"The tournant director?"
Hearing those words, both Ataraxia and Valyr looked at each other for a bit before looking back at the organizer with slight confusion.
"Have we done sothing wrong?" asked Ataraxia.
"Did we incur the wrath of the tournant director in so way?" asked Valyr after that.
"You did not," replied the organizer with a shake of his head, his expression that of assurance. "If anything, your performances during the first round were so amazing that the tournant director felt compelled to invite you two."
Continuing to explain the reasons behind the tournant director's invite, the organizer ntioned that the director wanted to invite Valyr at first, especially after an auction was suddenly held while his batch was going through the first round.
Though, with a bit of sleuthing, the director was eventually able to find out that he and Ataraxia were a teacher-student pair, prompting them to invite both instead.
Glancing at the organizer for a bit, the two eventually nodded in understanding, with Valyr asking the forr a question after that. "Is there any other reason why the director wants to invite us?"
"I haven't been given any details of the specifics." The organizer bitterly smiled as he shook his head once more. "However, I can assure you that the director's invite only serves to benefit you two."
"…Alright." After deliberating for a bit more, Valyr and Ataraxia eventually accepted the organizer's invite, causing the latter to smile with glee as he swiftly led the two to where the director was.
…
"And here we are."
With the first round still ongoing, the trio made their way up to the surface, only to then go through the nigh-incessant number of corridors the Algerie Amphitheater had.
After over a few dozen twists and turns along the way, the three eventually arrived in front of a large steel door, its surface filled to the brim with carvings of ferocious beasts.
"Before you is where the director currently resides," said the organizer to the two. "Although I know you two wouldn't do anything rash, I'd just like to remind you two one more ti not to act on your impulses."
Nodding at the organizer's kind reminder, the three eventually went their separate ways, with Valyr and Ataraxia continuing to stand in front of the steel door.
Looking at each other for a bit, Valyr eventually let out a sigh as he stepped forward, giving the steel door a couple of loud knocks.
"…Enter."
In response, a soft yet imposing voice resounded from inside the room, prompting the two take a calming breath before entering.
Creak…
Slowly opening the door as they made their way inside, Valyr and Ataraxia were briefly left at a loss for words as the sight of a couple familiar individuals greeted them.
'Julian?'
'Even the three other arbiters?'
With confused expressions on their faces, the two imdiately took note of the four arbiters seated around a large round table.
Then, seeing as the arbiters were surrounding a certain individual, Valyr and Ataraxia shifted their gazes towards that individual instead, recalling the words that the organizer had told them earlier.
'So this is the tournant director.'
Although the voice of the director sounded quite imposing, their appearance did not contain any of that imposing nature at all.
If anything, the director looked more like soone who experienced the vicissitudes of ti, prevalent throughout the various wrinkles that covered her face.
However, rather than diminish the beauty the director had, the wrinkles instead accentuated it even further, which complented with her jade green dress to make her give off a mature charm.
"Azure Mage and Azure Spear." The director looked at them with a slight smile. "Or should I call you by your nas instead?"
"Whichever is fine, Director," replied Valyr, his tone polite.
"I'll call you Ylvar and Ataraxia, then," answered the director in return, to which the two nodded in acknowledgnt. "Of course, it would be unfair if I didn't introduce myself to you two before doing so."
Standing up, she went ahead and released her aura in its entirety, imdiately enveloping both Valyr and Ataraxia in a feeling of grandeur and majesty.
"Duchess Lunarossa ltierre," she said, introducing herself to the two with a slight smile. "I am an Imperial Duchess recognized by the ltierre Empire, a high-ranking descendant of the current emperor…"
"As well as the Myriad Prodigies Tournant's director."
"Imperial Duchess…" As these words softly left the young man's mouth, both Valyr and Ataraxia went ahead and kneeled on one knee out of respect, prompting the woman to nod in approval.
Although he had a feeling she wouldn't have minded if both of them didn't react to her nobility rank, Valyr had long learned of its consequences in his past life the hard way.
Back then, he had co face to face with a Royal Marquis, only to act indifferent in response to their position.
In the end, a part of the empire's guards were dispatched to teach him a lesson, even with the excuse that he did not know how important a Royal Marquis was.
On the other hand, an Imperial Duchess was three ranks higher than a Royal Marquis. The forr was comparable to a normal Queen, while the latter was only comparable to a normal Duke.
If the anger of a Royal Marquis was enough for a part of the empire's guards to hound him to hell and back, then how much more would he have to suffer if he were to anger an Imperial Duchess?
"Please sit." Kneeling on the ground for a bit longer, both Valyr and Ataraxia eventually heard these words from Lunarossa, prompting the two to take their seats as a look of gratitude appeared on their faces.
"Now, I'm sure the two of you are wondering why I've invited the two of you here," she said, to which the two nodded in agreent.
"Well, it's quite simple." Lunarossa let out a slight chuckle, glancing at the two with interest. "Just like the four arbiters before you, I also represent an organization."
"However, only those who et my criteria can obtain my invite." She smiled after that. "Of course, since I've invited you two here, both of you have t my criteria."
"Ylvar… Ataraxia…"
"Would you like to beco a part of the ltierre Imperial Guards?"
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