In a grand hall lined with long tables arranged to make six long columns running from the large double-door oak entrance another long table at the very end of the hall.
Each of these six columns represented one of the six different squads that the students in this great school were sorted into.
The cacophony of idle chatter and murmur of gossiping students bounced off the walls as the students drank and ate the food served to them in high spirits.
Excitement filled the Great Hall, barely contained by any of the students. This was a rare occasion that happened once every year and roused a lot of excitement in all the upperclassmen.
It was a time they all looked forward to as the school would finally get a new crop of students. It was this new crop that was bound to set a new pace for the squads and change the tide of war and competition among them.
Getting powerful additions to the squads was paramount.
Gossip buzzed through the students as they speculated on what kind of students they would expect to see. 'I heard the Hawks twins will be joining us this year.'
'Seriously, those will be a powerful addition to the school's archers. I wonder which squad will be getting them those ones.'
'Whichever squad gets them will have one hell of a platoon for when their time comes to join the Hunter Games. Hell, even the junior battles will earn them a whole chunk of points,' another echoed his thoughts.
'Yeah, but don't forget, the Black family has someone joining this year too. So do the Steele family… and the Hopkins. That Sullivan was said to be the top of the combat training academy back in Alcove,' another joined in on the discussion.
'I've heard of that too. Although, we might get some surprises too. Don't forget the shock we had last year. Imagine another diamond in the rough like Gray Fallen. We might even get the chance to see another 'mana vortex',' another squealed.
'Come on, girl. That was a once-in-a-lifetime appearance. Beings that powerful don't just fall from the sky. And 'mana vortexes' are even rarer.'
Clink clink clink…
The clinking sound of a spoon against delicate glass brought the hall to silence. The sound had obviously been amplified by magic as the volume itself was virtually impossible to make without shattering the glass in hand.
The students all looked to the front where a long table facing the six squads held a gathering of adults dressed in a variety of garbs and garments.
The teachers at this school bore no uniform rules as to what they could wear and as such, seeing one of them sporting a fiery bird nest of a hat atop their heads was no surprise to the students.
Each of these adults was highly experienced in their own field. Subjects that they taught at this very school.
The teachers stood up and faced the students with all manner of expressions. Some were serious, a few were neutral while others were bored and a few were a tad bit too cheery and eager to see the students again.
The man that had clinked his Rune-adorned glass to call the hall to attention stepped forward dressed in a black robe that swept the ground as he walked. His misty blue eyes looked down on the students in a cold neutral expression that commanded silence…
Even breathing felt too loud.
"Now that I have everyone's attention. I would like to congratulate the six squads on receiving their new members. Yes, it's delightful to meet new members and bully them into doing your bidding but please keep it down.
Keep in mind that violence of any nature is not tolerated outside of classes, mock battles and supervised duels. Now then, onto the last group of first years. This year's hunters have finally completed their Sorting test.
If you must know, the previous Sorting processes were unbearable, to say the least. So if you could keep your mouths shut through this part, then the ceremony would go along smoothly and I wouldn't have to memorize all the faces of naughty frustrating gossipers…"
"Oh, lighten up, Draul. It's not all that bad. Come to think of it, you're always looking for ways to make the ceremony boring," a cheery red-haired woman from the table chirped, trying to lighten the mood.
Draul paid her no attention as he continued his speech, "Now, then. Let's get this over with. With that said, he pulled a foot-long thin wooden rod from his black robes and elegantly waved it in the air.
Runes shimmered from the tip of his wand and arranged themselves in three spinning circles, surrounding an intricate Rune-covered wooden chair with a velvet cushion at the centre of the stage dividing the teacher's table from the six Squads.
The runes sent in the chair's arms and legs began to glow a brilliant amber as well.
The concentric Rune Circles pulsed with a deep and ancient hum of magic spinning slowly in opposing directions.
Once the spell had stabilised, the chair began to quiver and shake in place. Upon further inspection, it could be seen that the chair's legs were held in place by smaller runes embedded between the wooden stage and the chair.
