Two months had passed. The semester finally ended, and a new one awaited.
During that time, the Ashen Vanguard had gone on a relentless streak of missions as adventurers, making them the fastest party in history to reach Adamantite Rank. Out of over three million people in Flamguardia, only three parties had ever reached that rank in the modern era.
It was clear, Ashen Vanguard had become a phenomenon.
Each member was now a celebrated figure across the kingdom:
Zayn Blackvale, The Lightning Herald
Maevis Duskbane, The Phantom Blade
Serene Lioren, The Staff Maiden
Aurella Crestmoore, The Ghost Whisperer
And anchoring them all under whose leadership they rose so quickly was none other than
Cairo Flamesworth, The Crimson Strategist.
No one wanted to be on their bad side. Dungeon raids, dangerous beast exterminations, boss-class threats they crushed them all. And now, the four of them were bound for Flamguardia's most prestigious academy.
They sat at a table in the center of the Adventurers' Guild, waiting for their escort from the academy.
Suddenly, the doors slammed open.
General Lucious Morningstar stepped in with heavy strides.
"Ashen Vanguard. I've come to pick you up."
The group stood as Cairo extended his hand, polite as always.
"It's been a while, General. Thanks for having us."
Lucious glanced at his hand, scoffed, spat on the ground, and walked past him without a word.
"Well, what a way to start our journey," Zayn said, chuckling.
They boarded a horse-drawn caravan en route to the academy.
As they approached, the towering structure came into view. The academy itself was fused into the very foundation of a massive royal castle. Its size left them all in awe.
The four looked out the window in quiet amazement.
Cairo smiled. The castle hadn't changed one bit.
The Ignis Arcanum Academy had been founded after the Abyssal War.
Queen Alice built it in hopes of helping Flamguardia rebuild from the ashes by nurturing new talent that could lead the kingdom into a brighter future. And it had worked.
The academy had produced powerful mages, brilliant scholars, noble leaders, and unmatched warriors.
Even General Morningstar born into a prestigious lineage was one of its top graduates.
That was part of the reason he resented the Ashen Vanguard.
To him, they were unworthy heirs of tainted names.
As the group crossed through the gates, Cairo and the others would soon realize how their family names were portrayed in historical texts.
None of their ancestors had ever stepped foot inside this academy.
To the people of the kingdom, it was a sacred place.
But to Cairo it was nothing more than Queen Alice's playground.
Still, excitement ran high especially from Zayn, who couldn't hide his grin.
In fact, all five of them felt it.
This was the beginning of a new journey.
As a reward for their victory in the Trial by Combat, the Queen
granted them a suite within the academy grounds a place where they could live together under one roof.
"We get our own house? Alright!" Zayn cheered.
"These rooms are huge!" Aurella added, wide-eyed.
On the table in the living room lay five folded garments mainly white, accented with red, and bearing the academy's emblem.
"Our uniforms!" Aurella exclaimed with joy.
Cairo stepped forward, straightened his collar, and glanced toward the door.
"Alright, everyone. Get ready," he said with a calm smile.
"The welcoming ceremony's about to start."
They stepped onto the grand ceremonial field, where hundreds of students stood in perfect formation. Each of them wore the same pristine uniform, marked with red lining and the emblem of Ignis Arcanum Academy.
You could tell at a glance they were of noble blood.
Among them were not only humans, but elves with silver hair, dwarves with armored robes, and beastkin with fur-covered ears and tails. This wasn't just a school it was a gathering of the next generation's elites from across Elyndria.
The ceremony began.
General Lucious Morningstar stepped onto the platform and addressed the crowd in his usual cold, commanding tone.
Following him was the academy's principal, a tall and elegant woman with piercing violet eyes Talia Vexmoor. Her voice was clear and dignified, yet carried a strange intensity.
And then, the entire field shifted.
A royal carriage arrived at the far end, escorted by knights in platinum armor. The students gasped and murmured. Cairo and the others exchanged surprised looks.
Queen Alice Flamguardia had arrived.
Dressed in radiant royal garments, the Queen gracefully made her way to the stage. Her presence silenced the entire field. With a smile, she began her brief address about hope, legacy, and the future of the kingdom.
Then she paused.
Her gaze swept over the crowd... and stopped.
She spotted Ashen Vanguard standing near the center of the field. A small, knowing smile curled on her lips.
"To all of you who will shape the future of our great kingdom," she said, "we welcome a special group who earned their place here not by name... but by strength."
The murmurs grew louder.
"I present to you... the Ashen Vanguard."
The crowd parted in awe as the five of them were summoned to the stage. Cairo, Serene, Zayn, Maevis, and Aurella walked forward under the gaze of thousands of elite students.
Cairo stepped to the front. He hadn't prepared anything.
But there was no backing out now.
Taking a breath, he looked out at the sea of students future mages, knights, and rulers.
He raised his voice.
"I'm Cairo Flamesworth," he began. "And I am the leader of Ashen Vanguard."