"So, yeah, as Reinhardt said, the first Signet is mine. The Signet of Power."
The Yellow Emperor got up and began scratching his head.
The way he spoke almost made me forget that he's an Emperor.
His name is... Aether, isn't it?
The Green Emperor's name seems to be Reinhardt. I feel like if I call them by their first names, I'll die. So, I'll stick with their titles.
"The Signet of Power is basically what it sounds like. It increases someone's power. Ah, physical strength, I should be saying. Don't worry, it won't change your physique."
He said.
I felt like that last part was for the girls.
"Okay, so, in total, two people gained the Signet of Power. The first one is Kyoka Sakai!"
He shouted the name.
Kyoka Sakai.
That's the name of the Student Council President at Altheria.
"She earned the Signet for taking on Weissmann while risking an arm. She had him on the edge, but she's young and hasn't fully matured in terms of power. Anyhow, she did her best. Please, Kyoka Sakai, come up."
The Yellow Emperor said.
A girl moved out of the crowd and onto the red carpet walking toward the Emperors.
It was the Student Council President. Though, there was something different about her.
It was as plain as day.
The mechanical arm replaced her missing right arm. She lost it in the battle against Weissmann. There was also a white eye patch over her left eye. Probably another injury from that battle.
As she climbed the stairs, she bowed in front of the Yellow Emperor.
"The next is a man. He was a part of the group which exterminated Fenrir. He did not exactly have the biggest part but was a big help in Fenrir's extermination. Come up here, Edward Kou Sabre Reishville."
When the Yellow Emperor finished his sentence, I felt like rushing out and shouting objections. I couldn't though.
I silently stood there, clenching my fist, as I watched my older half-brother walk down the red carpet.
He also bowed in front of the Yellow Emperor.
The boy stuck his palm out toward them. As he did, a yellow insignia was carved into the air. Then, a soft yellow glow engulfed the two.
After seconds, the glow disappeared.
"The gifting has been complete."
They stood up and thanked him, before walking back down the stairs.
It was only for a second, but my brother glanced over at me. That bastard...
"And now, it's my turn!"
The woman shouted as the Yellow Emperor sat down.
It was the White Emperor's turn.
"I, Azuka, the Red Emperor, shall present a single person with the Signet of Potency."
Ah.
She's the Red Emperor... Well, isn't that misleading?
I've been referring to whatever colour their hair is. I'm happy I didn't openly make that mistake.
"My Signet is as simple as Aether's. My Signet of Potency simply increases the potency of mana of the selected individual, resulting in magical attacks being made more effective."
This sounds useful for someone attending Altheria.
"This Signet shall be given to one person only. She also assisted in the extermination of Fenrir. She's the magic sniper of that team. Yoko Sumika. Please come up."
My half-brother and Sumika.
There's bound to be a prize for the person who killed Fenrir, Hysaka Shirogane.
Sumika came up and bowed in front of the Red Emperor. A red insignia appeared in the air and a soft red glow shrouded Sumika when it stopped, which showed that the gifting was complete.
Sumika said her thanks and went back down the stairs.
---
The Grey Emperor's Signet of Authority, which made someone's mana pressure increase, was gifted to a French noble and Hysaka Shirogane. It was now the Green Emperor's turn.
He simply said,
"The person isn't here. Continue."
It's strange because he said it almost instantly. Now, the Blue Emperor, supposedly Astoria, is gifting her Signet of Collection, which increases mana absorption rate, to Kyoka Sakai and Hysaka Shirogane.
After the gifting, she went back to her place.
"Now, we wait."
The Green Emperor said.
Wait? Wait for what?
The only thing I could think of was 'the person.'
What were they doing?
If the Green, Pink and Purple haven't gifted yet, that means that the person won all of them.
Who are they?
There's no one I know that could get more prizes than Hysaka Shirogane especially since she defeated Fenrir.
I guess we're all waiting...
"Lady Anastasia."
Calira whispered to me.
"Do you think you'll ever win a Signet from any of the Emperors?"
"God, that's the last thing I can imagine happening."
Of course, it would still be cool.
It would be amazing for anyone.
"Ah. What's that?"
I said, out loud.
Everyone around me seemed to react as well.
We all heard muffled sounds coming from behind the door. At first, it sounded like shouts but then it quieted down.
As we listened, there were some spikes in noises but they stopped soon after. And...
"Gyahhh!"
The doors burst open as a man flew through; he landed, out cold.
A sunglasses guy.
"Who goes there?!"
No more sunglasses guy decided to intervene but nobles themselves. Males one, specifically.
5 people prepped themselves. Most of them made weapons from mana.
Two made mana blades, one made a mana spear and another made a mana axe. The final man was unarmed. Probably a magic caster.
Well, whoever this idiot is, I wouldn't want to ever know him. I mean, he just broke into a ceremony with lots of world nobles and six Emperors are here.
"You will be killed for your insolence."
The man with the axe said.
A single man walked through. No, a boy.
I instantly decided to retract my earlier statement. Which statement? Ah, right, that one where I said I wouldn't want to know the idiot who broke into the ceremony.
Why?
Not because I want to know him, but because I already do.
"Hah? It's not my fault that I'm late. Blame that broccoli-coloured-haired idiot up there."
Seriously, he just--!
"You just insulted an Emperor! Now that is something you will die for."
"Die for? I'm not interested."
The boy I knew. The boy I loved. The motherfucking idiot who came late to the Emperors' Ceremony...
Shoya Sasaki.