章 13: Entrance Ceremony 2
After the principal had delivered her intense and enigmatic speech, she was practically whisked off the stage by a group of concerned faculty members.
As she disappeared from view, Vice Principal Edward stepped up to the podium. Beads of sweat glistened on his forehead, and he cleared his throat, his demeanor noticeably more subdued in contrast to the principal's fiery presence.
"Haha, please do forgive our principal for her... er, unique way of speaking," Vice Principal Edward began, a nervous chuckle escaping his lips.
"She's still quite stressed, you see, from the amount of work she had to tackle."
The audience chuckled along, appreciating the vice principal's attempt to lighten the mood. However, it was evident that he, too, had been somewhat taken aback by the principal's unorthodox speech.
'She wasn't like this last year, what happened' he questioned inwardly.
"Anyway," he continued, "so much for our principal's way of encouragement. Now, let us call on our top students."
As he announced the names of the top students from each department, a wave of surprise rippled through the audience.
"Tristan from the combat department"
"Bella Raiseinler from the magic department"
"Louise Obelia from the Summoning department"
"And lastly Adrian Vulter Tellus from the Alchemy department"
Tristan and Louise exchanged surprised glances; their astonishment evident on their faces.
It seemed that the two of hadn't expected that the three of us, who had accidentally met and become recent friends during our wacky intense journey to the academy, would end up as the top students of our respective departments.
I couldn't help but chuckle inwardly as I observed their reactions.
We then made our way on top of the stage, preparing to deliver speeches that would set the tone for the incoming freshman class.
It was a responsibility we had accepted willingly, for as representatives of our respective departments, it was only natural that we should provide some form of guidance and inspiration.
As Tristan took his place at the podium, he exuded an air of confidence that was impossible to ignore. He began his introduction.
"Hello, my name is Tristan, the top representative of the combat department. As you can see, I have no last name, for I am a commoner."
A subtle wave of discontent rippled through the crowd as some students realized Tristan's commoner status. Among the nobility in attendance, this revelation was met with disdain and thinly veiled annoyance.
Then, out of nowhere, an intense pressure descended upon the audience. It wasn't as overwhelming as the principal's aura, but it carried an undeniable potency, and it was far more dangerous, that sent shivers down the spines of those present.
"I can assure you," Tristan continued, his voice unwavering
"As the top student of the combat department, and in the name of my master, Siena Scaith..."
He paused for a moment, allowing the anticipation to build before delivering his final statement with absolute certainty.
"I am the strongest"
The effect was immediate. Murmurs erupted within the crowd, a tumultuous blend of fear, admiration, and respect.
The revelation that Tristan's master was none other than the famed Siena Scaith, one of the continent's three grandmasters, only added to the astonishment.
It was a bold declaration that left an indelible mark, not only on the students but also on the faculty and staff.
Tristan had asserted his dominance in a way that demanded recognition and respect, setting the stage for an intriguing and competitive year ahead.
I couldn't help but chuckle softly to myself as I watched Tristan's confident proclamation. It was as if the whole room had collectively held its breath, and even my own heart seemed to skip a beat in the moment.
How could someone deliver such a bold statement with that charming smile and those handsome features? It almost felt like a crime, but it was undeniable that Tristan had a charisma that drew people in.
Glancing down at the audience, I couldn't help but notice the faces of the girls below, their eyes fixated on Tristan with a mix of admiration and infatuation.
He had unintentionally ensnared their attention, leaving them looking at him like lovesick maidens. It was a scene straight out of a romance novel, and I couldn't suppress a small smile at the spectacle.
As Tristan gracefully stepped away from the podium, allowing Bella her turn to deliver her speech, a sudden realization seemed to dawn on him.
His confident expression faltered, and a hint of panic flickered across his face. I couldn't help but let out a quiet, amused chuckle.
This was the moment from the novel when Tristan had realized that he had made a promise with his master not to mention her name.
