"Good morning, students," she began, her clear, resonant voice effortlessly cutting through the silent hall. "I am Headmaster Brioche Salore, and it is my honor to welcome you to Agyrion Academy for this year's entrance ceremony."
She paused, her sharp gaze scanning the long rows of seated recruits.
"Today marks the beginning of your journey. Some of you come from noble blood, and others from humble origins, but within these walls, status yields to merit. You are here because you possess the potential to shape the future of our kingdom."
Headmaster Brioche's speech continued for some time. She outlined the academy's history—from its founding after the Great Catastrophe to its vital role in forging the kingdom's elite mages and vanguard. She spoke at length on the core values expected of every student: absolute discipline, unyielding excellence, and unwavering loyalty to the crown.
Throughout her address, the vast hall remained deathly quiet, save for the occasional rustle of a uniform or a muffled breath. Beside me, Lady Tresca sat upright, listening intently to every word.
Finally, Headmaster Brioche organized the documents on her podium and looked back out over the crowd.
She stepped back slightly, offering a subtle nod toward the shadowed wing of the stage. "And now," she announced, "it is my privilege to introduce the top student from last year's cohort, who will deliver the student body address."
Expectant silence fell over the auditorium as all eyes turned toward the side of the stage.
The crisp, rhythmic click of boots against polished stone echoed through the hall, growing clearer as the speaker stepped into the spotlight.
It was a young woman with vivid, scarlet-red hair and striking golden eyes—the undeniable traits of the royal lineage. She radiated absolute confidence and poise, her presence alone commanding the attention of every recruit in the room.
The light caught faintly on the fine embroidery of her tailored uniform. Unlike typical high nobles who flaunted their status, the royal crest was worked subtly into the fabric of her lapel—a quiet flex of undeniable authority.
She stepped behind the podium and broke the silence.
"I am Rosina Valery Rosenquartz," she declared, her voice carrying across the cavernous space without a hint of strain. "Third in line to the throne of Rosenquartz, and the top-ranked student of the second-year cohort."
Beside me, Lady Tresca remained completely still, her eyes locked on the princess.
Rosina scanned the crowd, her golden eyes lingering briefly over each section of the hall before continuing.
"I would like to thank each of you for answering the call and enrolling in this institution," she said. "As many of you know, Agyrion was founded and continues to be funded directly by the Royal Family. Our purpose is simple: to forge the shields and swords that will safeguard our realm. By standing here today, you have voluntarily chosen to bear that heavy weight."
Her tone shifted, growing colder and more grave.
"The Gates continue to tear open across our lands, swallowing our people and dragging them into the dark," Rosina said, her golden eyes burning with intense resolve. "They spew forth monstrosities that seek only to annihilate our homes and butcher everything we hold dear."
She leaned slightly forward, gripping the edges of the podium. "This academy exists for one primary purpose: to train the vanguards who will conquer those Gates and bring our people back. We are here to forge the protectors of our realm."
Rosina paused, letting the heavy reality of her words settle over the hundreds of young recruits.
"I know that each of you carries a different motivation for entering this academy," she continued, her voice softening just a fraction. "Some of you are here to uphold a family legacy. Some seek the strength to protect what they love. Others simply wish to carve out a survival for themselves."
The silence in the grand hall deepened, stretching into every shadow.
"Regardless of your origins or your motives, you have all chosen to stand in this room today. You have chosen to face the looming nightmare that threatens our future."
Her expression hardened into pure determination. "And as a member of the royal family, I promise you this: I am here to stand on the front lines with you. I did not fight to become the top student to flaunt a title. I did it to set the standard—to prove that those who lead must be the ones who bleed and work the hardest."
She looked out across the sea of freshmen, her gaze locking onto the crowd.
"Use your time within these walls to break your limits. Let Agyrion be the anvil upon which your future is forged. Whether you aim to be a knight on the front lines, a spellcaster in the rear, a scholar, or a commander—the foundation you build here will dictate whether you stand or fall when the world demands your strength."
She let the silence hold for a second longer.
"Challenge yourselves. Support those standing beside you. Leave this place not merely as students... but as the future of Rosenquartz."
With those final words, Rosina stepped back from the podium and executed a clean, elegant bow.
The tense silence that had gripped the cavernous hall finally snapped. A thunderous wave of applause erupted from the rows of recruits. Even the commoners who had looked intimidated moments ago were now clapping with flushed faces and renewed vigor.
