The transition was instant. A vertigo, a pressure saturating the air, then a simple blink of the eye… and we were there.
I found myself on a massive platform, clearly designed to accommodate the newcomers. The runes etched into the ground glimmered faintly, evidence of the magical energy at work. Around me, thousands of first-year students, all wearing the same black uniform as mine, filled the platform in an organized tumult.
We stood before the titanic gates of Eloria Academy, a breathtaking sight. These imposing gates, adorned with intricate engravings, opened onto the academy's main buildings. Beyond them, a campus so vast that its limits seemed to vanish into the horizon.
It was almost unreal to be standing there, facing this legendary place. Eloria City, an entire city dedicated to this academy, stretched around us. A city with restaurants, student and staff housing, state-of-the-art laboratories, training fields, and even research facilities in the background.
A stage had been set up in front of the crowd. Two people stood there, visible to all. The first was an elf woman, her brown hair neatly tied back framing a serious face with mature features. Her green eyes gleamed with cold intelligence. Dressed elegantly, her aura commanded respect, and even the loudest students fell silent instinctively under her gaze.
"It's really her! She's so beautiful!"
"She's even more impressive in person!"
"Corinne Fletcher! I can't believe it, I see her in the flesh!"
"What an aura! That cold stare... the rumors were true!"
But, as always, there were idiots shouting these kinds of things. Well, we couldn't really blame them. Corinne Fletcher was among the most powerful in the world. Known as the Queen of Ashes, her victories left destruction and desolation in their wake. She was one of the few at the Grandmaster rank, and her reputation preceded her. The Principal of the Academy, she had no superior here, and yet, because of her role, she was rarely seen. From what I knew, she hated attention. Seeing her here today was an event in itself.
My gaze, however, fell on the person standing beside her.
Next to her, a young man with obvious charm, barely older than us, stood straight, exuding an almost arrogant confidence. His silver hair contrasted with his blood-red eyes, typical traits of House Silvaris, one of the most influential families in the world. He wore the same black uniform, but with visible distinctions, marking his membership in the Student Council.
It was clear he was the direct heir to House Silvaris. His slightly smug smile surveyed the crowd as if evaluating each individual without being impressed.
'Elric Silvaris...'
My gaze grew colder as I observed him. Elric was the eldest of House Silvaris, the first son of Ilyana Silvaris. In the novel, he represents an antagonist that Liam will have to face and who will later become a trusted ally. Although we were only a year apart, his power was undeniable for his age. Currently, even Liam would stand no chance in direct combat against him — Elric would defeat him effortlessly.
Thinking back, something had always intrigued me about the story. Once Noah had learned the truth about the extermination of his family and that Ilyana was in league with the celestials, he hadn't wasted any time and killed her. At that point, he was strong enough to fight Ilyana on equal footing, but the reason she allied with the celestials was never revealed. I had always believed the author would eventually address that, but no... It left a feeling of incompleteness.
'Well, I'll find the truth for myself.'
As if sensing my focused gaze, Elric turned his head in my direction. Yet, amidst the crowd, he did not meet my eyes.
"Look, it's Elric Silvaris!"
"Kyaa! He's so handsome!"
"What presence! Just as expected for the future head of House Silvaris!"
The conversations buzzed around me. Some were fascinated by the grandeur of the place, others whispered comments about the two people on the stage. I remained silent, absorbed. The imposing gates, the majestic buildings, the layout of the campus... all of it formed a perfectly functioning machine. A machine dedicated to training, and sometimes crushing, the elite.
A massive magical screen floated above the crowd, displaying a countdown. The last wave of students was arriving, marking the official start of the ceremony.
When the countdown reached zero, a blinding light illuminated the platform once again. The last wave of students had arrived. The woman on the stage took a few steps forward, and an almost total silence settled immediately. All eyes turned to her.
Corinne Fletcher stood there, motionless, before slowly speaking.
"Welcome to Eloria Academy. A place that has seen the greatest geniuses and heroes of our time. A place where dreams of greatness come true, but where illusions vanish in the harshness of reality. Here, we shape individuals capable of standing up to the impossible."
Her voice was amplified by magic, an amplification that only perfect mana control could provide.
She paused, her gaze sweeping over the crowd.
"Many of you have come here seeking power, knowledge, or glory. But know this: in this place, being brilliant alone will not be enough to succeed. You must show character, an iron will, and unmatched discipline. Because at the Academy, excellence is not negotiated. It is forged, every day, through pain and effort."
She turned slightly towards Elric, before concluding:
"We expect you, the blessed generation, to live up to the legacy entrusted to you. Never let doubt overwhelm you. You are here to build your future and the future of the world. And I will tolerate no failure in this quest."
'...Huh? Is that all?'
Before the crowd could recover from Corinne's brief speech, Elric stepped forward and began to speak. His voice, also amplified, resonated in the air.
"We stand at the threshold of what could be the beginning of the end, or the start of a new era. The blessed generation, that's how we're called. Many of us, the younger ones, possess a potential that few generations before us could have imagined. Raw power, unleashed magic, sharp intellect... We have all the tools in our hands to achieve things no one would have dared dream of. But do not be mistaken. This power comes at a price."
He paused, scanning the crowd with a penetrating gaze, his blood-red eyes glowing with a cold light.
"Some of you probably think everything will be given to you, that your talents will make you invincible. But the reality, it's more complex. We face an increasingly uncertain world. If the threat of the celestials may have seemed distant at times, today it is very much here, growing, and we must take it seriously."
He straightened slightly, his expression softening.
"I won't lie to you, the blessed generation is not a title we were given by chance. It's a burden. A burden we must bear with the wisdom of an era where our predecessors fought to push back enemies like the demons. But not everything is over. The world you know today, with its illusions of peace, is actually a fragile facade."
He let these words sink in before continuing.
"Because one day, you will have to choose: either you will face the storm and protect what remains, or you will be swept away by the waves, like so many before you."
His tone grew more intense.
"But that does not mean all is lost. If some here are not ready to take up this challenge, then they will have no place in the future we will forge. But for those who know what it costs, for those who make the effort, there will be rewards. And you will have the chance to inscribe your name in history."
He let out a slight smile, almost imperceptible.
"But you haven't accomplished much yet. You are here to prove your worth. So, rise up, show what you're capable of. Because, in this world, only those who fight for what they want can hope to stand among the victors."
And with these words, silence once again enveloped the platform.