Blue Dawn sat in stiff silence within the small office of the Explorer's Guild, the air thick with unspoken tension. The morning light streamed through the narrow windows, casting long beams across the room's polished wooden floor. Lined with shelves stacked with contracts, reports, and books on monster classifications, the office had an air of strict professionalism. It was a place where careers were made or broken, where explorers proved their worth beyond combat.

And today, it was their turn.

She crossed her arms, fingers tapping against her sleeve as she stared at the door, deliberately avoiding looking at Igneal. He was on the other side of the group, just as pointedly ignoring her. The others had noticed, of course. Grant had sent her a questioning glance when they arrived, and Reo—despite still being stiff and sore from the brutal classes—had muttered something to Grant. Fiona simply shrugged, pretending not to care.

What mattered was the rank promotion. They had worked hard for this, taking on contracts well above what was expected of copper-ranked explorers. They had proven themselves in battle, endured grueling training, and completed contracts that should have already put them in the bronze ranks months ago.

If the promotion went through, it would be their first real step forward. A higher rank meant better contracts, better rewards, and more recognition. And for Fiona, it meant one step closer to proving—to herself, not to them—that she belonged among the best. That she was more than what the Lockharts had cast aside.

She exhaled quietly, forcing her fingers to still. This wasn't about Igneal. It wasn't about her father. It was about Blue Dawn. And she would be damned if she let a cheeky runt ruin it for her.

Before the silence could stretch further, the office door opened, and Celeste stepped inside, her professional demeanor unchanged from the previous times Fiona had seen her. Dressed in the guild's standard uniform, she surveyed them with a neutral expression. Behind her, a man entered, wearing white robes over blue garbs, both laced with golden outlines.

He was clean-shaven, with a crooked nose and a square face that looked as if someone had purposely broken it. His brown hair was short and trimmed, and his brown eyes held a quiet intensity. What caught Fiona's eyes was the diamond tag hanging around his neck.

Fiona straightened slightly, recognizing him as a diamond-ranked explorer, just shy of adamantine. Few ever achieved diamond, and those who did were legends in their own right. But something was off. If this were a standard rank evaluation, there would be no need for someone of his caliber to be here.

Then she saw it when he walked past them—the symbol etched into the fabric of his robes. A fist clenching a scroll. A devotee of Thasmian.

Her stomach churned with understanding. He wasn't here to evaluate them. He was here to watch them.

Celeste moved to the desk, placing a few neatly stacked documents in front of her before glancing toward the group. "Blue Dawn, as you know, today's evaluation will determine whether your party qualifies for a rank promotion. This assessment is not based solely on completed contracts, but also on teamwork and professionalism."

She gestured to the man beside her. "Alaran will be present as an official observer. As an apostle of Thasmian, he is here to ensure the integrity of this evaluation. His role is not to assess your performance but to discern any dishonesty in your answers."

Alaran simply nodded as he stood next to Celeste. Fiona forced herself to remain still, though the presence of an apostle of Thasmian put her on edge. She had no intention of lying—there was nothing to hide—but something about being watched so intently, scrutinized for even the smallest hint of dishonesty, made her uneasy.

She wasn't the only one. Reo, usually the most relaxed among them, had gone rigid. Grant's posture was carefully measured, his hands folded neatly in his lap as if that alone could keep the tension at bay. Even Igneal, who rarely took anything seriously, had stopped his usual brooding and was now watching Alaran with narrowed eyes.

Good. They all understood.

Celeste flipped open the first document, adjusting her glasses. "Blue Dawn, this evaluation is being held due to the number of contracts you've successfully completed beyond the standard copper rank. It says here Blue Dawn has completed five contracts, three of them being low-ranked, one medium-ranked, and the last high-ranked. To reach the bronze rank, a party would have to complete eight low-ranked contracts, four medium-ranked, or one high-ranked—whichever comes first."

Fiona already knew their record was solid, but hearing the numbers laid out so plainly only reinforced how much work they had put in. They had reached the threshold far faster than most, pushing themselves with every contract. As dangerous as the contracts were, was it wrong to feel happy that a favorable outcome had resulted?

Celeste continued, her voice steady. "Given your record, the guild has deemed your party eligible for evaluation. You've definitely satisfied the criteria needed regarding contracts. I will now ask the group leader a few questions. These questions are standard for all parties, so do not feel pressured to answer quickly."

The receptionist paused, allowing her words to settle in before continuing. "Of the contracts you've completed, which was the most difficult? How did you handle it?"

"Easily the sewer contract," she said without hesitation. "We were simply supposed to be cleaning the sewers, but that changed its tune in a snap. Because of a group of weirdos, we had to fight an earth spirit resistant to our spells underground. Let me tell you, Celeste, that day was one of the worst days of my life."

Celeste gave her a sympathetic look as she looked over at a sheet of parchment. "I remember that day clearly. You and your party were quite disheveled and bloody when you appeared before the guild. Going by the report you gave us, you told us that you defeated the earth spirit by collectively striking one spot until it crumbled. Is that right?"

