A figure walked out from the wings with absolute confidence.
Lucian Greymore.
Arthur recognised him instantly from the novel's descriptions. Tall, probably six-two or six-three. Refined features that looked like they'd been carved from marble by someone who understood aesthetics on a fundamental level. Dark hair styled perfectly, not a strand out of place. Sharp grey eyes that seemed to take in everything and miss nothing. The student council uniform fit him like a second skin, black with silver accents instead of gold, marking his position. He moved with natural authority, the kind that made people want to follow him without understanding why.
Darkness affinity. Duke family. Low Master rank at only nineteen years old, which was exceptional even by Academy standards.
And according to the novel, someone who would eventually become very important to the overall plot in ways Arthur couldn't quite remember the details of.
'That's Lucian Greymore. One of the major supporting characters. Charismatic on the surface, but there was something calculating about him underneath. I remember that much at least.'
Lucian reached the podium, and the last whispers died away completely. The auditorium fell silent.
"Good morning," Lucian said, his voice carrying effortlessly without any magical amplification. The acoustics of the building were perfect. "For those who don't know me, I'm Lucian Greymore, a third-year student and president of the student council. On behalf of the council and the entire Academy, I want to welcome all of you to what I can promise will be the most challenging and rewarding year of your lives so far."
His smile was perfectly calibrated, warm enough to be welcoming while remaining confident enough to be inspiring.
"The student council exists to serve you, the student body. We handle everything from organising social events to mediating conflicts between students to ensuring academy regulations are followed fairly. If you need help with anything during your time here, our doors are always open." Lucian's expression became more serious. "But we're also here to maintain standards. This academy has a reputation as the finest training institution in the world, and we intend to keep it that way. Excellence is expected. Mediocrity is not tolerated. Those who cannot keep up will be removed."
A ripple of nervous energy went through the first-years at that blunt statement.
"The Academy operates on a ranking system," Lucian continued. "Every student is evaluated regularly based on combat performance, magical proficiency, and academic achievement. These rankings determine everything from class placement to resource allocation to mission assignments. The top students receive additional support and opportunities. Those at the bottom..." He paused deliberately. "Well, they're encouraged to work harder. Rankings are posted publicly at the end of each month. I suggest you all pay attention to where you fall."
'Brutal. But accurate based on what I remember from the novel. The Academy doesn't coddle anyone.'
"There are rules, of course," Lucian said, his tone lightening slightly. "No unauthorised duels; if you want to fight someone, book an official arena and have supervision. No entering restricted areas without permission. No using magic that could endanger other students outside of designated training zones. The full list will be provided to you in writing, but those are the important ones. Break them, and you'll deal with the disciplinary committee, which, trust me, you don't want."
Arthur noticed several students shifting uncomfortably at that threat.
"But", Lucian's smile returned, "rules exist to keep everyone safe and the Academy functioning properly. Follow them, and you'll have an incredible experience here. This is a place where you can push your limits, discover your potential, and forge yourself into something greater than you ever imagined possible. The friends you make here, the skills you develop, the challenges you overcome... they'll define the rest of your life."
He let that sink in for a moment, his grey eyes scanning the crowd with what seemed like genuine investment in their success.
"This year's first-year class is remarkable. We've all heard the rumours, seen the entrance exam scores, and watched some of you during the preliminary trials. The amount of talent gathered here right now is unprecedented. This is genuinely the most influential and talented batch of students we've seen in decades." Lucian's voice carried absolute certainty. "What you do with that potential is up to you. The Academy will provide the tools, the training, and the opportunities. But ultimately, your success or failure depends entirely on your own effort and determination."
Arthur felt Lyria shift slightly beside him. Being called out as part of the "talented batch" was probably uncomfortable for someone trying to avoid attention.
"So welcome to Anastasia Academy," Lucian concluded, his commanding presence filling the entire auditorium. "Study hard. Train harder. Support each other. And remember that you're here because you earned it. Every single one of you proved you belong. Don't waste this chance."
He stepped back from the podium, and the auditorium erupted in applause. Lucian accepted it with a gracious nod, then moved to stand at the side of the stage.
The applause died down. For a moment, the stage was empty.
Then three figures walked out from the wings together, and the entire atmosphere changed.
The first was a woman who appeared to be in her forties, with an air of absolute authority that made even Lucian look casual by comparison. She wore formal Academy robes in white and gold, marking her position as vice-headmaster. Long blonde hair pulled back in an intricate braid that somehow looked both practical and elegant. Sharp blue eyes that radiated intelligence and what appeared to be barely contained frustration about something. Her figure was striking, with a generous bust that the formal robes couldn't entirely hide, but it was the way she carried herself that truly commanded attention. There was an elegance to her movements, a natural grace that seemed to enthral everyone watching. Light affinity users always seemed to glow slightly, and she was no exception; there was a faint luminescence around her that made her genuinely hard to look away from.
Vice-Headmaster Seraphine Laurent. She was Upper Transcendent rank. The person who actually ran the academy's day-to-day operations while the headmaster did... whatever it was the headmaster did.
