Feeling the faintest bump at his side, Jaylen's meditation was abruptly disrupted. Jaylen's eyes snapped open, anger simmering below the surface as he prepared to yell at whoever bumped into him.
His action halted as he noticed the once brightly lit auditorium had dimmed, leaving only the illumination over the stage.
The excited murmurs of students reverberated throughout the space. Teachers patrolled the aisles, ensuring order was maintained amidst the buzz of excitement. It seemed that orientation would officially start soon.
Glancing to his side Jaylen wanted to etch the face of the person who had disrupted his meditation. Seated next to him was a face he was all too familiar with.
That chin-length brown hair, striking canary yellow eyes, and that signature annoyed expression dressed the boy's visage.
Parting his lips, ready to give him a piece of his mind, Jaylen's instinct flared, and his focus shot toward the stage.
Though not many students seemed to notice Jaylen, the boy next to him and two others felt it, a surge of mana had begun to coalesce toward the stage.
Feeling the growing surge of mana, Jaylen's gaze leaped from one teacher to the next reading their expressions, which hadn't seemed to change even though they had also detected a large amount of mana.
'The teachers seem not to care or already know what's happening' Jaylen inferred, the tension in his body disappearing.
As the mana continued to gather a massive vortex formed spiraling at a dizzying pace, before coalescing into a single spot and dissipating in a flash of light revealing a figure within.
As the lingering traces of mana faded, the true form of the figure became apparent.
Long strands of green hair, moved and danced as if guided by an unseen breeze. Emerald-colored eyes, brimming with untold wisdom, gazed out upon the assembled crowd.
Elongated ears, twitched at the many whispers and murmurs from within the crowd. A pale complexion, imbued with an otherworldly purity, seemed to radiate an irresistible allure that captivated both women and men alike.
She spoke, her voice resonating like the purest of waters as she addressed the eager crowd. "Hello, everyone. I am very pleased to meet each and every one of you,"
"You are probably wondering who am I. Well, I am your headmaster, Jevelyn Schwickrath, and I formally welcome you all to The Starfall Academy!"
She announced with grace and poise, a sweet smile gracing her lips as she surveyed the assembled students.
As her words echoed through the auditorium, applause erupted from the crowd, a tangible expression of their respect and admiration for their esteemed headmaster.
As the applause subsided and the headmaster's words settled over the crowd, Jaylen found himself lost in a moment of reminiscence.
'I remember her,' he thought, his mind drifting back to memories of his childhood. 'Miss Schwickrath used to come to my home when I was younger to talk to my father.'
He could still see her graceful presence, her wisdom and kindness leaving an indelible mark on his youthful memories. 'I didn't realize she was the headmaster'
"Many of you came with great ambitions," she began, her eyes sweeping over the crowd as though she could glimpse each student's dreams.
With a wave of her hand, she summoned an image of a warrior with a sword and leather armor. "Some of you dream of exploring the unknown,"
A subtle shift in her gaze singled out certain individuals among the throng, acknowledging their thirst for adventure and discovery.
Conjuring another person once more this time with a large man with a shield adorned with a heart at its center appeared.
"And then there are those who have chosen to stand up and fight for their loved ones," she continued, her tone carrying a solemn weight as she addressed another segment of the audience.
Her eyes lingered on a group of determined faces, recognizing the courage and sacrifice they embodied.
But it was her next words that drew a collective hush over the crowd as if she had touched upon a shared fear that lingered in the hearts of all present.
Holding out her hand two different beings formed on her sides, on her left a creature that looked human appeared.
Though it looked human a creepy and disturbing smile was worn on its face its eyes were filled with unnatural bloodlust.
While on her right another creature in the form of a human that looked to be melting appeared, its form was pitch black except for a star placed at the center of its forehead.
"Finally, there are the ones who wish to confront and defeat the plague of not just our planet but even one that plagues the universe, the Corrupted and the Remnant" she declared, her gaze locking onto the front row with unwavering resolve.
Waving her hands the beings conjured out of mana began to move quickly the Corrupted being and the Remnant were quickly dispatched by the other two conjured beings.
