The moon hung above with the stars shining all around it. Below the moon, a courtyard was filled with people bathed in the moonlight.
They all looked to be nineteen, wearing a white-and-black uniform with a cloak wrapped around. Behind them was a massive statue bowing its head while clasping its hand with a stone knife.
In the middle of the courtyard stood a man with untamed black hair that covered the right side of his face. His light blue eyes stared at the metal stage in front of the crowd while he tapped the ground with his feet. He glanced down at the black necklace with a ring on it and sighed.
He was Reinhard Grímr and today will make or break him. He glanced around to see the nervous look on the others, with some shifting, uncomfortable, or looking down. He even saw some biting their lips, others trembling, and a few looking back at the open gate behind them.
I suppose I can't blame them. Once that gate closes, you only have two paths left to walk… Be an Inquisitor or be buried in this courtyard. Reinhard thought with a slight frown as he clenched his fist.
All of them were standing in the Memento Mori, the most prestigious academy in all of Hesod. It was located near the middle of the continent, close to the mountains.
It houses many faculties such as finance, art, technology, and magic studies. Memento Mori is home to students who will one day graduate to become Inquisitors for the Empire of Mori.
Inquisitors were the official name of Beast Masters in the world. People who make a connection with the beast from the throne and make it their own. And all of the people here will be taking the ceremony to make a connection with their beasts.
"Hey, don't get distracted now." One of the students said while shaking a girl who was staring at the ground in a daze.
"Huh? Right… Sorry about that."
"I can do this… I can do this…"
"Come on, Joyce! Just get your beast and live off the monthly payment!"
"I wonder if I will get something unique? Frederick got a Death Knight…"
Reinhard gently held the necklace around his neck as anxiety rushed through him before he ignored it.
It was then that Reinhard's ears twitched as he heard the sound of heels clicking, and then a soft voice rang out.
"Quiet for now."
Instantly, everyone stopped talking and looked up to see a woman walking from the right side toward the metal stage.
The woman had flowing silvery-lavender hair and wore a black gown with silver patterns. Her high heels tapped softly against the metal before she stopped in front of everyone and gazed at them all with her crimson eyes.
"First, I would like to thank you all for coming. I'm sure everyone thought well and hard before coming here. Now then, my name is Rosaria, and I will be your overseer for this ceremony." Rosaria says softly as she glances at every student before continuing. "As you all know, soon you all will undergo an awakening. You will be brought to the Deep and meet your own unique beasts from the Throne of Myth."
Reinhard and all of the other students trembled. He could feel his heart speeding up as countless thoughts appeared in his mind. Some positive, some negative, and all leading to a place he didn't like.
"Once you meet them, your beast will give you a trial, and after passing, the connection will be made. Making you a Beast Master or, more specifically, an Inquisitor. But be warned, to be an Inquisitor of the Academy is to walk the path of no return. I'm sure you all have heard the stories, whether it's in Inns, by your friends, parents, or from rumors… That those who become an Inquisitor are never the same after, and this is absolutely correct."
Reinhard clenched his fist.
"An Inquisitor is one loved by death. It's to become a pioneer who threads in places others cannot, exterminate existence that breaks the rules, and learn secrets that should stay buried. You will walk closer to your grave than anyone else…"
Reinhard bit his lips with a sense of unease while those around shifted uncomfortably but still continued to stare ahead.
"But in exchange, you will gain the strength to stand above others, the status to claim anything you want, and the ability to achieve any future you want." Rosaria says softly, as she glances upwards. "As you can tell, this path won't be easy and will be cruel at times… But if you can stick through it. If you learn to control your beast and allow us at Memento Mori to guide you fully. Then I'm sure you can achieve the goal you came here for."
Instantly, everyone's eyes lit up, all of them clenching their fist but none saying anything.
Rosaria then closed her eyes and said softly. "So with that... I will ask this one question… Is there anyone who wishes to leave now? Now is the time to do so. Do not feel ashamed, I'm sure you all have loved ones waiting outside and they would be heartbroken if you met your end here…"
Reinahrd didn't even turn and kept his blue eyes staring ahead at Rosaria, who kept her eyes closed. But to his surprise, he didn't hear any sounds or footsteps, leading him to look around and see everyone staying still. All of them had varying expressions, but none of them took action to leave.
Reinhard only sighed after seeing this and then muttered. "These are my rivals… To crush."
Rosaria opened her eyes and nodded. "Then let's begin."
Rosaria stretched her hand out, leading to a silvery light to shine and specs of light to swirl below her hand.
Then the spec began to condense and formed a staff with blue-black patterns on it. Her eyes began to glow with a light shine, and then a strange symbol appeared behind her.
In the next moment, blue mist swept out in the courtyard.
Reinhard covered his face from the burst of wind that brushed against his face. The wind didn't push him back, and when he looked past, he saw the mist swirling around the courtyard. It covered the edges of the courtyard, leaving the center and the metal stage alone.
The other students began looking around in surprise and awe, but Reinhard's gaze was staring at Rosaria.
Or more specifically, the pair of crimson eyes behind that rose up from behind and peered down at them. The crimson eyes left everyone frozen as Rosaria raised her staff and gently tapped on the metal stage.
"Now let the ceremony begin."
Reinhard blinked before an odd sound rang out, and then pain rushed through his entire body. He looked down to see a stone dagger through his chest before looking back to see that the statue had not only stabbed him but was releasing crimson tears.
What the hell… Reinhard felt his thoughts blur before blood leaked down onto the ground. Then instantly everything turned crimson below as he felt his vision turn black.
Just as Rosaria's words rang out.
"Be careful of your beast… To them, you all are nothing more than unworthy ants… So prove to them who the true master is, or be buried here."