The second figure was clearly a warrior. A man who looked to be in his forties, built like he'd spent his entire life in combat. Battle scars crossed his exposed forearms, visible even from a distance. Short-cropped dark hair and intense eyes that seemed to evaluate everyone in the auditorium simultaneously, assessing their combat potential with the practised gaze of someone who'd seen countless fights. He wore Academy combat instructor robes, dark red with black accents. The aura around him felt like standing too close to a bonfire, all heat and danger and barely controlled power that could explode at any moment.
Commander Kael Ironfist. He was Upper Transcendent rank. Head of Combat. Fire affinity. The person responsible for making sure students didn't die during training, or at least didn't die unnecessarily.
And the third figure...
The headmaster.
Dorian Ironveil looked like he was in his mid-forties, but Arthur knew from the novel that he was actually over a century old. Well-built with the kind of presence that suggested immense physical power despite not being as obviously muscular as Kael. Dark hair with grey starting to show at the temples. Brown eyes that seemed to see through everything and everyone with casual ease. He wore a commanding outfit, a high-collared shirt in earth tones under a long trench coat that somehow looked both casual and authoritative at the same time.
And the aura around him was overwhelming in a way that made Arthur's breath catch.
Sovereign rank. The only Sovereign in the entire human nation of Luminara. A living legend. Someone who could fight the entire Academy faculty simultaneously and win. Someone who had defended the country from threats that would have destroyed it multiple times over.
Students throughout the auditorium sat up straighter automatically, like their bodies recognised the presence of something far beyond them. Several first-years looked like they wanted to bow but didn't know if they were supposed to. The pressure of being in the same room as a Sovereign was palpable, making the air feel heavier and harder to breathe.
Arthur felt it too. The sheer weight of power radiating from the headmaster, even though he clearly wasn't trying to intimidate anyone. It was just there, an unavoidable fact of his existence that couldn't be hidden any more than the sun could hide its light.
'That's a Sovereign. That's what the peak looks like. And I'm barely a middle apprentice. The gap is incomprehensible. I couldn't even scratch him if he gave me a free shot.'
The three of them took their positions on stage. Seraphine to the left, Kael to the right, and Dorian in the centre. They stood there for a moment, letting their presence settle over the crowd like a physical weight.
Then the headmaster stepped forward to the podium.
"Students of Anastasia Academy," Dorian's voice wasn't loud, but it carried to every corner of the massive auditorium effortlessly, resonating with some quality that demanded attention. "Welcome."
The silence was absolute. Not a single person dared to even shift in their seat.
"You stand here today because you proved yourself worthy of this institution. The entrance exams are not easy. They're not meant to be. We don't accept students who are merely adequate or who got lucky on a good day. We accept those who show potential for true greatness." His brown eyes swept across the crowd with an intensity that made Arthur feel like the headmaster was looking directly at him. "This generation in particular has demonstrated remarkable talent. The skills I saw during the practical examinations, the magical proficiency, the tactical thinking... You are the future defenders of this world. The ones who will stand against the corruption when it comes for us. And make no mistake about this, it will come."
The temperature in the room seemed to drop slightly at those words.
"The rifts are not slowing down. If anything, they're becoming more frequent with each passing year. More dangerous. The monsters that emerge from them grow stronger, more vicious, and more cunning. The world needs warriors, mages, strategists, and leaders. People who can face the darkness and not flinch when it stares back at them." Dorian's expression was grave, weighted with knowledge that none of the students possessed. "This academy exists to forge you into those people. To prepare you for the reality that waits beyond these walls, beyond the safety of cities and civilisation. We will push you to your limits and then push you further. We will break down your weaknesses and rebuild you stronger. Some of you will fail at this. That's inevitable. That's the nature of what we do here. But those who succeed..."
He paused, and something like genuine pride crossed his weathered features.
"Those who succeed will become the legends of the next generation. The protectors of the four nations. The ones who push back against the corruption and give humanity hope for the future. You will be the ones who matter when the darkness comes calling."
The weight of those words settled over everyone like a physical burden. Arthur felt the responsibility of it, the expectation. This wasn't just a school. It was preparation for war against an enemy that never stopped coming.
"The dangers you'll face here are real," Dorian continued, his voice steady and unflinching. "This academy doesn't coddle students or pretend that the world is kind. During your training, you will be sent into corrupted rifts under supervision. You will fight monsters that genuinely want to kill you and will try their hardest to make it happen. You will experience real combat, real fear, and real consequences. Because that's the only way to truly prepare you for what comes after graduation when there's no safety net to catch you if you fall."
Several first-years looked genuinely nervous at that blunt assessment of what they'd signed up for.
"But you won't face these challenges alone. You have your fellow students, your instructors, and the resources of this entire institution supporting you every step of the way. The Academy has stood for over a thousand years, training generation after generation of protectors and heroes. We know what we're doing. Trust in the process, work hard, support each other, and—"
Dorian stopped mid-sentence. His expression shifted from grave and inspiring to something else entirely. Bored. Like he'd suddenly remembered this was a formal ceremony, and he absolutely couldn't be bothered with it anymore.
