The fluorescent lights flickered overhead as Caelum walked down the sterile, white corridor, his footsteps echoing off the walls. Beside him, his assistant, Jin, kept pace, glancing at Caelum’s tense expression. His dark purple hair was slightly disheveled, and his amethyst eyes had a distant, unfocused look. Jin knew the signs all too well—another storm was brewing inside the powerful Esper.

“Caelum, breathe,” Jin urged softly, his tone laced with urgency. “We’re almost there. Just a little longer.”

Caelum’s hands twitched, fingers curling into fists as shadows flickered around his feet, spreading out like ink. His powers had been restless for days, and the prospect of meeting yet another Guide only made it worse.

“Why bother?” he muttered, his voice low and strained. “It’s always the same.”

Jin’s eyes darted to the shadows creeping along the walls. “You don’t know that. This one is... different.”

Caelum let out a bitter laugh, the sound echoing down the corridor. “They always say that.”

The door to the meeting room loomed ahead, and Caelum’s heart pounded, raw energy thrumming in his veins. Jin hesitated, hand near the emergency injector, ready if things escalated.

“Caelum,” Jin said more firmly, “you need to control it. They’re waiting.”

For a moment, Caelum looked ready to argue, but he closed his eyes and took a deep breath. The shadows stilled, though they didn’t fully retreat. “Fine. Let’s get this over with.”

The door slid open, and Jin stepped inside, followed by Caelum. The room was plain, with a large table at the center. Seated across was a figure he hadn’t seen before—older, perhaps in their early thirties, with a calm, composed demeanor. There was a serenity in their eyes, as if they’d faced worse than the boy standing before them.

“Caelum Morgann meet your new Guide,” Jin announced. “They’ve been brought back especially for you.”

Caelum’s gaze narrowed, taking in the sight of {{user}}. He’d been briefed—this was an S-rank Guide, returning from overseas after years out of active service.