"Yeah, that's right. It was a lot tougher than it sounds. The damn thing was practically a walking fortress, and none of our usual tactics worked. We had to figure out its weak point while avoiding getting flattened underground."

Celeste nodded, tapping her pen against the paper. "According to the report, the spirit's outer shell was nearly impenetrable. How did you determine where to strike?"

Fiona glanced at Grant. "It was Tyrus that cracked a section of its face and gave us enough room to pry its shell off. Once we figured that out, we focused all our attacks there."

"And it says here that the environment played a major role in making the battle more difficult. Can you elaborate?"

Fiona grimaced. "The sewers weren't exactly ideal for combat. We were fighting in confined spaces with unstable footing, and the spirit's movements kept causing collapses. On top of that, the air was thick with dust and debris. It made spellcasting harder, and visibility was awful. If we hadn't adjusted our strategy on the fly, things could have ended a lot worse."

"Understood," Celeste said. "Now, let's move on. How did this encounter affect your team's dynamic? Were there any major disagreements or setbacks during the mission?"

Fiona hesitated for half a second before responding. "Nothing major. There was a moment of miscommunication when we first engaged, but once we figured out what we were dealing with, we fell into sync."

Alaran's gaze remained fixed on her, unblinking, as if searching for any hint of falsehood. Fiona kept her face neutral.

This story has been stolen from Royal Road. If you read it on Amazon, please report it

Celeste jotted something down before continuing. "Noted. Next question—how does your team handle unexpected leadership shifts in the middle of combat?"

This time, Fiona didn't hesitate. "We adapt. If someone's out of position or incapacitated, the next person in line takes over without question. We trust each other to make the right call."

Celeste nodded, satisfied. "Good. Let's move on to the next evaluation point."

The receptionist repeated the same questions for the other contracts Blue Dawn had completed, listening carefully to each response and occasionally glancing at Alaran for confirmation. The apostle remained silent throughout, his sharp gaze never wavering as he scrutinized every answer.

When Celeste finally set her pen down, she folded her hands atop the documents and regarded them with a neutral expression. "Your responses align with the reports submitted. Based on what I've heard so far, your team has demonstrated strong adaptability and teamwork in difficult situations."

Celeste flipped to a new page in her notes. "Now, we will move on to interpersonal assessments. Every team faces disagreements, whether in combat or during preparation. How does Blue Dawn handle internal conflicts?"

Fiona resisted the urge to glance at Igneal. Of all the questions she had expected, this one was the most inconvenient. She chose her words carefully. "Like any team, we don't always agree. But we deal with it. We talk things out when necessary, and when we don't have time for that, we follow whoever's leading at the moment and figure it out later."

Celeste arched an eyebrow. "And when there is no clear leader?"

Fiona's expression remained neutral. "Then we make a decision and commit to it. No hesitation."

Alaran's presence made her hyper-aware of how she phrased things. She wasn't lying, but she wasn't about to offer unnecessary details either like how Igneal was adamant about facing the earth spirit in unfavorable conditions or repeatedly undermining authority. As long as the questions remained broad, she could keep the answers simple. There was no need to drag personal frustrations into an official evaluation.

Celeste made a note on her paper before glancing at Igneal and Tyrus. "And what do you two think? Compared to the others, you are new members of Blue Dawn, so it is important that I hear your perspective on this as well."

And just like that, Fiona's calm demeanor shattered. Memories of Igneal's constant defiance and stubbornness to listen to reason surged to the forefront of her mind. She kept her face carefully composed, but her fingers twitched slightly against her sleeve. Of all the people Celeste had to ask…

To make sure that Igneal wouldn't get any funny ideas and ruin things for everyone, Fiona telegraphed her words through her eyes—a silent warning that if he said anything reckless, she would personally see to it that this would be the last time he would be involved with Blue Dawn.

She only kept her brother around because he was capable of holding his own, despite his age. If it weren't for that, she would have sent him packing long ago. His arrogance and the recklessness need to prove himself was all exhausting. Fiona knew he was strong, but strength alone wasn't enough. Not in a team. However, despite his flaws, Igneal still listened to her orders, no matter how many times he verbally disagreed.

Igneal met her stare with an infuriating smirk, as if he could hear every thought running through her head. For a moment, she swore he was going to say something just to spite her, just to test how much patience she had left.

Then he shrugged. "I think it's exactly like Fiona said," he answered smoothly. "We make a call and follow through. If someone screws up, we fix it. Simple."

Fiona nearly rolled her eyes. Celeste didn't react to the smugness in his voice, merely jotting something down before turning her gaze to Tyrus, awaiting his answer.

Unlike Igneal, Tyrus hesitated, his expression thoughtful. Fiona held her breath. He was careful with his words, always weighing things before he spoke, but that also meant he had a tendency to be too honest.

"…For the most part, things work the way Fiona and Grant explained," Tyrus said finally. "But sometimes, there's… tension. Different opinions on what the right decision is and a lot of arguments."