"You know what?" he said, his tone completely changing to something casual and conversational. "Screw this formal speech nonsense. I'm not good at it, and you're all going to fall asleep if I keep going with the doom and gloom routine."
Dead silence. Everyone stared in complete shock at the sudden shift.
Vice-Headmaster Seraphine closed her eyes and visibly counted to ten, her jaw tight with barely controlled frustration.
Commander Kael was grinning openly, clearly entertained by the chaos.
"Let's be real here," Dorian continued, leaning casually against the podium like he was chatting with friends at a tavern instead of addressing hundreds of students at a formal ceremony. "You're all terrified right now. I can see it written all over your faces. 'Oh no, the scary headmaster is talking about how we might die; this is awful. I should have stayed home with my parents, where it's safe." His impression of a nervous student was deliberately exaggerated and slightly mocking. "Relax. The mortality rate is actually pretty low these days. We haven't lost a student to training accidents in at least six months."
Kael coughed to hide what was definitely a laugh.
Seraphine looked like she was developing a migraine in real time.
"And yes, the training is hard, but that's because the real world is significantly harder. Better to struggle here where we have healers standing by and supervision watching everything than struggle out there where you just die for real and nobody can help you." Dorian shrugged like this was the most obvious thing in the world. "Common sense, really. Besides, most of you are talented enough that you'll be absolutely fine. Probably. The ones who aren't talented enough will wash out in the first semester, and honestly, that's fine too. Not everyone is cut out for this life, and there's no shame in realising it."
Arthur couldn't believe what he was hearing. The Headmaster, the legendary Sovereign and defender of Luminara, was giving possibly the most unprofessional speech in Academy history.
And somehow it was working. The tension in the auditorium was dissolving like morning mist. Students were actually relaxing in their seats, some even smiling. The terrifying formal atmosphere had been completely shattered by Dorian's refusal to take himself seriously.
'This is insane. He just completely threw out the script and decided to wing it. And everyone's eating it up.'
"The faculty are all excellent at what they do," Dorian continued, gesturing vaguely at the two people flanking him. "Seraphine here runs absolutely everything and keeps the Academy from falling apart completely, which is good because I'm genuinely terrible at administrative work and would probably burn the whole place down if I had to handle scheduling. Kael will train you in combat and probably make at least half of you cry at some point, but you'll be significantly better fighters for it, so stop complaining ahead of time. The other instructors are all experts in their respective fields. Listen to them, do what they tell you, and you'll learn a tremendous amount."
He straightened up slightly, his expression becoming fractionally more serious but still nowhere near the grave tone from before.
"But here's the truth nobody wants to actually say during these formal ceremonies because it sounds bad. Some of you are going to fail out. Some of you are going to give up when things get too difficult. Some of you are going to realise you're not cut out for this particular life, and that's perfectly fine and acceptable. Being a rift hunter or a combat mage or a military officer isn't for everyone, and pretending otherwise is stupid. There's no shame in pursuing a different path that better suits your abilities." Dorian's eyes swept the crowd one more time. "But if you're going to fail, fail because you tried your absolute hardest and it still wasn't enough. Don't fail because you gave up without even fighting. That's the only kind of failure I'll actually judge you for."
Seraphine stepped forward decisively, clearly having reached her absolute limit of patience with Dorian's rambling.
"Alright, that's enough," she said, her voice cutting through whatever tangent the headmaster was about to go on next. "Thank you, Headmaster, for that... uniquely unconventional perspective on Academy expectations. Now, let's move on to something actually useful and productive."
Dorian stepped back with a completely unrepentant grin, hands sliding into his pockets. Seraphine took his place at the podium, her expression professionally neutral despite the obvious irritation simmering underneath the surface.
"As the Headmaster mentioned, if you somehow managed to understand his actual points between all the jokes and sarcasm, this Academy exists to prepare you for the genuine dangers of our world." Her voice was crisp and authoritative, back to the proper formal ceremony tone. "Each of you has been assigned to classes based on your entrance exam performance and demonstrated abilities. Your schedules will be distributed immediately after this ceremony concludes. Attend all required classes, complete all assignments on time, and maintain acceptable performance in your monthly rankings."
She paused, her sharp blue eyes scanning the crowd with an intensity that suggested she could see straight through any student who thought about slacking off.
"Now," Seraphine continued, "we have a tradition during the induction ceremony of introducing some of our top-performing students. These individuals have demonstrated exceptional talent and skill, and they will serve as examples of what dedication and genuine hard work can achieve. When I call your name, please stand so your fellow students can recognise you and know who represents the standard you should be aspiring to."
Arthur's stomach tightened immediately. This was it. The moment Lloyd would be revealed to everyone.
"Let's begin with our exceptional first-year students," Seraphine said, her voice carrying clearly through the suddenly tense silence.
The auditorium held its collective breath.