Anthony opened his eyes wide, surprised by the reverence of all the dukes towards the academy director. His mind raced, trying to understand why even the emperor and the two sacred ranks showed such respect. He squinted as he carefully observed the man in front of him, unable to identify who he really was. After one last glance at the dukes, the man positioned himself in front of the podium, apparently without any notable presence or aura, as if he were simply absent.
The director's black eyes scanned all the students, but they stopped especially at the dukes' children and some others with promising talent. When those dark eyes landed on Anthony, a shiver ran down his spine. He felt as if the director could see through him, uncovering all his secrets with just a glance at his soul. Seconds stretched on, as if time had stopped, before the director averted his gaze.