"Hahha," the small laugh escaped my lips involuntarily. I knew exactly what Tristan was in for.
Having read the novels up to the sixth volume, his master, Siena Scaith, was sure to give him a world of pain, during his first semester as a second-year student.
'I can't wait for it to happen'
A voice then suddenly interrupted my thoughts.
"Hello, I am Bella Raiseinler," Bella began her speech with droopy, half-closed eyes, her voice filled with a sleepiness that was almost infectious. Her words were slow and drawn out, as if she had just woken from a deep slumber.
The audience watched in puzzled silence as Bella continued her speech, or rather, attempted to continue.
However, after a minute of full silence and several stifled yawns, Bella seemed to realize that she was struggling to stay awake at the podium.
With a somewhat embarrassed yet good-natured smile, she decided to cut her speech short and made her way off the podium, taking her place next to Tristan.
A visible wave of confusion erupted from the crowd, with many students and faculty members exchanging bewildered glances.
Question marks seemed to pop out of their heads as they tried to make sense of Bella's unusual and unexpected presentation.
It was a moment that left everyone scratching their heads, wondering what had just happened and what could have possibly caused Bella's drowsy demeanor during such an important occasion.
After Bella's unconventional presentation, it was Louise's turn to take the podium.
She approached it with a nervous demeanor, and a soft, tentative laughter escaped her lips as she began.
"Hehehe, hello everyone. My name is Louise Obelia, the top student of the summoning department."
Louise's appearance was a striking contrast to her apparent nervousness. With her beautiful platinum blonde hair, pink eyes, and her seemingly fragile disposition, she presented a captivating combination of someone cute and endearingly timid.
The crowd found themselves drawn to her, and her authenticity seemed to resonate with them.
It was undeniable that Louise's charming and delicate appearance garnered her popularity, a fact that was evident in the smiles and encouraging nods from the audience.
There was something inherently appealing about someone who appeared both beautiful and humble.
"Uhmm, I'm still new to this kind of stuff," Louise continued, her voice trembling slightly.
"So, I don't really know what to say, but as students embarking on our journey at Estelle Academy..."
She hesitated for a moment, searching for the right words, but then her expression brightened with a warm and sincere smile.
"I hope we'll all get along and befriend each other."
While her speech might have seemed naïve in the context of Estelle Academy, where results were often considered paramount, the crowd responded with genuine applause and appreciation.
Louise's words, filled with sincerity, purity, and kindness, had touched the hearts of those in attendance, reminding them of the importance of forming bonds and friendships on their journey ahead.
As Louise made her way down from the podium, her sincere smile lingered as she made eye contact with me. I returned her smile with equal sincerity,
"Hello, I am Adrian Vulter Tellus," I began, and an immediate murmur swept through the crowd. It seemed that they were taken aback by the fact that another Tellus had risen to become a top-ranking student.
'Oh come on you already heard my name being announced a while ago, why act surprised now?'
'Am I being ignored again?'
The name Tellus carried weight within the academy, for the previous top-ranking student from our family had been my famous older sister, Lilliana.
She is still a fourth-year student at Estelle Academy, but due to her busy schedule and her influential status among the empire's aristocracy, she was often away from the academy.
I continued with my speech.
"If you want to die, come visit me"
"If you want to live, come visit me"
"If you don't know what to do"
"Come visit me. I'll help you"
The hall fell into a heavy silence, even the faculty members appearing puzzled by the enigmatic statement.
Tristan and Louise exchanged confused glances, and I could see the questions in their eyes, however, I chose to ignore their bewilderment as I took my place beside them.
Well, it's related to my missions but for now this is enough.
As I scanned the crowd, my eyes inadvertently met Euphemia's gaze, and I noticed a small, knowing smile playing on her lips.
A sense of unease washed over me as I realized that my message might have inadvertently piqued her curiosity.
"Shit," I muttered under my breath, my heart pounding with a sudden realization.
"Did I just give her a reason to annoyingly visit me?"
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