The entire room fell silent as Nick finished his story of finding the Nightmare.
"Helia?" the Champion of Light asked lightly.
"I did not detect any falsehood," she said. "I can also feel that his Zephyx Synchronizer is attuned to the Nightmare. At least partially."
The young man scratched his chin as he fell into thought. "A corpse, you say?"
"Yes," Nick nodded. "The Nightmare looked like a human corpse unaffected by time. Its ability also stopped working as soon as I reached its domain, even though it was still dark."
"I can also tell that it did not sense me," Nick said.
"Explain," the Left Arm asked.
Nick's expression became uncomfortable, and he looked at the Champion of Light.
"It's fine," the Champion said. "I can tell how he could tell. He has come bearing important news for humanity. This is not an interrogation or a punishment. People deserve to keep some of their secrets."
Nick released a covert sigh of relief.
He really didn't want more people to know about his ability.
Ghosty, Julian, and Simon already knew about this ability. Oh, and apparently, the Champion of Light also knew.
That was already too many people knowing about his ability.
"As you wish," the Left Arm said politely.
Then, she turned to Nick. "Tell us more about the Nightmare. What did you feel when you saw it?"
Nick's brows furrowed.
"It somehow felt… tragic," he said.
"Tragic?" the Left Arm asked with skepticism.
Nick nodded. "It was like I should feel bad for it. Additionally, it just looked like a normal and peaceful corpse. While its will is filled with hatred and malicious during the tortures, when I looked at it, there was just nothing. It was just a half-decayed corpse."
"It is so strange. When its influence infects people, the hatred is deep and unmistakable, but while looking at it, it seemed so dead and neutral."
Then, Nick looked at the Champion of Light.
For some reason, as Nick looked at the Champion of Light, he felt calm and confident.
The Champion of Light felt like a genuinely good person to Nick.
"For some reason," Nick said carefully. "When I saw you, I was reminded of the Nightmare."
The Left Arm narrowed her eyes while the young man looked with interest at the Champion of Light.
The Champion of Light just smiled and carefully leaned back on his throne.
"I understand," he said. "That explains things."
"It does?" Nick asked in surprise.
The Champion of Light just smiled. "These are matters that are only known to the Shields. You have helped humanity greatly, but for your own safety, I can't tell you more."
"The fewer people know, the safer humanity is."
For some reason, Nick felt nervous when he heard those words.
Apparently, the Shields knew something that the normal people didn't.
"Maybe you can find out on your own," the Champion said with a light chuckle. "You just have to look at the distant past."
"Do you wish to work for us?" he asked.
The Left Arm's eyebrows rose in surprise, and the young man looked at Nick with praise.
Nick was shocked.
The Champion of Light himself had asked Nick if he wanted to work for them.
Without hesitation, Nick nodded. "More than anything."
The Champion smiled. "Why?"
"Because humanity can't lead itself," Nick answered.
No one said anything.
Everyone just looked at Nick.
"In Crimson City, I have seen what happens when a group of corporations have unchecked power."
"Greed, corruption, suffering, injustice. Crimson City is filled with these traits."
"The powerful are only interested in lining their own pockets as they drain the blood of the people who have nothing but their blood left."
"And the governor just stood by, watching as the normal people are treated like animals in a cage."
"I was born in the poorest part of the city, and I swore that I would change things."
"The powerful have a responsibility to the weak. The powerful have only become powerful by stealing opportunities from the weak. Every Specter an Extractor works with is a Specter that can't work with another Extractor."
"There are limited opportunities and resources in the world, and most of the time, the difference between finding some success and no success is just opportunity."
"There are many people who could have become the Chief Zephyx Extractor of my Manufacturer, but in the end, I was chosen. Why? Because someone gave me an opportunity to prove myself."
"Without this opportunity, I would still be living in the Dregs."
"I have taken many things from many people to achieve my current power, and it is my duty to repay mankind."
"I have stolen from the past, and I must give back to the future," Nick said with conviction.
