The seven Captains were standing behind the red curtain.
"So, let us please welcome the Seven Captains!"
A loud and cheerful voice rang throughout the hall.
Just as the voice announced, the curtain made a dramatic fall revealing the seven Captains all the military students looked up to, except one.
When they made their appearance the crowd went all wild.
Shouts and clappings were echoing throughout the auditorium.
"Princess Evana!"
"Oh. How beautiful she is!"
"I will definitely choose to be under you, my Princess!"
The boys were all shouting the name of the princess. And why wouldn't they, given that she was considered the most beautiful among the military Captains.
"I think I don't need to introduce these figures, do I? You know them all very well! Now, let us welcome the chief guest for today's event!"
The voice of the young female, who had called them earlier, was as energetic as always.
"Now, with a huge round of applause, let us welcome the Supreme Commander of Valscia Military, Supreme Commander Ms.Lina!"
Just as she said that a long and beautiful blue hair swayed in the air and she made her entrance.
Her arrival actually made the crowd fall silent. Her blue hair reflected the lights in the auditorium and swayed behind her as each of her dignified steps echoed throughout the silent auditorium. Her peaches and cream complexion made the boys gape and when she turned around to face the audience her deep blue eyes captured the heart of every boy in the crowd.
She was clad in similar attire as that of the female students but it was dark blue in color. And there was a rank insignia of the Supreme Commander attached to her left chest area.
She took over the podium and the host bowed her head towards her in utter respect.
"Welcome to you all in The Valscian Military Academy."
She spoke eloquently and her voice carried a maturity despite being simple and direct. She continued with the same tone.
"First of all, let me introduce myself. I am the Supreme Commander of the Valscian Military, Vladlina Olivia."
"Allow me to congratulate you all for making it through the military academy selection examination. Even making it here is a great achievement in itself. I hope you all will be able to make your dream come true in this prestigious school. I wish you all the best of your luck for your three years stay here."
After saying that claps resounded through the auditorium.
The Commander stepped down from the podium and the girl who had been standing behind her all the while took over.
"Now let us get into the final and the major part of today's ceremony."
Everyone knew what that was.
The students enrolled here were given a special privilege.
They were allowed to choose one of the seven Captains as their personal trainer. And they can hone their skills in their respective fields under the direct observation of the Captains for the three years along with the regular classes.
"Now, I request the seven Captains step forward and stand in your assigned lines."
The seven Captains took few steps and stood before a circular mark.
The circular mark had many intricate designs and at the middle was the two-headed eagle made from different colors. The circular marks were made of seven different colors. Each of the colors represented the different Captains.
The circular mark was 'white' for princess Evana. Similarly, it was red, brown, green, white, orange, and black for Captain Raidan, Captain Kiya, Captain Ferdinand, Captain Richt, Captain Tessy, and Captain Aescwine respectively.
"I would now call the roll numbers that you had been assigned earlier. Those whose rolls I call are to step forward one by one and stand before the circular colored mark of the Captains of your choice."
"Then let us start without further ado. Roll No. 1230, Roll No. 1231, Roll No. 1232, Roll No. 1234..."
She called the rolls and one by one the students started lining up before the circular mark of the Captains they wanted to be under.
The number of students lining up before the 'white' circular mark was increasing.
Other Captains were also getting a decent number of disciples. And as always there was no one standing before the 'black' circular mark.
It was a given that no one would ever want to be under such a worthless and 'magicless' Captain as him.
"Roll No. 1486."
When she called that roll, a figure in a hooded red cape stepped forward. No one could see her face but she was a female military student as she was wearing the Prussian blue and white female uniform under that cape.
"Please remove your cape", said the announcer calling the rolls.
The hooded figure slowly removed her cape revealing the hidden treasure that was hidden by that cape.
Everyone felt their breaths caught in their throat. And why wouldn't they, when such an unfathomable beauty was right in front of them.
She had long softly flowing silver hair with long eyelashes and a pair of deep silver eyes. She had a snow-white beauty and a certain glasswork delicacy that fit her age. She had an elegant demeanor that reflected her upbringing and pedigree.
She slowly lifted her eyes.
Suddenly, Aescwine's bloodred eyes met those deep silver eyes.
