Entrance Ceremony

|Alistair|

I took a moment to inspect my uniform, which was customised for my unique fighting style. The black, military-style outfit with gold details was simple in comparison to the flashy uniforms of my fellow members. A gold plaque on my right breast displayed my position as captain.

After ensuring that everything was in order, I left the room and made my way to the auditorium. The Student Council members were probably already present, as they were at the center of this ceremony. As I walked, my mind focused on the task at hand and the challenges that lay ahead.

I sent the other five members ahead of me and they were meant to be situated in various places in the hall.

As I approached the enormous white building, I couldn't help but notice the intricate runes etched all over its exterior. As I pushed open the door, the chatter of students immediately ceased, and many turned to stare at me with inquisitive expressions.

"Isn't that the prince of the elves?" I overheard a group of boys whisper, their voices hushed in excitement. "What's he doing here in that unique outfit?" they continued.

Meanwhile, a few girls giggled and whispered among themselves, one of them commenting on my looks. I couldn't help but feel a little self-conscious, but I knew that I had to keep my focus on the task at hand.

As I made my way to the back of the hall, I located Princess Kathyln, Rachel, Arthur, Claire, and Theodore, who were standing in their designated positions. I positioned myself in the center in a guarded yet relaxed stance and scanned the area, taking in the thousands of students chattering with their friends or even strangers they had just met upon entering the academy.

To my surprise, I noticed that many elves and dwarves were among the audience.

My attention was soon drawn to the empty stage, where a single podium stood. Suddenly, a sharp blur took form, and I saw Director Goodsky standing behind the podium. She wore an elegant white circlet that matched her white robe, making her appear much more refined than the witch-like impression she had given off during our first encounter. Smiling, she raised her hand slowly.

At this point, more of the incoming first-year students had noticed her, and the chatter grew louder, with some even cheering. However, when Director Goodsky's hand reached the level of her head, everything suddenly went dead silent. The expressions on everyone's faces shifted to surprise, for though they were mouthing words, no sound was heard from anyone in the audience.

'Her mastery over sound magic still baffles me,' I thought as a smile appeared on my face before I quickly wiped it away.

"Excuse me for my rudeness but I do hate speaking up. Not good for my throat, no it is not," she said in a pleasant voice that—while soft—was heard perfectly clear, even from here in the back row.

"I welcome everyone here, the future leaders, scholars and powerhouses of Dicathen, to this humble academy. I am Cynthia Goodsky. Please call me Director Goodsky and do not be afraid to say hello when I walk around campus. I am no good with speeches so I stand here before you mages today to say hello, and introduce to you the Student Council that represents this academy and takes part in making important decisions along with me. Please give them a warm welcome."

As she finished her brief introduction, she stepped aside and gestured towards a group of students, who walked out onto the stage one by one. Each of them wore a uniform that was different from the standard attire of the academy, indicating their status as members of the Student Council.

As the members of the Student Council walked out onto the stage, I observed their entrances. First came Jarrod, his confident gait and strikingly handsome face causing a wave of shrill screams from the girls in the audience. Behind him Fable, a cheerful guy who waved at the audience and beaming a bright smile.

Next, a short girl with long, brown hair and kind eyes made her way to the center of the stage, giving small bows in each direction. Despite Lilia's shy demeanor, she carried herself with a quiet confidence that demanded respect.

Following her was Lancelot, the secretary of the Student Council. With his sparkly black hair and piercing grey eyes, he caught the attention of many girls in the audience, perhaps even more than Jarrod. I couldn't help but smirk, knowing that one of my fellow members had their eye on him.

As the last member of the Student Council made her way onto the stage, my heart skipped a beat. It was her, the love of my life.

She walked gracefully, her gunmetal silver hair shining and reflecting the light in the auditorium, and her peachy-cream complexion making every boy's heart skip a beat. As she turned to face the audience, her round turquoise eyes captured the hearts of every person in the room.

Tessia took a deep bow, and as she came back up, she tucked part of her hair behind her pointed ears. Her face was emotionless, almost doll-like, but her voice was confident and regal as she introduced herself, "My name is Tessia, and I am the vice-president of the Student Council. And now, I would like to introduce to you the president, Gary Whiteborn!"

As Tess stepped onto the stage, the previously chattering crowd erupted into a frenzy. I couldn't help but notice some unsavoury comments about her that reached my ears, but I kept my cool and focused on the proceedings.