The Champion of Light smiled. "And you believe that Aegis is the correct path for you?"
Nick nodded. "Without Aegis, the world would be even worse. We would be beset by the Fallen and Adversaries."
"Aegis protects the cities."
"However," Nick said. "Aegis is too busy with fighting the Specters. I don't believe it has the resources to fight internal corruption."
"Aegis makes it possible for Extractors to live happily, but the Extractors don't make it possible for the people to live happily. That is due to the lack of enforcing the rules."
"I believe I can make a difference here. I believe that the support of humanity will strengthen if they do it willingly, but they will only do it willingly if they are happy."
"I want to join Aegis so that I can gain the power to improve the lives of the common people."
"Not everyone can defend themselves. So, it falls on the shoulders of the powerful to defend the weak."
Silence.
The Left Arm looked at Nick with narrowed eyes while the young man scratched his chin casually.
"I can feel your conviction," the Champion of Light said with a smile. "I do not know in which manner you plan on achieving your goal, but I can feel that you are speaking from your heart."
"Your conviction is powerful. It seems like you have thought about this many, many times."
Nick nodded.
The guilt he felt regarding Horua and the Crimson Sea incident never left him.
He always felt it deep in his chest.
"Your reason as to why you want to do this isn't important," the Champion of Light said.
"The way you came to this conviction isn't important."
"The way you plan on actualizing your dream isn't important."
"What's important is that you have conviction shared by Aegis."
"You are a good fit for Aegis."
The Champion of Light smiled warmly.
"I'm happy to welcome you."
Nick's heart was filled with warmth and gratitude.
Finally, he managed to gain a position that allowed him to make meaningful changes.
He could finally improve the lives of the people!
At last, he could see a way to redeem himself.
He could make things right!
Nick bowed deeply. "Thank you so much!" he shouted.
The Champion just nodded lightly.
"What is your name?" he asked.
"Nick Nick, Chief Zephyx Extractor from Dark Dream in Crimson City," Nick said.
The Champion of Light's eyebrows rose. "Nick Nick?"
"Yeah," Nick said with a bit of shame. "I wasn't born with a last name, and when someone asked for my last name, I just repeated my first name and never stopped."
Surprisingly, the Champion of Light laughed.
"Nick Nick, oh, what a name," he said with laughter. "Do you wish to keep it? When you join Aegis, you have a good opportunity to change it."
"Almost all Extractors of some renown change their last name at some point to reflect their true self better."
Nick sighed and nodded. "Yes, I would like to change it."
The Champion chuckled a bit. "Would you mind if I gave you one?"
Nick's eyes widened in surprise.
Even the other two looked with surprise at the Champion.
The Champion rarely took an interest in weaker people, and now, he wanted to give Nick a name?
"Gladly! It would be an honor!" Nick shouted with a polite bow.
The Champion of Light smiled and leaned back.
"I believe…"
Silence.
"What about Nick Dusk?" he asked.
The other two looked with shock at the Champion of Light.
Dusk was an ancient word.
It represented a concept that almost no human knew in this world of eternal sunlight.
Dusk, the time the sun vanished.
Nick didn't know what Dusk meant, but since this was a name offered by the Champion of Light, he felt honored to accept it.
"Thank you," Nick said with a bow. "I like the name. As soon as I join Aegis, I will call myself like this from now on."
Then, a slight smile appeared on Nick's face.
'I've never received a name before. My entire life, I decided what I was called.'
'But isn't it the duty of the parent to name their child?'
At that point, Nick fell into memories.
What was his true name?
He had a true name, right?
He just forgot it.
"Nick," the Champion of Light said, "please wait in the Hall of Remembrance. Helia will come to you shortly and explain things to you."
The Left Arm nodded.
Nick looked at the Champion of Light again and bowed in reverence.
Just like his name, the Champion of Light had filled Nick's heart with brightness.
"Thank you!" Nick said.
Then, he turned around and left the bright room.