Beside me, Lady Tresca joined the applause. I followed suit, keeping my hands moving in a measured, polite rhythm while my eyes tracked the Princess as she turned and exited the stage with practiced grace.
As the applause gradually subsided, the magically amplified voice reverberated overhead once more, signaling the transition.
"The opening ceremony has officially concluded. All incoming students will now proceed to their assigned department halls for class orientation."
The voice added a final directive: "Please remain in your seats. The senior cohorts will guide each row out in an orderly fashion."
We remained seated as instructed. Row by row, the groups behind us stood up and filed down the central aisle toward the massive bronze exit doors. Beside me, Lady Tresca waited patiently, her gaze still drifting toward the now-vacant stage where Princess Rosina had stood.
Finally, a senior student wearing the dark blue cloak of an upperclassman gestured to our row.
We stood up in unison, joining the steady stream of recruits exiting the grand hall and stepping out into the bright morning air of the academy grounds.
After exiting the grand hall, we were greeted by the warm morning air. We followed the flow of students along the stone pathways until we reached the central courtyard, where a massive wooden bulletin board stood displaying the official class lists.
A dense crowd of recruits had already swarmed the area, shoving and craning their necks to find their names.
Seeing the tight press of bodies, I paused and scanned our immediate surroundings. A short distance away from the main pathway, under the shade of a large oak tree, sat a vacant stone bench.
"There are too many people gathered right now, Lady Tresca," I said, gesturing toward the bench. "It will take some time for the crowd to clear. We should wait over there until the path to the board opens up."
Tresca looked at the packed crowd, then back at the shaded bench, and nodded in agreement. "Good idea. Pushing through that mess won't get us to class any faster."
We walked over to the bench and took a seat away from the commotion, watching as the rest of the new cohort fought for a view of the postings.
As we settled into the shade, Tresca leaned back slightly against the stone and turned her attention to me.
"What did you think of the Princess's speech?" she asked softly, keeping her voice low enough so it wouldn't carry toward the passing students.
I considered the question for a moment before answering directly. "It was ideal and inspiring," I replied, my gaze resting on the distant crowd. "It gives the recruits a sense of purpose. But in reality, it isn't that simple. Breaking through your limits is far easier said than done."
Tresca quieted for a beat, letting my words settle before offering a dry, knowing nod. "Indeed," she murmured, looking toward the grand hall behind us.
"Speeches sound wonderful in an auditorium," I added quietly, "but the gates don't care about resolve. It's a soulless event that turns hope into despair."
"I see," Tresca said, letting out a soft sigh. She shifted slightly on the bench, trying to steer the heavy topic toward something lighter. "Do you think we'll be in the same class?"
I kept my gaze on the thinning crowd near the board. "I am certain the Count has already arranged it," I replied evenly. "Assignment alongside your household escort is one of the few perks Agyrion Academy permits the high nobility in exchange for fulfilling their duty to the crown. Unlike commoners, after all, most noble children can't really manage daily household chores on their own."
"How mean," Tresca replied, a faint smirk touching her lips. "I guess I won't make a good wife then. I heard men prefer women who are good at those things."
"That is only for commoner men. Your future arrangements will likely depend far more on political alliances than domestic skills, Lady Tresca," I noted impassively.
"And what if I want to marry a commoner?" Tresca asked, turning her gaze directly toward me. Her tone remained light, but her eyes held a steady focus. "I'm sure Father won't mind, as long as it's someone I love and someone who cherishes me."
I met her look for a brief second before turning my attention back toward the courtyard, a small, subtle smile touching my lips. "That might be true. The Count can't say no to you, after all."
Tresca let out a short, quiet laugh, satisfied with my answer.
I glanced toward the central courtyard, noting that the dense pack of students surrounding the bulletin board had finally dispersed. "The crowd has thinned out. Shall we check our assignments?"
We stood up from the bench and walked across the courtyard toward the massive wooden board. With the initial surge of recruits cleared, only a few remaining students stood near the posted parchments.
Scanning down the alphabetized lists, my eyes quickly located our section under the main header.
Class 1-C:
• Tresca Vi Evergard
• Lucian
Beside her name, Tresca's record bore the formal stamp of the Evergard Count house, while mine was listed directly below hers as her designated retainer.
"Class 1-C," Tresca noted, reading the placement off the board.