Welcoming Ceremony II

Getting off the Skyliner, I found myself standing in front of the familiar entrance gate that was being pitched by two magnificent Garuda statues.

Despite being titled the strongest and first hero of humanity, Garuda's appearance was on the odd side. His head resembled those of an eagle, complete with a sharp beak and piercing eyes that seemed to watch over the academy's grounds. But what caught my attention, even more, was the intricately designed mask and armor he wore.

The mask, made from a combination of gold and silver, was crafted to perfection, depicting every feather and curve of an eagle's head. It was almost as if Garuda's spirit had been fused with that of the great bird. His armor, too, was designed to resemble a bird's, with wings that extended out from his shoulders and curved talons at the end of his boots. It was both awe-inspiring and intimidating.

The statues were perfectly sculpted as how he was described in the novel, that was if I recalled correctly.

In the novel, no one had ever seen Garuda's face, not even his comrades such as Grace and Nuria, the War Goddess, who now acted as headmaster of Octagram Academy. Garuda always wore his eagle mask and helmet, which only added to his mysterious and legendary persona.

Truth be told, his character was written referencing the folklore as well as the symbol of Zio's, which might as well be my home country I guess, Indonesia.

In Indonesian mythology, Garuda is a bird-like creature that was known as the king of birds. The legend of Garuda actually originated from the ancient Hindu epic, the Mahabharata, which was brought to Indonesia by Indian traders and travelers in the 1st century AD.

In the Mahabharata, Garuda was depicted as a divine bird. He was known for his immense strength, speed, and courage, which I adapted to my novel's Garuda power and abilities.

'But yeah, that is that, because in the story he existed only for depth to the story, I didn't really develop anything about him. Just know that he was there, in the first catastrophe, as the leader of the heroes.'

"Don't just stand there, let's go!" said Shannon as she hit my shoulder playfully.

As I approached the entrance, I saw a throng of students walking across the bridge.

The majority of them wore black and red uniforms, with a few black and blue ones interspersed among them. There were fewer black and green uniforms, and I couldn't spot a single black and gold one in the crowd.

I caught up to Shannon who was already walking far in front of me.

"I don't see any fourth-year students here."

"Ah. They are supposed to come to the academy in the mid-term. That's when they come back from their apprenticeships."

I nodded, It was something I already knew, but it never hurt to confirm with someone who had been here longer than me.

"Speaking of apprenticeships, when do third-years have theirs? And where are you planning on going for yours, Shannon?"

Again, it was something I knew, but yeah, you might already know the reason.

"It's today, after the welcoming ceremony. And…" she paused a bit, licking her dry mouth. "I'll tell you where I'd have my apprenticeship later, after the event."

"Oh. Okay."

As I fixed my gaze on her, I couldn't help but sense a change in Shannon's demeanor.

Her face bore the same composed look as always, yet there was an air of secrecy lingering beneath her mask-like expression.

I remembered how she had rejoiced at my acceptance into the academy yesterday, her eyes shining with genuine enthusiasm. But now, that infectious energy was replaced by a hollow facade, concealing something lurking within.

'Hmm… What exactly could she be hiding…'

The next moment, I found myself standing in front of a massive building that served as the auditorium for the academy's welcoming ceremony. It was located deep within the Eagle realm, and the sight of it was awe-inspiring.

The building was designed to resemble an eagle's wings, with intricate details etched into the walls. It was said to be able to accommodate up to 2,000 new students, a testament to the academy's grandeur.

"Then, I'll see you later," said Shannon.

To my left, Shannon was standing, facing me. It might be me, but when I stare at her ice-colored eyes, I could feel a cold aura radiating from them.

"Ah. Yes. You're going to the dorm first, right?"

"That's right. I'll meet you in the park at 5 PM."

She flashed me a smile, one that I couldn't forget for maybe a month. But, I could feel it. I felt it. There was something behind her smile, it felt like I might never see her again.

It could be that I might just be paranoid, just like the time in the Fishman Lake Dungeon.

...right, there was no way something would happen to her.

Moreover, she was strong enough to defend herself from harm, she was ranked 7th in the third year after all…

My gaze was focused on her as she slowly disappeared into the crowd. When I couldn't spot her again, I shook my head and turned at the building entrance.

"Huu…"

Shannon, how could she ruin my first day like this, it was supposed to be a cheerful day, not one that needed me to overthink because of your sudden change in behavior, you know.

Taking a deep breath, I walked inside the building.

As I entered the auditorium building, the soaring ceilings and expansive interior immediately struck me. The intricate details etched into the walls outside continued inside, with intricate designs of feathers and talons woven into the architecture.

The spacious lobby was bustling with new students, all dressed in their respective uniforms and excitedly chattering amongst themselves. The walls were lined with display cases, showcasing various replica artifacts and trophies that the academy had collected over the years.

