NOVEL NEXT Chapter 219: Entrance Ceremony
The academy was completely lively today, and for good reason.
Today was the Entrance Ceremony — the day that officially welcomed the new students who had just passed their exams and would also reveal the lucky person chosen as the First Year Representative.
The entire Astralis Academy was filled with excitement.
The Entrance Hall, normally left dusty and unused except for this single day every year, had been transformed.
Tall crystal chandeliers blazed with light, casting a golden glow across the marble floor.
Rows upon rows of seats stretched back in neat lines, each row already filled with students in pressed uniforms.
The banners of the academy, deep blue with the Astralis crest stitched in silver, hung from the walls.
Professors stood at the sides, their robes swaying as they chatted amongst themselves, while older students looked on from elevated seats above.
The place was packed.
Second years had been given middle-row seats.
The third years, positioned at the very top in their special seats, sat with cool confidence.
They were the veterans with battle experience and the ones the new entries would look up to.
"I wonder where Azel is…" Rain muttered under her breath. She sat near the middle row reserved for first years.
From here, the stage was far away, but the academy's builders had been clever.
No matter where you sat, you could see and hear the stage clearly, as if distance meant nothing.
Rain silently thanked those builders for sparing her the frustration of squinting.
She had arrived yesterday with the rest of the new students, moving into her dormitory and getting her uniform.
Some of the braver first years had already tried sneaking around to discover who the representative was, hoping to catch a glimpse of the mysterious number one.
But no matter how they tried, the guards caught them before they got close. The academy didn't let anyone invading privacy.
Rain sighed and adjusted in her seat.
That was when her eye twitched.
'And why, of all places, am I sitting next to her?'
The world, she decided, must be against her.
"I was supposed to be number one," the girl beside her growled, tugging at her hair in frustration. "Which fucker took my spot?"
Rain pressed her lips together.
She didn't even need to look.
She already knew the voice.
Esmeralda better known as Esme in her past life was infamous.
She proudly called herself the Empire's "Genius," and though Rain disliked her arrogance, she had to admit Esme had some basis for it.
The girl had created several well-known potions that were still sold across the Empire. But her ego was the size of a mountain, and she absolutely despised losing.
And she had been rambling ever since she lost her spot as number one.
Rain massaged her temple. 'Whether in my past life or this one, this girl is exactly the same. Always throwing a tantrum when she doesn't get her way.'
Esme muttered curses under her breath, fists clenching and unclenching.
Rain prayed silently for the ceremony to begin.
'Please, let the principal be early. I can't handle another second of this crazy woman beside me.'
"Silence!"
The voice boomed through the hall, silencing everyone instantly. Even Esme stopped mid-rant, her eyes snapping toward the stage.
The stage, empty until now, was suddenly occupied.
A man stood at its center. He was tall and broad-shouldered, dressed in a perfectly tailored black suit.
His black hair was slicked back neatly, his round glasses gleaming in the light of the chandeliers.
Principal Dorian Astralis.
Dorian cleared his throat and adjusted his glasses.
His deep voice echoed through the microphone.
"I welcome you all," he began, his tone was warm. "Today, you take your first true step into Astralis Academy. This hall, filled with history and knowledge, now belongs to you as well. You come to us from many places — noble houses, merchant families, villages, and cities scattered across the Empire. But here, you stand as equals."
He let his words hang, scanning the crowd.
"You are the future," he continued. "It is my greatest honor to witness your journey. But hear this: the road will not be easy. Knowledge must be earned. Power must be tempered. Every victory will come with sweat, every mistake with consequence. The academy is not a shelter.. it is a forge. And you are the steel that will be shaped."
"Respect your seniors," Dorian said firmly. "They have endured what you are about to face. Learn from them. Support each other. The bonds you form here may one day save your lives."
He paused, his gaze sweeping across the crowd of wide-eyed first years.
"Do not forget why you came here. Do not waste the gift you have been given. Astralis will push you to your limits but it will also show you what lies beyond them."
When he finished, the hall erupted into applause.
It thundered, echoing off the walls and ceiling.
Even Rain found herself clapping, she had done the same in her past life too… The speech was energizing.
Esme was still complaining but even she clapped.
Dorian stepped aside.
His job was done.
"And now," a professor announced from the edge of the stage, "in addition to our second-year representative, Lorraine Dmitri…"
A cheer rose from the second years. Lorraine, dressed impeccably in her uniform, waved politely from her seat near the front.
"…and our third-year representative, Silas Vega…"
The third years roared, some chanting his name.
Silas, a tall green haired young man, raised a hand casually with a smirk.
His reputation as one of the academy's strongest students preceded him.
"…I would like to introduce you to the First Year Representative."
All eyes turned as a figure strode confidently onto the stage.
His silver hair caught the light, flowing like threads of starlight.
The Astralis uniform fit him perfectly, the black jacket of a representative draped over his shoulders with effortless style.
He moved with ease, there was no arrogance or nervousness in his walk.
His expression was calm and he was smiling warmly.
The figure reached the microphone and stopped.
He looked out at the sea of students, professors, and banners, his silver hair gleaming like a crown.
He lifted his chin slightly.
"Thank you for having me here today," he said.
The hall was silent.
"I'm the First Year Representative, Azel Thorne."