The chatter in the audience died down quickly as Gary's voice carried across the auditorium. I couldn't help but admire his ability to command the attention of the entire student body. Even the rowdy groups at the back had fallen silent.

"As you have already heard, my name is Gary Whiteborn, and I am honoured to serve as the Student Council President," he announced, his voice projecting with a powerful confidence. His piercing purple eyes scanned the audience as they all settled down and gave him their undivided attention.

Gary, despite being only twelve, spoke with a maturity beyond his years. He emphasised the principles of the academy, highlighting the importance of safety, discipline, and respect among the student body. He spoke about how Xyrus Academy was a sacred ground, a place where students should feel free to walk without fear. He also made it clear that anyone who hurt another student outside of a consensual duel would face severe disciplinary action.

Gary stood behind the podium, his voice firm and unwavering. "While I may be a first-year student like all of you, I have already noticed the deep-seated discrimination against scholar mages by the battle mage students. Let me be clear, I will not tolerate any form of aggression or bullying based on such trivial factors."

As he spoke, the crowd grew restless, the whispers and murmurs getting louder. The hardships faced by scholar mages were no secret, and Gary's bold stance against it was a surprise to many.

Gary paused for a moment, his purple eyes gleaming with a dangerous glint. "Let me make something else clear," he continued firmly. "I don't care about your family's nobility or the accomplishments of your ancestors. Those things have no bearing on me. If anyone interrupts me with such pointless chatter again, I will assume that your parents failed to teach you proper manners, and I will have to step in to educate you myself."

The threat in his voice silenced the crowd, and they listened intently as Gary continued. "Starting this year, while the uniforms and required upper-level courses may differ, the first two years of general education, which includes a mix of both scholar mage and battle mage classes, will be mandatory. This will promote better assimilation between the two types of students."

A few murmurs of protest started to rise, but Gary cut them off with his next statement. "After the two years are up, you may choose to specialize in either scholar mage or battle mage classes by taking a challenging test. This test will determine whether you have the necessary skills to continue in that field."

As he finished his speech, the crowd was silent, taking in his words. Gary's confidence and resolve had impressed everyone, and his message of unity and equality had struck a chord.

Tessia stepped up next and began her speech.

"My name is Tessia Eralith and I am honored to serve as your Student Vice President. As President Whiteborn mentioned, this year brings many changes to Xyrus Academy. In addition to the integration of scholar mage and battle mage classes, there will be no limit on how long a student can attend this academy. In the past, the faculty has pressured students to graduate in four years, but we have found that this approach may not yield the best results. As a result, the Director has decided to replace the time limit on graduation with a set of requirements and a rigorous graduation exam. While these requirements are challenging, we believe they will produce well-rounded and competent mages in both theoretical and combat fields. We welcome students of all races and backgrounds to Xyrus Academy, and we are excited to see what you will accomplish during your time here." She bowed, and the rest of the Student Council followed suit.

As she stepped back, the auditorium erupted into a round of applause, signalling the end of the opening ceremony. Students began to file out of the room, chattering and laughing with their new classmates

I made my way through the courtyard, nodding to the other members of the Disciplinary Committee and to the members of the Student Council as they dispersed in different directions. As I walked, I heard the sounds of a duel in progress. Approaching the commotion, I saw a human and a dwarf engaged in combat. It was a sanctioned duel, so I stood back and observed with interest.

The dwarf put up a good fight, but in the end, the human emerged victorious. However, I could see that the human was not satisfied with his win and was about to inflict further harm on his opponent. Without hesitation, I stepped in and easily blocked the human's dual swords. "That's enough," I said firmly, my voice carrying the weight of authority.

The human was taken aback by my intervention and stepped back before sputtering in shock. "P-Prince Alistair?!"

"You went too far in that duel," I spoke firmly, my voice carrying the weight of authority.

The human noble bowed his head and apologised, his fear evident on his face. Vines had coiled around his body, stopping him from moving.

"What's your name?" I asked him.

"Nicholas," he replied.

"Your actions have been documented, and you will be punished accordingly," I informed him, before releasing the vines from his body.

He looked like he wanted to resist, but my position as a prince seemed to have scared him off, and he simply ran away with his friends.

I turned to help the dwarf, feeling a sense of disappointment in the way some of the students behaved. It was only the first day, and already there had been an incident. I didn't want to imagine what might happen in the future.