Fiona let out a breath she hadn't realized she was holding. He had been honest—but careful. Celeste studied them for a moment before writing something down. Alaran, who had remained silent so far, shifted slightly. If he had sensed anything amiss in their answers, he gave no indication of it. When in the face of a lie detector, even speaking the truth felt like lying.

Celeste asked a few more questions, some about their current relationship within the group, others about their future plans and expectations for the coming years. Just standard questions that are asked to gauge a group's compatibility, and for good reason too.

Whenever an applicant joined the Explorer Guild, they are given the options of either completing contracts solo or within a group. If they were to choose the latter, then a series of questions and evaluations would follow to ensure that the team was stable, cooperative, and capable of handling high-stress situations together. A dysfunctional team was a liability, not just to themselves but to the guild as a whole.

She remembered vividly the day she and her friends were accepted. Back then, it had just been the three of them—fresh-faced, ambitious, and completely untested. Grant had taken the process seriously, answering every question with careful consideration. Reo, on the other hand, had slouched in his chair, answering just enough to not get kicked out. Fiona had done most of the talking, making it clear that they weren't just another group of hopefuls.

If she were to be frank, the thought of joining the Explorer Guild never crossed her mind. Having to venture out of the royal capital to complete contracts wasn't something she had ever envisioned for herself. Traveling, camping out with all sorts of creepy, disgusting bugs that, for some reason, embraces death with open arms by flying straight into her nose, fighting off a horde of beasts, and fending off the stench of the sewers was not a hobby she was fond of.

At first, she had hated it. The sleepless nights, the dirt, the constant exhaustion of pushing herself beyond her limits. The idea of willingly spending her days trudging through unknown terrain, facing creatures that could tear her apart, had seemed ridiculous.

Just focusing on her studies at the academy seemed like the obvious path. It was structured, predictable, and free from the chaos of the outside world. She could have stayed in Lavarun Hall, honing her abilities, outpacing her classmates, and securing a future that aligned with what she expected of herself. It was a path she was supposed to be content with, yet that all changed when Aunt Selena approached her with a proposition.

Her aunt had been a branch leader for as long as Fiona could remember, overseeing the operations of the Valis branch. She didn't take contracts herself, but she managed those who did, ensuring that missions were assigned correctly, explorers were held accountable, and the guild maintained order.

Whenever she returned to the manor, she would always recount the challenges of her position; the reckless adventurers who bit off more than they could chew, the high-risk missions that tested even the best, and the power struggles between nobles and explorers alike.

At first, Fiona had thought nothing of it. Stories were just stories. They were entertaining distractions, nothing more. But as she grew older, she started to notice the contrast—how differently her aunt spoke compared to the rest of her family. She always spoke in a light tone, and her words were careful, like she was handling fragile glass. Fiona couldn't recall a time when Aunt Selena raised her voice, no matter how many times a situation arose when it was warranted.

Memories of her earlier youth back in Lockhart territory creeped up. A bed of hot embers flared in her mind. Fiona curled her toes as the scars on her feet tingled at the memory. She could recall it vividly; tears that evaporated into steam as they slid down her cheeks, her nails digging into her skin. The heavy scent of smoke and ash that clogged the air. An audience that watched from above a dome, eyes so cold that they burned just as bad as the flames below.

Celeste's voice pulled her back. "This concludes the interview. Congratulations, Blue Dawn, for passing the evaluation. You have now been promoted to bronze. Please meet me at the front desk where I will issue you your new badges. Access to contracts of the bronze ranking have been granted to your group. Once you are given your badges, you are free to leave or accept contracts meant for your party."

Celeste stood, gathering her things, and walked over to the door with Alaran by her side. The receptionist thanked the explorer for his time, who replied with a brief nod. Alaran glanced at the group as he stood in front of the door.

"May Thasmian grace your journey in life with truth and justice," he said before disappearing from view.

"Now, if you'll follow me," Celeste said with a smile.

Everyone stood up and followed the evaluator out the door. The moment the door closed, the tension in Fiona's shoulders vanished. She exhaled a deep breath, rubbing her temple to ease the dull throbbing that was already starting. The itching on her feet was practically gone by the time they entered the first floor.

"You look pale," Grant said to Fiona as they walked by crowds of people crowing the contract board. He reached out and placed his palm against her forehead. "You're not getting sick, are you?"

"I'm fine," Fiona said, gently swiping his hand away. "Just thinking about an annoying assignment I have to finish later."

Grant gave her a doubtful look, but didn't press any further. He instead set his sights on Reo who was practically dragging his feet with how slow he was moving. His pallor was less pale now that he had gotten his rest, but his steps were still unsteady, as if his muscles were barely hanging on. It was moments like these that Fiona was glad she wasn't an Augmentation Sorcerer.

Undergoing Sir Geroth's classes sounded like hell to experience going by what Grant and Reo had to say about it, and the thought of feeling like she had been dipped in fire and held captive to an agonizingly slow death was enough to make her shiver.

For now, she was content with being an Elemental Sorcerer.

If you find any errors ( broken links, non-standard content, etc.. ), Please let us know < report chapter > so we can fix it as soon as possible.