CHAPTER 6: The Opening Ceremony

"You're what?"

Felix heard everything, every word, every letter perfectly. He just wasn't able to comprehend the absurdity Lim just said..

Lim sighed. It was a hard thing to explain. After all, who would believe their world was made by some random dude, bored, and sitting in front of a computer screen for twelve hours every day .

"I know it's hard to digest it. But I created- wrote this world. Well- not physically but, I made a book about it. And it became reality."

Felix looked at the sky, at the ground, at his hands and back at Lim.

"Again, like- how-?"

Felix was lost for words. He guessed Lim to be some big shot or a secret spy. Someone sent either as a guard to protect someone or assassinate. Never did he imagine hearing this.

"So everything that exists right here, right now, was a product of your imagination, a pen and a paper"

He said.

"Correct."

Lim replied, folding his arms. 

"Bullsh*t. You expect me to believe this?"

Felix was having a full on existential crisis. He found it hard to believe that every life that has been here was because of this guy, sitting in front of him.

'`You couldn't even punch me. I don't think you got the power to create a world"

Denial and doubt had taken over his mind. 

Lim shook his head. 

"Like I said, I didn't physically create the world and made life bloom in it. You're right, a person like me who can't seem to beat you cannot create this world."

He put his hand on Lim's shoulder and gripped it to get Felix out of the veil of comfort he hid behind.

"I didn't create Celestra. Only wrote a story, a set of events that happened and is about to happen in this world, Celestra. I am not God. Just a normal human who liked and still likes writing."

Felix slapped his hand away, and the frown on his face increased.

"And at what age did you create this so- called story of yours?"

Everything Lim said sounded like absolute nonsense to Felix.

"And you said you created something that has already happened. So you're telling me you're an old geezer that decided to come here, just to experience academy life? I will call the guards on you if that is the case."

If the past which he wrote had happened, then that meant he was not just a seventeen-year-old boy.

Felix's question was justified by giving an answer that would make things even more complicated. Saying he was from another world would be pushing Felix's mental capability.

Even Lim didn't know why this happened, why his story became a reality?

But he had to explain. Leaving things uncertain like this would be worse. Letting his secrets, his true identity was for the better.

"I wrote about the past, not because I am a billion years old. It's cause...I am not from this world."

"Stop."

Felix said. He closed his eyes and rubbed his forehead. 

"I don't want to hear any of this anymore.."

His patience was gone through the roof. 

"I want proof. Tell me one thing, even the tiniest thing, that is going to happen in the next two days in the story you made."

His voice was now again laced with malice. More than before.

"If it happens, whatever you say, I will believe it. That this world, me and the people, were made of the words you wrote."

It was an order, not a proposal like before. But Lim hesitated. There were no consequences to face, but he, too, didn't trust Felix.

He had already revealed too much to whom he still had no idea about. Maybe the unknown in him isn't darkness, but a well filled with kindness.

But every good, had a bit of bad in them. And maybe what his actions would bring out the abyss in him?

Felix stood up and walked away. There was no point in waiting, when Lim had no answers.

Felix went back to this dorm. Not once did he turn back and looked at Lim. 

Everything was a lie. It had to be. But somewhere along, the 'sense' he had that he relied on, and came when needed, didn't activate once when Lim spoke about being the author.

And if he was, Felix wanted to know.

'Will I ever be fixed?.'

******

Every first-year student was gathered in the same hall at Section V, where the party was held. The fancy lights, balloons and the line of buffet had been removed and a row of chairs had been placed, facing an elevated platform.

Even so, the place was magnificent. Because everyone was busy trying to fit in, they didn't notice the painting on the walls and the ceilings.

Magical beasts like dragons, Phoenix, Griffith, and other magical beasts, were painted. Every stroke of paint was perfect. Many stepped away from the walls, even scared to touch it. Those paintings looked and felt alive.

The students now waited for the stage ahead to light up, and the opening ceremony to start.

Today, the headteacher would welcome the students, give a speech which was exciting but not as exciting as the award ceremony. 

The headteacher would attach a blue gem to the brooch the top ten students wore. And at the end, the President, number one ranked in the year, would choose a vice-president.

"Who do you think she will choose?"

"That's obvious. It has to be Oscar. He has the face, the talent, and both look good together."

Rumours flew around the hall. The students, the source of the rumours, were behind a room, attached just beside the stage.

Felix, with eight other students, was there, sat on the edge of a black sofa

The top ten students from the first year were asked to come to this room. And all of them would be brought on stage and introduced as the representatives of the first years. "Stars", that is what the academy called them.

'Being called a star feels childish '

Felix wasn't a fan of the name, but the same couldn't be said of the other seven students who sat beside him on a leather sofa.

They brimmed with pride and confidence, with determination to shine the brightest

'I hardly fit in this place.'

"Felix."

The boy sitting next to him called. Levi turned and nodded as both shook their hands.

"Oscar, it's been a while."

"It has."

Oscar nodded. The last time these two met was five or six years ago, at a party, and spoke to each other out of courtesy. And they didn't see each other during the entrance test.

After that, Oscar said nothing. His straight red hair, perfectly complemented by his cyan eyes. A look that stole and broke the hearts of many girls.

The calluses on his hand, when they shook handshake, spoke enough.

'He trains too much.'

After all, he had to match the expectations of the world. Be the next hero, just like how his father and grandfather were.

After that, Oscar turned to his right. There was a girl, sat next to him. They started talking, and the girl took a quick glance at Felix.

Felix recognized her too and was more closer to her than Leon but-

'It's awkward to talk after what happened.'

So he just looked at the wall, admiring the paintings on them.

Creak

The door to the far left opened. And a man, with blue eyes and blue hair though some of it was going grey, walked in. He wore a black suit and a brooch with a blue gem, attached to the pocket in the middle. 