They seemed to draw him in.
His heart was beating fast. He felt as if he had found something that he had lost many years ago.
A new feeling was welling up inside him, which was new to him. He didn't know what to make of that new emotion but he continued to look at those eyes and she was looking at his eyes as well.
After a while, she turned her gaze towards the stage and took few steps forward.
"Isn't that.....?"
After seeing her face, one of the military students standing in line along the red circular mark muttered.
"Yeah. She's the top-ranked combatant in this year's selection examination! She's that Seaxburh Essex!"
"Seaxburh?!"
One after another everyone looked towards her with awe.
She had otherworldly beauty and on top of that, she was powerful as well. She was, without a doubt viewed as a perfect being by all the others.
When he heard that, Captain Raidan narrowed his eyes and said in an aristocratic tone.
"So, you are the top-ranked student Seaxburh, that I have heard so much about."
He stroked his chin as if in amusement and then continued.
"Please carefully decide whom you are going to choose."
Everyone knew what those words implied.
"Yeah, make a careful and wise decision."
Following suit, Princess Evana also said that to her.
"Please choose me! I want to play a lot with that long hair of yours!"
Captain Kiya chimed in, in her usual cheerful voice and even said aloud her intentions.
Captain Ferdinand corrected his posture while Captain Richt pushed his glasses up a bit.
Even Captain Tessy projected a smile towards her.
It was clear to all that every Captain wanted her to choose them as their master; except for one.
It was because they all have heard about Seaxburh's record. She had set a new record in the selection examination and there was a huge gap between her and the second-ranked combatant. So, every Captain wanted her.
"I will."
Seaxburh nodded and moved forward.
What she did next was something no one would have ever expected in a million years.
She walked and stood before the black circular mark.
That whipped the auditorium into a frenzy.
Seaxburh Essex, the most excellent student in the entrance examination had chosen to be under, the most worthless military Captain, Aescwine Oliver.
"Ms. Seaxburh, I think you have confused that black circular mark for some other."
Captain Raidan who was completely shaken by what had happened said to her, but his voice lacked that confidence he had earlier.
"No. I haven't confused the black circular mark. I have chosen to serve under Captain Aescwine Oliver."
Her bell-like voice echoed throughout the auditorium.
Her voice was sweet but was powerful as well so, it left no room for further argument.
The crowd had started murmuring among themselves.
People were saying that she had gone senile. Some were saying that she had chosen him solely because of his looks, in particular the girls. Some were even saying that it had been all planned by Commander Lina in advance and as a reward she had been promised fame and position.
It was so unexpected that even Aescwine who didn't show any sort of reactions had narrowed his eyes towards the girl who was smiling after throwing the auditorium in such chaos.
There was no way she didn't know what her actions would incur. But she did it nonetheless. Aescwine wanted to know what her real intentions were. But he left it for later.
"Pipe down you all!"
Supreme Commander Lina raised her voice and the crowd went silent.
"So moving onto the next one. Roll No. 1487..."
*
After about an hour everyone's turn had been completed.
There were a total of 300 students in this year's batch.
Out of them, 87 had chosen Princess Evana, 65 had chosen Captain Raidan, 47 had chosen Captain Kiya, 38 in Captain Ferdinand's group, and 31 each in Captain Richt and Captain Tessy's group.
And for the first time in the three years, there was a disciple under the 'magicless', Captain Aescwine.
Everyone had all sorts of questions in their mind.
But no one dared to ask.
"This wraps up for now. All the students please listen carefully."
The announcer said drawing the attention of the students.
"As you have all been informed before, for the period of three years you all are to stay within the dorms provided by the academy, and contact with your family and relatives won't be allowed except during an emergency. After you exit this hall you will see the staff of this academy waiting outside and they will give you, your room number along with the room key. You are to rest for a while."
She paused and inhaled a deep breath.
"And also there will be a welcoming party for you all at 7 pm in the evening and every student is to come and enjoy it to the fullest. King Charles XXI himself will be present! So, all the students are requested to make sure to come at all costs!"
She said that in a loud and cheerful voice. The crowd went all wild and there were screams of joy everywhere.
After that final announcement, the students left the hall one by one, and then the Commander followed by the seven Captains also made their way.