Amid the rapid flow of events that followed the introductions, Lao had no chance to address the priests' concerns. A calm only settled into the room after Ghave burst in with a newly discovered Keybearer in tow. 

The room stood in silence as the young man spoke. Lao listened, patient and attentive, to the new arrival's story; when they finished explaining themselves, the Master followed them to to the corner, calling for silence amongst Ghave, the priests, and the other apprentices. "Avalon, you say?" Lao nodded. "I've only ever heard tell of good things from there. A capable lot of warriors, it's often seemed; it's deeply saddening to hear that such a noble world has met with such an untimely end." 

The Master bowed his head in mourning for the world's loss. When he raised it, he met the new Keybearer straight in the eye. "Your survival of your world's destruction and furthermore your wielding a Keyblade indeed marks your arrival as something special, young man," he spoke, looking about the room, receiving nods of agreement from all corners. "As it would be, your being here has not disrupted anything with this meeting; to the contrary it seems you're part of the subject on which we speak. My name is Yuan Lao, resident Keyblade Master here on Old Bastion and head of the Light Masters. You are free to join me here as my apprentice, if you so desire." 

He turned back to the priests in a grimace. "You're report this far is appreciated," he said. "But it only serves to confirm what I've already been feeling from afar. The vanishing of worlds has not escaped my senses. The question I can't seem to answer is how and why."