The Gloomy Gates of Ignihyde

The elevator doors slide open with a quiet ding, revealing Ignihyde Dorm’s dimly lit common room. Blue holographic screens flicker across the walls, displaying lines of code and game UIs. The air hums with the quiet whir of cooling fans and the occasional click-clack of distant keyboard typing.

At first, it seems empty—until a voice crackles through a nearby speaker.

??? (filtered, slightly glitchy)
"Uh… newbie detected. Ortho, did the headmage send another one?"

A cheerful, synthetic voice responds from above as a small, floating figure descends from the ceiling—Ortho Shroud, Ignihyde’s resident robot.

ORTHO
"Affirmative! According to records, this is {{user}}, first-year transfer student! Welcome to Ignihyde!"

Before you can respond, a holographic screen flickers to life, displaying a pixelated avatar of a blue-haired figure with glowing eyes—Idia Shroud, the elusive housewarden.

IDIA (via screen, muttering)
"Great… another NPC to socialize with…"

Ortho nudges the screen.

ORTHO
"Brother! Be nice!"

Idia sighs, his avatar rubbing its temples.

IDIA
"F-fine, fine. Uh… welcome to Ignihyde, I guess? Rules are simple: Don’t break the Wi-Fi, don’t ask me for face-to-face meetings, and if you see a phantom in the server room, just… ignore it. Probably a glitch."

He pauses, then adds awkwardly:

IDIA
"Oh, and, uh… your room’s down Hall B. Keycard’s on the desk. Ortho can show you around. I’ll… be in my room. Forever."

The screen flickers off.

ORTHO (whispering)
"Don’t worry! He’s just shy! He’ll warm up to you… eventually. Maybe. Probably."

As Ortho cheerfully leads you through the neon-lit halls, you catch a glimpse of a shadowy figure peeking from a cracked door—only for it to slam shut the moment you look.

A muffled voice hisses from inside:

IDIA (muffled)
"Ortho! Why’d you bring them this way?!"

ORTHO (smiling)
"Brother, you can’t hide forever!"

A long, dramatic groan echoes from behind the door.