And there was also a woman behind him that nobody recognized. She held a bunch of papers, constantly fixed her glasses and that one bed hair, sticking out like a sore.

Everyone in the room stood up and slightly bowed.

"Good morning headteacher."

"It is a beautiful morning now that I met our stars, but there is no need to bow."

The man said. Everyone looked at him, admired the presence he had. Strong yet calming. The head of Arcadia, Sebastian Alaric.

But Felix didn't look at him

'Those are some good shoes, old man.'

Behind him was one of the staff, the announcer for today's ceremony. She was shorter than the headmaster. 

After that, the headmaster looked around and found one missing.

"She isn't here yet."

"The guards have gone to check her dorm."

The woman behind replied.

He nodded and looked at the nine in front.

"I am proud that the nine of you here are our future. Things may change, that is life, but for now be proud of your achievements. Have the courage and strength to accomplish the responsibility that is going to head your way."

After saying that, he left, and the woman behind him spoke.

"Um- I am the announcer and will call your name one by one, so please come on stage."

The opening ceremony started. Felix didn't focus on anything until the announcer said 'representative'

"Now, I would like to call your representatives. The Stars of the first year on stage."

There was a tremendous roar that rang and vibrated around the hall.

"Please welcome on stage the 10th star, Valerius Felix."

Felix patted his blazer and walked towards the door, attached to the stage

"Good luck."

Oscar said.

Felix took a few deep breaths in before going onto the stage. Where he could see everyone, and everyone judged him.

'It's going to be fine.'

He opened the door and walked onto the stage. The professors at the front clapped and none of the students did. No one laughed, no one shouted. They looked at him, petrified seeing those eyes, while some had already looked down.

'Makes sense.'

Felix walked towards the Headmaster standing beside the podium, as he attached a blue gem to the brooch he wore.

"I hope you do well."

Felix didn't reply. He had to say a few words, how proud he was to have this position on the podium, but he couldn't care less.

He walked away to the corner behind the curtains. Everyone was stunned, but nobody complained or forced him to give a speech.

"Um-ah, Please welcome, Rank 9, Holzberg Tyson"

Clap

 Now everyone clapped to their hearts. Tyson waved at the students like a celebrity. The claps and cheers got louder. And unlike Felix, he showcased the newly attached gem and gave a speech.

He was a lot more tolerable and humane.

' Can't blame them.'

The announcer called every top ten students' names. The cheers kept on increasing and as well as Felix's headache.

'When is this over?'

The speech was getting boring, and he was tired of hearing them thanking their family and all the hard work they will put in for the better of Arcadia.

The announcer stopped right before calling the last name. The most important and talented of everyone on top wasn't here.

'So she didn't come.'

As Felix thought of that, a staff member came running towards the announcer and whispered something. Her face brightened as she started speaking again.

"Now I would like to call on stage, the ranked 1 student. She is the first ever student to get full marks, a thousand out of thousand on the academy's test. The sole heir of the Ashbourne Family."

"Rose Ashbourne."

Everyone stood up, including the professors, and clapped. Even the ones on the stage. They were rivals, but when she walked, they admired her strength and talent.

Except for Felix, his mind was occupied with something else.

'The announcer might get a scolding later.'

After all, the academy prohibited anyone from using their family name as a privilege, and announcing a student like that, was violating their so-called equality rule.

As the infamous Ashorne entered the stage, the claps stopped.

 Every student in the hall, for a moment, forgot to breathe. Captivated by her long grey hair, reaching her back, and her ruby red eyes, the signature of the Ashbourne family. No one dared take eyes off her.

The professors, however, were astonished by her mana. A red coating around her whole body. It was subtle, but powerful.

They had seen this during the entrance test, but this time, the mana was denser. Her growth wasn't ordinary, or was she hiding her mana in the first place? No wonder she was ranked one among the thousands gathered here.

And as she stood on the stage, everyone wondered,

'Why is she standing beside him?'

Felix felt many eyes on him, even through the curtain.

"It's been a while."

She said, but no response. 

'Just go to the podium.'

"Eh-miss Rose, please come here for your commencement speech."

Rose, though, didn't take her eyes off Felix. 

"You never let your guard down, do you?"

She mumbled and walked to the podium.

The Headmaster shook hands with her, and put a red gem on her brooch, except 

"I didn't think you would come."

"Me too."

Rose fixed the mic to her level and looked at the crowd.

"Good morning everyone." Everyone clapped. Her voice, a heaven made lullaby, was enough for everyone to admire her again.

'She said nothing good. Why is everyone acting like a simp?'

Felix was salty. Not because she was getting all the attention. She could have all of it. He just wanted to leave. 

The crowds, the faces, were growing on him.

'Uncomfortable.'

Once the clapping stopped, Rose spoke again.

"It's an honour for me to be here as the President of our year."

"The position me and my companions hold is of great value. A legacy set by our alumni to create a perfect environment where all can flourish."

"Maybe not the same level and pace after all. Everyone is different."

That is the beauty of it. To me, a garden with different flowers is more beautiful than a garden filled with the same one."

Again, everyone clapped. Felix didn't. He was striding back towards the door, without anyone noticing.

"And to make such a garden, I have nine of my companions here. Talents from all over the empire that also have the same mindset as me. And out of them, one has to stand beside me, the Vice-President."

The moment everyone was waiting for. And most already had their guesses.

Oscar, the second ranked, and her rival. It had to be him. That was the most optimal and reasonable choice.

She looked to her left. But her gaze, like before, passed through the eight in line to, the one moving to the door.

Felix felt her gaze and couldn't help but frown.

'This girl- does she want the whole academy to hate me?'