“Free plugins are never truly free.Data collection, usage analytics, and behavioral tracking.The average user discovers this after 3 months of installation.Average user continues using it anyway.”— Palistra’s plugins security audit (independent researcher, banned)I reached out and touched the globe.The surface was warm, warmer than it should have been, and the colors beneath my fingers seemed to pulse in response to the contact. For a moment, nothing happened.Then the System answered.[External Keystone Detected][Source: The Guild][Status: Unlinked][Do you wish to establish a link with The Guild?][YES] [NO]I glanced at Sera, who nodded encouragingly.[YES]The globe flared, golden light washing over my hand, and I felt something settle into place, a connection I couldn’t quite describe, like a door opening somewhere in the back of my mind.[Link Established][Guild Access: Granted][Note from Owner: Please proceed to any seating area to continue orientation.]I pulled my hand back, flexing my fingers experimentally. They felt normal. Everything felt normal, except for that new awareness, the sense that I could reach for something that hadn’t been there before.“That’s it?” I asked.Sera smiled. “That’s it. Ours work the same way as your academy’s Keystone. You can sit anywhere in the main hall and access the Guild system now. Take your time, browse, get familiar with how things work.” She paused. “I’m going to look into your contract, mark it completed. See if I can find out what actually happened at Cassette tonight.”“You can do that?”“I can try.” She was already turning away, (...)