gate, Guild officials were already swarming the report station. The word rift anomaly appeared several times on their tablets.
Varin himself was waiting when Kael returned.
"You weren't supposed to encounter one," Varin said quietly.
"It encountered me," Kael replied.
Varin's eyes gleamed with both concern and curiosity. "That makes two coincidences too close together."
"You think someone's triggering them?"
"Or something," Varin said. "Either way, your link to mana patterns is attracting attention."
Kael sighed. "Great. I always wanted a cosmic stalker."
Varin smiled faintly. "Rest, Draven. You'll need it."
Kael nodded, already walking away. "No promises on that either."