He was glad at first when the principal was no more but when he heard who was coming up, he couldn't help but feel apprehension.
Steps were heard, each slow step echoing across the auditorium. As if he himself was building up the tension. Eventually he appeared from the passage, hidden by the curtains.
What felt like a minute in actuality only took a couple of seconds to arrive in front of the podium.
The man appeared to be in his early thirties with salt and pepper hair. He was wearing a suit that struggled to wrap around him due to his huge stature. He had a rather angular face that best fit someone lanky, which he was the opposite of. His sheer aura announced to those before him how prideful he was towards his name and position.
("He is comparable to dad….") Edil thought, growing wary of a strong foe being present in the power struggle.
With the audience full attention on him, the first words out of his mouth were unexpected.
"You are all here out of obligation! Because of the royal decree demands the children the age of 12 and up must receive an education, you are now here!" Neptune stated boldly, seemingly rebuking the majority of children and parents that went through the same experience that were forced to attend.
His statement caused a stir among the audience. Eventually starting with one child, after a time several of them were loudly denying it. Even some parents ignorant, bold, or assured of the anonymity started to join as well. Even if they knew it was true, they wouldn't allow someone to deny their achievements old and new. And their pride and duty.
He stood there, taking all the arguments and backlash, and just waited. After a minute, as he determined it was enough, he raised his hand signaling to quiet down. Once the noise disappeared, he begun again.
"Now don't get me wrong, I am not admonishing you but rather I am giving you all praise. Many of you wish you didn't have to attend, many of you would rather seek out other professions, others would have probably been comfortable mooching off their status. But you all have taken this all-in stride serving this country and performing your duty!"
"You all know why this is an all-noble academy, it is because us nobles have a duty to serve and protect this land from the heathens. Unlike those with common blood, we are obligated to serve in the military, as we are the leaders that must lead the sheep to fight. The statistics have proven that us noble blood are essential to the life of this country, we are strong, with the blood of God running through our veins we are almighty!"
"over 90% of us join the military, only 10% of the common blood serve, even those of the church participate less than us. And that's why even if it forced, I would love to congratulate you all and for you all to prove your worth, worthy of the blood that is within us all!" He passionately shouted.
With the end of speech, the whole crowd applauded, reacting in complete to the beginning of the speech. Repeating his last sentence 'worthy of the blood that is within us all!' over and over again.
("Even I feel my blood burning") Thought Edil impressed.
After a while seeing as he was still at the podium, they all quieted down, waiting to see what he said next.
"Now then I would like to demonstrate excellent examples of what I have said to you all. Children that have all shown the pride of us nobles in full. Now then plea- "
Upon hearing the words coming out of Neptune's mouth, a feeling of foreboding welled up inside him. ("Isn't it supposed to be only a valedictorian that is called up?")
"Please come forth Sai from house Dorian, Dion from house Ignis, Violet and Gia of house Lavender, Emil and Lyn from house Emeralda, Jestine and Fiora from house clover and finally Fray and Lain from house Jasper!"
With the announcement of their names, the selected students approached the stage.
With each named called, the cheering grew louder, however that was to pay respect to the speaker Marquees Neptune Jasper and the speech he had given. At first the cheers were genuine, but that sense disappeared as the more names were called.
As they all lived within Dragonswine, how could they not know of the power struggle among the family. This clearly was a power play against house Rosalind! As not even a child of theirs was called.
("These bastards! Here I was admiring this guy but no! He had this up his sleeves. Wait a minute! Were they the ones that arrived earlier than I did, were they scheming this?")
("Most importantly, what does this mean? Are they officially establishing an alliance and in front of an audience of nobles within our territory no less!")
"I would like to congratulate each of these students, each of them has shown the results of hard work and perseverance." Neptune continued playing innocent, ignoring the obvious elephant in the room.
The children gathered under three rows, with each of them being side to side.
"Each of these students have scored the highest in their own respective year! With the third years taking being tested before this semester began. A round of applause everyone! Show them that their efforts are worth it!" Neptune signaled to the left group that contained Sai, Violet, Emil, and Jestine. Urging the crowd to cheer for them.
"Next, this group of students while not attending the academy have all shown excellent scores in their lineage trials, we were able to gather the information from the houses involved, now a round of applause to the potential heirs of their houses!" He congratulated the group in the right, it being Dion, Gia, Lyn and Fiora.
The crowd cheered once again, though a majority of them rolled their eyes when it was mentioned how the information was obtained.
"Finally, we have these two exceptions. Now Lain has not only received the best scores in the year as a third year. But he was able to stay on the top throughout his whole time in the academy!" He proudly announced.
This time there wasn't any need to tell the audience to cheer, they did it themselves unprompted. Due to how awed they were of the boy's accomplishment, something they know and heard how difficult it is to achieve. The sheer impossibility it is. It has been a generation since such a feat has occurred!
"Now then we have this child Fray, he is a student that has recently enrolled to our academy the same as the freshmen we have hear on the right, now then what makes him so different? It is because not only he scored the highest in his house lineage test for his age group but also one of the few in his age to become a templar of the church!"
The last remark he made, made the whole auditorium speechless. The group of nobles were baffled by the young boy's 1 in a 1000 talent, to be chosen by the church this early in life.
("What the hell!? Did they bribe the church or something? In his age range only, a few can be chosen.")
"Now then let's hear a prayer and word from our young templar."
"Yes, thank you may God hold us dear and grant us his power to vanquish all his foes. Amen!"
"Amen!" parroted the crowd.
"I am grateful for all the support I have received, however vice principal sir, I don't believe this is enough of a demonstration."
"Oh, why is that?" responded Neptune feigning ignorance.
"As a military school we must show our skills in combat! I would like to issue a challenge for this very reason."
"Hmmm that is a noteworthy reason my boy however, according to tradition a challenge issued on orientation among freshmen will lead to immediate demerits throughout the whole semester and they can't refuse either." He patiently explained, clearly following the plot.
"Yes, I am sure sir! Even if I may lose, I will accept the results!"
"My what a brave little boy, so who do you want to challenge?"
"I would like to fight Edil from House Rosalind!"
("This is most BS I have ever seen!") he internally protested.
If thoughts could kill, they would had died hundreds of times. He swore to uphold this grudge for a lifetime and got ready to present himself with no choice in the matter.