Morning arrived with an unusual excitement.
Streams of students walked toward the Grand Ceremony Hall of Himetsu Royal Academy while the crowd of students chattered eagerly in the pathways, their voices filled with excitement.
But Shinazu walked with quite caution as he didn’t want to take trouble of him or a noble being accidentally slam in each other creating unnecessary trouble.
The Cathedral’s towering spires rose highest in the academy, looming long shadows on the west grounds.
The building’s white stone walls were decorated golden carvings and runes along the surface and stained long arch glass windows colored in a patterns of crimson, sapphire and gold.
At the absolute highest point of the central spire was situated a magnificent, golden sun crest, glowing with pride.
“This is the Grand Ceremony Hall?” one boy beside him muttered in disbelief.
Another boy swallowed hard.
“It looks nothing less than a royal court.”
Shinazu agreed them with a nod.
The hall resembled as a sacred monument built for ancient kings and gods rather than something built for students to study.
Soon rest other hundreds of students filled up the vaulted ceilings hall.
The interior was even more extravagant and few commoners in the crowd could lower their necks as they kept staring at high luxury of the academy.
Shinazu quietly took a seat near the very back.
It was his old habit to never stand out, draw attention and become a target.
After everyone had settled in their seats without any warning, all the chandeliers hanging on side pillars extinguished and the wide ceremony hall fell pitch black except of the center podium where their attention locked in instinctively.
At the very front and center of the Grand Cathedral stood a towering statue of a god being illuminated by a single shaft of natural sunlight descending from from an astonishingly large glass dome shimmering the white marble stage.
And on the center of the stage stood a man in white robes with golden embroidery and ornaments, though the crowd could only see his back where his long violet hairs drifted faintly.
Students squinted at him and after half a minute the man slowly turned around, his eyes sharp and aura like of a dragon which made several students lower their heads under his oppressive presence.
“Hajime mashite.
Welcome” He said, his voice clear and loud reaching the every corner of the grand hall.
The authority in his words felt of a monarch and was enough to silence the entire crowd.
“It brings me rare feeling of satisfaction watching so many aspiring young souls who wish to walk the path of magic.”
It’s the Headmaster..
Shinazu thought and for a small moment his amber eyes fell directly over him.
His heart skipped, but the headmaster looked away and continued normally.
“My name is Arashi Kurotsuki.”
His name was enough to make the crowd explode in whispers.
“The Divine Sage?!”
“No way!”
“That’s really him?!”
“The strongest mage in the entire kingdom?!”
“I heard he is centuries old, He looks so much younger than I imagined!”
“The world…” Arashi spoke, instantly cutting through the noise.
“…perhaps with more grandeur than I truly deserve, knows me as the Divine Sage.” A faint, amused smile appeared on his lips.
“In truth, I am merely the caretaker of Himetsu, and the headmaster of the prestigious institution you now stand within.”
Every single student kept their sight locked on the man feeling as if a peasant has got a chance to meet with the emperor.
“You have all come here believing this academy will automatically make you great mages throughout the world.
That belief is not completely wrong, but it is entirely incomplete.”
Every single student listened to very carefully without missing a word.
“The academy will provide you with knowledge and resources far beyond the reach of most sovereign national academies but understand this clearly: none of those things are gifts.
They are privileges…”
“Privileges?!” Many students exchanged confused looks.
“…Privileges only given to those who will continuously prove themselves worthy of them.
Talent may have open these grand gates for you, but without effort…
talent is utterly worthless.”
The smug smiles among the wealthy youths in the front rows vanished.
Arashi swept his gaze across the motionless rows.
only eleven hundred of you stand before me today and for that achievement, you may take a brief moment of pride in yourselves.”
Many chests puffed up with pride, but the Headmaster cut it short.
“But do not mistake pride for superiority.
Your success in entering this prestigious academy means only one thing.
You have earned the absolute right to begin, nothing more.
Fail to prove your worth after…
and you will be immediately replaced without any exceptions or second chances.”
Every remaining smile died instantly.
He means every single word.
A chill ran down Shinazu’s spine.
Arashi folded his hands behind his back.
“Himetsu is governed strictly by one single principle: merit.
We do not recognize royalty.”
Several young princes near the front stiffened.
“We do not favor nobility.”
Highborn nobles students exchanged uneasy glances.
“And we do not pity commoners.”
Commoners looked at little but cheerful.
“Within these walls, your bloodline and family names holds zero value.
Only your results matters!”
Near the front, a princess quietly smiled to herself as she highly favored this doctrine above all else: no special favors, means harsh competition.
“The world beyond these safe walls is completely unforgiving.
Therefore, this academy shall be equally unforgiving.”
