Delia

Joni led Ryo away from the bustling crowd, finding a secluded spot to discuss their next steps. Ryo's mind was still grappling with the mystery of his dormant locket, and he hoped Joni held the answers he sought.

Joni turned to Ryo, a reassuring smile on his face. "Ryo, I know you're concerned about your locket, but I promise you, I will do everything in my power to help you unlock its potential. This is uncharted territory for me, but together, we'll find a way."

Ryo let out a sigh, his shoulders slumping. "Joni, have you ever encountered a case like mine before? A locket user without a functioning locket?"

Joni chuckled playfully, shaking his head. "No, Ryo, I can honestly say I've never seen anything quite like it. But that's what makes you special, my friend. You're a mystery waiting to be unraveled."

Ryo's face fell, disappointment etching his features. "I had hoped maybe you had a solution. It's hard to hold onto hope when faced with the unknown."

Joni placed a reassuring hand on Ryo's shoulder, his voice filled with determination. "Ryo, don't lose hope just yet. I may not have the answers now, but I won't rest until we find a way. Trust me."

Ryo's spirits lifted slightly at Joni's words. He nodded, a glimmer of hope returning to his eyes. "Thank you, Joni. I appreciate your support."

Joni grinned and motioned for Ryo to follow him. "Now, let me show you our room. It may not be much, but it'll be our sanctuary in this chaotic realm."

Ryo looked around, expecting to see a room nearby, but all he saw was empty space. Confusion crossed his face until Joni's mischievous smirk caught his attention.

Joni summoned a door out of thin air, surprising Ryo. "Ta-da! Our room, right here."

Ryo's eyes widened in surprise as he stepped closer to the door. "You can create things out of nowhere? That's incredible!"

Joni chuckled. "Well, not exactly. It's more like manipulating the fabric of reality within certain limitations allowed by the administration for the mentors. But let's not get into the technicalities right now."

As Joni reached for the doorknob, the door swung open, revealing a young woman in the middle of changing clothes. She let out a piercing scream, and Joni quickly shut the door, his face turning crimson.

Ryo's eyes widened, his voice filled with curiosity. "Who was that?"

Joni scratched the back of his head sheepishly. "Ah, that was Delia, my other student. Seems I forgot she was in there. Oops."

With a hint of embarrassment, Joni explained that Delia had faced an almost similar predicament as Ryo. She possessed the power to manipulate reality, but only within the limitations of a video game. Due to her struggle, Joni had requested a delay in her entry into the Locket's Game, allowing her to gain a better understanding of her abilities.

Ryo furrowed his brow, trying to comprehend Delia's unique power. "Manipulating reality like a video game? I've heard my mother mention video games as something humans play when they're bored. I never had much exposure to those technologies as a Lumis."

Joni was surprised by Ryo's mother's knowledge of human culture. "Your mother seems quite knowledgeable. Yes, video games are a form of entertainment for humans. Delia, being an elf, didn't have much exposure to them either, so it took her some time to grasp the concept."

Ryo nodded, absorbing the information. "I see. It must be challenging for her to adapt."

Joni's curiosity piqued as he turned his attention back to Ryo. "By the way, Ryo, how are you so strong without the use of your locket? Are you a Lumis? Typically, they're considered physically weaker compared to other races."

Ryo affirmed Joni's suspicion. "Yes, I am a Lumis, and I suppose I am the strongest Lumis around. Most of the Lumis in my village are elderly." Ryo paused for a moment. "But even when I held back my power just now, I felt lighter and stronger here in the Sphere Void."

Joni's eyes widened with realization. "Ah! Your village, the Lumis Village, is situated in an area with an intense gravitational pull. That explains your strength here, that also explains why Lumis seem weaker in their village. But don't worry, it's not a bad thing. In fact, it's incredibly impressive."

Ryo looked at Joni, a mix of surprise and confusion on his face. "Why didn't you tell me earlier?"

Joni laughed heartily, patting Ryo's back. "I thought you were a human so I was too amazed by your strength to think of the gravity's influence. My apologies, Ryo. But let's focus on what lies ahead."

Before Ryo could respond, the door swung open once again, and this time it was Delia. She scowled at Joni, clearly annoyed. "Joni, what's the meaning of barging in without knocking? I was changing!"

Joni scratched his head sheepishly. "Sorry, Delia. I forgot you were in there. Anyway, meet Ryo. He's my new student."

Delia's eyes widened as she caught sight of Ryo, her cheeks turning a shade of pink. Stuttering slightly, she managed to speak. "H-hi, I'm Delia. It's nice to meet you, Ryo. You're... you're Joni's new student?"

Ryo nodded and smiled warmly. "Yes, that's right. I'm Aeryo, and I'm here to learn from Joni. Nice to meet you, Delia."

Joni, noticing Delia's flustered state, couldn't resist teasing her. "Oh, come on, Delia. Just call him 'baby.' It's easier to say."

Delia's face flushed even deeper as she smacked Joni on the head. "Stop it, Joni! That's not funny."

Clearing her throat, Delia composed herself and introduced herself properly to Ryo. "Sorry about that. I'm technically your senior since I delayed my entry into Locket's Game. It's nice to have another person to learn alongside."

Ryo chuckled and reassured Delia. "No worries, Delia. I'm glad to meet you too. We'll figure things out together."

As the three of them stood in their shared room, a sense of camaraderie started to form. Little did they know, their journey together would be filled with unexpected challenges, revelations, and the forging of unbreakable bonds.