Nix, Markus, and Ariana reached the main hall where the orientation ceremony was taking place. They hid in the steel rafters, ensuring they were out of sight.
The main hall was elegantly decorated with golden statues, and stained glass windows surrounded the room in a circular pattern, overseeing the large space filled with chairs on the bottom floor where the children sat during the ceremony. Each of the giant stained glass windows had a balcony in front of it, adorned with neatly arranged throne-like chairs.
Each stained glass window vividly depicted a unique landscape, each accompanied by a striking artifact. One window showcased an expansive desert, where the golden sands rippled under the sun, and at its center bloomed a magnificent rose crafted from sparkling rubies, glistening like fiery gems against the backdrop of a crystal-clear blue sky.
Another window portrayed a Victorian-era city alive with energy, where a large black steel sphere loomed ominously above, raining down a shower of gunpowder that swirled through the streets like dark clouds, casting an eerie shadow over the elegant architecture.
The next window captured the enchanting image of a towering white tree, its branches stretching toward the heavens, surrounded by a colossal forest teeming with giant creatures. These majestic animals roamed freely, while skilled raiders, adorned in intricate armor and wielding an array of weapons, undertook the daring task of taming the wild beasts.
Behind the headmaster stood a striking window depicting a sword piercing the heart of a medieval city, its blade gleaming with deadly promise, suggesting a tumultuous battle that once ravaged the landscape, sending ripples of fear throughout its populace.
Finally, the last window whisked viewers away to an ancient Chinese village, where two elegant fish danced gracefully around a luminous moon. Their movements created shimmering ripples in the night sky, evoking a sense of tranquility and magic that enveloped the scene in a gentle embrace.
The trio looked down at the ceremony taking place below. They had arrived just in time to hear the headmaster finishing his speech. He waved his hand in the air as a large, majestic black bird with four wings, each adorned with long, beautiful feathers that reflected light like obsidian, soared down. A dazzling blue gemstone embedded in its forehead caught the light as it descended, carrying an artifact.
The artifact resembled a golden dragon clutching a sapphire blue sphere that sparkled as the light shone through it. The headmaster took the artifact from the bird and then plucked one of its feathers. He placed the feather into the mouth of the artifact, causing it to glow. The golden dragon statue on the artifact transformed, multiplying until there were several dragons, each holding a different colored orb.
Each dragon flew to one of the stained glass windows, unleashing a wave of energy that caused the spheres to merge with the windows, making them glow brightly. As people stepped through the windows, they appeared as if stepping through a portal.
The headmaster announced the names and titles of each group as they entered from the portals. "From the continents of the Scorching Sands, we have Prince Ishmael of the House of Solomon. From the land of Gunpowder, we welcome Victoria Blackstone of the prestigious Blackstone family. Next is Tanaka, the future chieftain of the savage land of monsters, and Xian Liu, the fourth prince of the Land of the Lunar Moon. These honored guests have all been invited to our school from different continents for their exceptional skills in combat. They are all under the protection of their respective countries, so treat them with the same respect you would show the teachers of our establishment."
The headmaster's speech served more as a warning to the students. He didn't care what happened to the guests, but each of them had the power to destroy the families of over 80% of the noble children attending the school. Therefore, it was in everyone's best interest not to provoke them.
As all the guests took their seats in the balconies above the hall, the headmaster announced another honored guest: "And last but not least, our previous head student and son of Duke Hex Lockhart from the honorable Lockhart royal family, Magnus Lockhart."
Magnus was teleported to the center of the room, surrounded by a cloud of black and purple flames that enveloped his Victorian tuxedo like a regal aura of darkness. He continued to make the announcements for the remainder of the orientation.
Upon seeing Magnus, Nova began to speak. His words were filled with worry, and his voice shook as the once commanding roar transformed into a whimper. "It's him! It's that thing! Run!! RUN!!!"
Markus felt a sharp pain in his head as Nova spoke. "Ahhh!" he whispered, the pain digging into his skull. Nix and Ariana exchanged worried glances and grabbed Markus to keep him from falling. "You okay, kid?" Nix asked as she held him steady.
In pain, Markus begged Nova to stop. "Nova... what are you talking about? Stop screaming..."
Nova shouted, "It's him! Don't you see? Look!" As white feathers fell before Markus's eyes, a display of wonder and mystery unfolded. He looked down at Magnus, whose form began to warp, flickering between a black, lanky, deformed silhouette and his normal self, over and over again, until he finally transformed into the Calamity.
The Calamity glared deeply into Markus's eyes. Purple threads spread throughout the entire building like spider webs, surrounding Markus and binding him to the ceiling. The Calamity's body twisted and contorted as its torso stretched toward Markus.
The Calamity's face was mere inches away from Markus. Its jagged teeth were revealed as the helmet ripped at the mouth, making Markus wonder whether it was a helmet or just its face.
Markus was in complete shock, unable to speak. He looked around, but no one was near. Then he heard a voice creepy and filled with nothing but deceit, like a snake whispering promises of friendship while planning to devour you. "Hello there, little one. You seem to have something that belongs to me." He turned his head to see that it was the Calamity speaking to him.
Suddenly, a black, slender hand reached into Markus's chest as Nova screamed. "RUN! GET AWAY!" he heard a voice cry out as the hand pulled out a golden orb, and Markus felt Nova's voice fade.