Arashi began to take slow steps “You will fail, bleed and will suffer and if any of those realities frighten you…”
He extended a hand toward the massive cathedral doors at the rear.
“…then you may leave.
You still possess your freedom and there will be no shame or disgrace about it.
But understand this, once you choose to continue forward past today, excuses will no longer be entertained.”
Several trembling hands clenched into fists and anxious eyes darted toward the exit, yet nobody rose from their seats knowing that earning a seat inside the prestigious Himetsu Royal Academy was like finding a needle in a haystack, and no one was willing to throw it away.
Arashi watched the anxious crowd of students for a whole minute before a faint, genuine smile appeared on his lips, carrying quiet approval.
“Good, fear and doubt is natural but moving forward despite it is called courage.”
The invisible pressure relaxed and the crowd finally let out an long breath.
What a strange man.
Terrifying, yet strangely reassuring.
Shinazu thought.
“For your next five years in this academy…
there will be no kings, no princes, no servants, no maids, no families, and no nations within.
There will only be students, teachers and friends you choose to be with.”
Near the front, Prince Hayame nodded.
Kousuke wore a confident grin, while Minara watched thoughtfully.
In the back, Shinazu stared at his thighs.
Friends?
The concept felt totally foreign to him as he never had anyone to call his friend.
The Divine Sage then turned slightly toward the towering statue behind him and raised a hand.
The sage let out some of his mana and the golden runes along the statue illuminated bright golden.
“Now, beneath the grace of our Sun God Hinokami, the progenitor of light that illuminates and heals our world that would otherwise drown in darkness…
I welcome you all to the beginning of your journey.”
His deep voice resonated off the stone walls.
“The road awaiting you will be harsh and unforgiving. Follow the newest chapters on g.com.
But those who endure…
may one day stand upon the very summit of this world.
You will protect lives, you will shape the future and perhaps…
some among you may even surpass me.”
A collective gasp spread across the hall.
“Surpass…
the Divine Sage?”
No one dared to believe such words could even be spoken, let alone achieved.
To even the archmages, Arashi was an unreachable peak.
Arashi looked toward the statue once more.
“And when that day comes…
may your glory shine as brilliantly as the divine sun watching over us all.”
He closed his eyes.
And when he opened them, a crimson halo ignited within his golden pupils and the air was filled with pure, concentrated energy.
“W-What is that?!”
“No way…”
“Those eyes…”
“The Divine Sage Eyes!”
Several children rose in astonishment and Hayame clenched his fist, unable to look away.
Those eyes a…
Arashi slowly raised one hand toward the ceiling and high above at the eyes level of the divine statue a miniature sun appeared out of thin air.
It didn’t burn hot but emitted pure wave of soothing, warm golden rays which showered across the hall.
A girl whose leg was sightly injured yesterday gasped as her pain vanished entirely.
A boy with slightly blurry vision blinked as the blurred environment turned crystal clear.
Scars bruises, and even deep fatigue washed away in moments, replaced by a deep sense of relief.
Some began crying openly while others bowed in profound respect.
“Is this…”
“That is the true blessing of Sun God Hinokami!”
“My father said only the Divine Sage possesses those eyes!”
“I thought they were just legends told to children!”
“I’ve never felt mana this pure in my entire life!”
Even Shinazu felt the comforting warmth covering him, It’s healing every single inch of body.
The miniature sun drifted upward, phasing effortlessly through the glass dome before reaching into the sky.
and with a silent burst, it dispersed into a wide wave of light that parted the clouds across the entire expanse of Himetsu Island.
Daily life on the ground came to a sudden halt as radiant golden rays bathed the city below, infusing every flower, tree, and soul with pure vitality.
The merchants looked up in wonder, young children pointed excitedly toward the sky, and the native elders smiled warmly in knowing recognition.
“Sage-sama is welcoming the new students.”
And somewhere, far beyond in the different corner of the world, a young man in dark robes paused his game of shogi, placing a wooden piece onto the board with a faint smile.
“So you’ve used them again, Arashi.”
Back inside the cathedral, the crimson halos in his eyes faded and the golden miniature sun disappeared.
“Welcome to Himetsu Royal Academy!” He said with a heartwarming smile.
Without a second more wait the whole hall exploded into deafening applause.
Some commoners cheering and weeping at the same time.
In the end rows, Shinazu remained seated as his unconsciously moved his left hand over his right wrist touching the silver Shroud bracelet.
For rest of the audience the welcoming was a beginning of their ambitious magic life but for Shinazu it was a dangerous play with fire as one slip up, and the Devil Spawn hiding within the Divine Sage’s own garden…
would be brutally exposed to the world.