The shaking got more vigorous before a small puff of shimmering dust cast a boy violently into the chair. The boy had appeared from thin air, his clothes were tattered and blood-soaked his clothes. A closer look at him could reveal the charred edges of his clothes.
The students gasped at the sight of the boy's dishevelled state which lasted a few moments before something else started happening.
The messy appearance of the boy's body quickly repaired itself, his clothes weaving themselves back in order after which dull grey silk robes covered him, erasing the clothes he'd no doubt come with.
Adding to the alarming appearance of the battered boy was his screaming. Since appearing in the chair, the boy had been screaming but his voice was muffled by the shimmer of runes.
It was almost as though a part of the magic circles was meant to contain whatever side effects he brought with him from the horrific simulation they'd been put through.
A ring of runes danced around his arms and feet, keeping him glued to the chair as he recovered from the horror of going through the Hunter Sorting test.
Once he'd recovered, a shimmer of letters began to materialise in the air before him along with a feminine voice that announced what they said.
"
Name: Finn Gale
Course: Hunter
Category: Guardian
Squad: Squad Three"
The third row of students from the right, clad in bright orange robes and seated in no particular order, erupted into applause. Finn was a good catch as far as his physique went, standing at decent five-foot-nine feet. Getting into the Hunter Course was hard enough as it was. So this was a valuable addition to Squad Three.
It went without saying that the rest of the squads expected even more impressive students to come through. Still, Finn was above average and the rest of the squads felt this loss.
The magic circles holding Finn in place shattered and the boy stood up, his robes suddenly taking on the radiant orange colour of Squad Three's banners.
The students in the third row beckoned for him to join them and watched the boy nervously leave the stage.
The teachers clapped as well, watching the boy leave and join the Squad he was to spend his days as a student in till his graduation.
Draul raised his hand in the air, his face suddenly getting grim again. The hall went silent at this gesture, no one daring to utter another word under his intense gaze. The Warlock narrowed his eyes at the students, looking murderous for a moment before sighing in defeat, "Now then, on to the next student."
The floating magic circles began to shimmer once more, shuddering slightly with a satisfying hum as another student was transported into the room. This one was in a similar state to that of Finn Gale, screaming their lungs out as the wounds and tattered clothes covering their body repaired themselves till he was dressed in grey lusterless robes.
Once again, once he'd stabilised, the announcing voice rang clear through the Great Hall.
"Name: Herman Barrow
Course: Specialist
Squad: Squad One"
An organised symphony of claps filled the hall coming from the rightmost row of students dressed in white robes. These students didn't go wild like Squad Three. Instead, they remained dignified and gave their new member confident smiles and nods of approval.
Herman stood from his seat in a fashion far more composed compared to Finn's. The grey robes brightened, taking on the spotless white of Squad One. The white robes flowed neatly behind him as he glided to the rightmost row and joined his designated squad.
The members of Squad Three simply rolled their eyes and said things like 'We ought to get a Specialist or two as well this year.' 'It's no big deal.''That one was too pompous for the likes of us anyway.' 'I bet they won't be getting a guardian quite like Finn.' 'They should be sad they won't find a gem like Finn in this year's crop.'
The competition was fresh and there were still many more students to come however that didn't stop the upperclassmen from mulling over each student that didn't get to join their squad. It seemed every student was a valuable asset that they couldn't afford to lose.
And yet, in the end, the students still had to be divided into six groups. One student couldn't go to all squads at the same time. It was simply impossible.
Draul raised his hand once more and the hall went silent leaving only the shimmering sound of the Rune Circles to fill the silent atmosphere of the tense Mess Hall.
'I wonder if there are any Leaders this year.'
'There are always Leaders.'
The runes shimmered once more, this time changing in tone and flickering between dim and bright. A tense breeze suddenly swept through the Mess Hall, bringing with it a feeling of anticipation.
Most of the teachers pulled forward from their seats and pinned their gazes on their chairs, looks of curiosity in their eyes.
A prodigy was coming through.