In that moment, Headmaster Schwickrath's words and actions ignited a spark of determination within each listener, inspiring them to rise to the challenges that lay ahead and to forge their own destinies in the face of adversity.
Feeling the crowd's anticipation and excitement reaching its peak, Headmaster Schwickrath continued.
"To invoke everyone's competitive spirit, we have here in the front row this year, your year's top students also known as the Transcendents—the top ten students in combat and theory,"
She announced, her voice cut through the air, her tone carrying a weight of significance that drew all eyes to the front row as ten holograms materialized behind her, each adorned with question marks, shrouding the identities of the elite students.
"Starting off, in tenth place, we have Ferya Ash, with a total score of 415!" Cheers erupted from the crowd as Ferya's hologram appeared, displaying a girl with red hair and glasses, along with her impressive score.
"Following her in ninth place is Melo Branes, with a combined score of 423!" Another hologram lit up, revealing a male figure with gray hair and brown eyes, as applause filled the auditorium once more.
"Next, we have our twin prodigies, Leonah and Leo, in eighth and seventh place respectively, with scores of 467 for Leonah and 468 for Leo!"
As the holograms of the twins appeared, the crowd murmured in awe at their remarkable achievement.
"In sixth place, we have Aldwulf Flynn, with truly remarkable strength scored 487!" Applause thundered through the auditorium as Aldwulf's hologram illuminated, showcasing his formidable presence.
"Entering the top five, we have an unexpected Darkhorse, Laria Wick, with a score of 536!" The hologram of Laria appeared, capturing the crowd's attention with her unexpected rise to prominence.
"The last four places as you probably guessed go to the ancient families," She announced her tone reverent.
"In fourth place, we have Sarah Eliodoro, with a total score of 597, showcasing her excellence in both theory and combat." Sarah's hologram materialized her distinct features eliciting admiration from the crowd.
"In third place, we have Brandon Astros, with an impressive total score of 598, demonstrating his exceptional abilities in both theory and combat as a combat mage."
The hologram of Brandon appeared, eliciting applause and cheers from the audience.
"Moving on to second place, we have Yuki Heartfall With a total score of 599, her mastery of ice magic in combat is truly remarkable"
As Yuki's hologram illuminated, the crowd erupted into applause, acknowledging her outstanding achievement.
"And finally, in first place, we have… Jaylen Orpheus! With the outstanding achievement of a perfect score of 600. He stands as a testament to excellence in both theory and combat, a feat achieved by only three individuals in the history of our school."
The hologram of Jaylen materialized, his platinum white hair and gray eyes capturing the attention of all present.
"These, ladies and gentlemen, are this year Transcendents!" Headmaster Schwickrath concluded, her words met with thunderous applause and cheers as the students celebrated the remarkable achievements of their peers.
"Though I shall give you a word of caution," She stepped forward, her voice resonating with a commanding presence that instantly silenced the crowd, the joyous cheers fading into an attentive hush.
"The Transcendents are not for you to worship… but to strive to surpass. Let them serve as beacons of inspiration, urging you to reach greater heights and surpass your current selves.".
Her outstretched clenched fist held aloft in a gesture of encouragement, spurred the crowd to embrace their potential for growth and self-improvement.
"Starfall Academy has always led the way. As students here, it's your duty to guard the City of Hope and the Dawn Region beyond."
"Stand tall, push forward, and let your actions speak louder than words. Show us what you're made of!" With a spirited shout, she unleashed a torrent of encouragement, her voice ringing out like a rallying cry.
"As you begin your three-year stay, you will come to understand the unique structure of our academy, which incorporates the twelve zodiacs as main classes for each academic year. Meanwhile, our esteemed staff and teachers fall under the sign of Ophiuchus."
"May you find joy and fulfillment in your time here as you grow to accomplish your goals. That will be all. I bid you all farewell."
With a graceful bow, the headmaster concluded the orientation, the mana once again swirling around her as she vanished from sight, leaving as suddenly as she arrived.