Moving towards the main hall, the sound of my footsteps echoed throughout the space. The hall was enormous, with rows upon rows of seats stretching out before me. The ceiling soared above, decorated with an array of chandeliers that glittered and sparkled in the sunlight streaming through the windows.

The stage at the far end was massive. The entire atmosphere of the auditorium was one of grandeur and majesty, a fitting reflection of the academy's reputation and prestige.

Taking notice that everyone else just sat anywhere they wanted, I followed them and sat on the nearby seat, in the mid-row. The seats were comfortable, made from plush velvet, and with armrests on either side.

I sunk into the seat, feeling a sense of drowsiness as I leaned on the comfy seat. The rows of seats seemed endless, with thousands of students expected to attend the welcoming ceremony.

The anticipation in the air was palpable as everyone waited for the ceremony to begin. And suddenly, the chatter and excitement in the room began to die down as the lights flickered, signaling the start of the ceremony.

Looking ahead at the podium stage, a man in a white suit was walking onto the stage. He was rather young to be considered someone of high standing in the academy, and that was what made some of the students here look at each other while whispering about the man's identity.

He was a handsome man with light brown hair and bright blue eyes that resembled the clear sky. He had an upright posture and a positive aura that exuded friendliness and justice. Despite his youthful appearance, he carried himself with the confidence and maturity of someone with experience.

I knew who this man was, but I was not sure, so I had to use my Clairvoyance to check his information first.

[Name: Owen Lawrence (Male Sign)

Age: 30

Race: Human]

His name rang familiarity to me. In the novel, he was an S-rank hero and ranked 101st in the heroes ranking by Omega. His role in the academy was as a vice headmaster.

Well, that was the only information about him I'd written other than he would be an important character in the third catastrophe before the demon invasion.

Lawrence stood on the stage, his charming appearance bewitching the female students. "Welcome, new students, to the Octagram Academy," he began, his voice booming throughout the hall without the aid of a microphone thanks to the amplifying sound magic, or maybe skill.

"We are excited to have you all here with us today, as you embark on your journey toward becoming the next generation of heroes. You have all shown immense potential in the entrance exam, and that is why you're all now gathered here together," Lawrence paused, just to observe the audience's reaction.

Following him, I also looked around. The students looked at each other, feeling both excited and nervous at the prospect of becoming heroes and that they are accepted to the academy because they deserved it.

Of course, not everyone deserved to be a student of Octagram Academy. There was a thing called 'money' in this world, and that very money was to be used as a 'bribe'. Among these students, there were the underserved to be here.

A conglomerate's son or daughter with average or even trash potential and talent could get admitted to the academy just because their parents were making a 'relation' with the insider.

All of that was like a tradition that couldn't be erased unless humanity ceased to exist.

"We cannot wait to see how you will grow and develop over the course of your time here at Octagram…"

As he spoke, I found myself becoming increasingly bored. I wondered when the speech would finally be over and we could get on to the next stage of the welcoming ceremony. As the minutes ticked by, I began to fidget in my seat, my mind wandering the endless possibilities of imagination.

At first, I was imagining what my life would be like in the academy and such things that didn't burden my mind. But, all of sudden, an image of the city burning and people screaming replayed in my head made me immediately disconnect from my mind.

'What was that?!'

Cold sweat drenched my head and my back. I looked around, everyone especially those who sat around me seemed to focus their attention on the vice headmaster's speech rather than on me.

Letting out a long breath, I regained my composure and leaned on my comfy seat just to feel drowsiness engulf me once again.

When I turned my attention to the stage, the vice headmaster seemed like he was almost done with his speech.

"Now, hold onto your hats, because we have a real treat in store for you! Are you ready to meet some of the brightest, most talented students the Octagram Academy has to offer?" Vice Headmaster Lawrence's voice boomed through the hall, his blue eyes shining with excitement.

"I'm talking about students who have already accomplished amazing feats, and who are sure to inspire you to reach new heights!" He paused for a moment, allowing his words to sink in.

"So, without further ado, let's give a warm welcome to our star students, who will be delivering the official welcome address!"

The crowds cheered and clapped their hands.

'Finally…'

Just when I thought I could rest my mind and this welcoming ceremony would finally introduce our protagonist, Lux Virtus, who had ranked 1st in the entrance exam, to everyone here.

The worst thing that I'd already considered to be an unexpected variable and the one that I hoped won't happen was finally unfolding.

The one who was walking to the stage was not a boy with white snowy hair I knew. But, it was a girl whose I'd seen twice but never had a chance to talk to.

[Name: Ember Crimson (Female sign)

Age: 17

Race: Human]

Just like when at the Garuda Soar Tower. The moment I used my Clairvoyance at her, she'd immediately locked her gaze in my direction with her sharp yet cold red eyes.

'This is bad…'