After all finished, he finally spoke, his voice was steady, though there was a hard edge to his words.
"Everyone," he began, his voice steady, his eyes sweeping over the faces of the House leaders. "I know many of you look down on me, but haven't you heard? Success is 99% hard work and 1% talent. I'm still young, while you're already past your prime." He paused, his eyes sweeping over the crowd. "Out of respect for your seniority, I'll give you some advice—never underestimate the young and struggling."
"And for the record," he added, his tone almost casual, looking at the admissions leader of House Ignis, "House Ignis was the last place I wanted to be anyway." His words hung in the air, met with a chorus of mocking laughter from the students and leaders.
"Snort! Incredibly arrogant!" the man of House Ignis called out, with a fire ball in his hand. But a voice interrupted him.
"House Noctis will accept Alexander." The laughter began to die down, a figure stepped forward from the shadows, Mistress Seraphine, the Dean of House Noctis. She glanced at Alexander meaningfully, and then, with a slight nod, she turned to the Headmaster.
"Are you crazy? Seraphine! " said the man of House Ignis, with a expression of surprise.
"It's funny! wouldn't you?" She licked her lips.
After heard that, the Headmaster nodded. "Alexander, House Noctis," he announced, his voice carrying across the hall.
The Headmaster concluded with a final word of encouragement to all students. "The path ahead will not be easy, but it will be rewarding. Trust in your abilities, support one another, and never lose sight of your goals. Welcome to the Academy of Magic. Your journey begins now."
Alexander felt a rush of emotions—relief, excitement, and a strange sense of belonging. House Noctis. The House of shadows, of ancient knowledge, of secrets and mysteries. It felt right, like a missing piece of a puzzle finally falling into place.
He stepped back, joining Selene and the other students who had been sorted into House Noctis. As he did, he caught sight of Mistress Seraphine standing near the back of the platform, her eyes fixed on him. There was a slight smile on her lips, a hint of approval in her gaze. She nodded once, as if to say, "Welcome to the shadows."
As the ceremony came to an end, the Headmaster dismissed the students to their respective Houses, where they would meet their House Heads tomorrow and begin their formal introduction to life at the Academy.
"99% hard work and 1% talent? Well done!" Cedric reappeared at Alexander's side, his smile as friendly as ever. "House Noctis, eh? That's quite an honor. Not many are chosen by Noctis—it's a House for those with unique talents, and a strong sense of self."
Alexander nodded, still processing everything that had happened. "It feels… right," he said, his voice quiet. "Like it's where I was meant to be." Cedric clapped him on the shoulder. "I'm sure you'll do great. Come on, I'll show you to the House Noctis dormitories. They're a bit off the beaten path, but that's part of the charm."
They made their way through the labyrinthine corridors of the Academy, heading toward a quieter, more secluded part of the campus. The atmosphere changed as they approached the Noctis dormitories—the air seemed cooler, the light dimmer, and the shadows longer.
Finally, they arrived at a large, imposing building with dark stone walls and tall, narrow windows. The entrance was flanked by two stone gargoyles, their eyes glowing faintly in the twilight. Above the doorway, the Noctis banner hung proudly, the crescent moon and stars shimmering in the fading light.
Cedric gestured to the entrance. "This is it. Welcome to House Noctis. You'll find your dorm room inside, along with the common areas and study halls. Mistress Seraphine is the House Head, so you'll be seeing a lot of her."
Alexander nodded, feeling a mix of excitement and trepidation. "Thank you, Cedric. For everything." Cedric grinned. "No problem, mate. If you ever need anything, you know where to find me. Good luck."
His room was small but comfortable, with a narrow bed, a writing desk, and a window that overlooked the forest surrounding the Academy. The view was breathtaking, the trees bathed in the soft light of the setting sun, their leaves rustling gently in the breeze.
In the office of the dean of House Noctis, Mistress Seraphine sat gracefully in her chair, her eyes fixed on the crystal ball resting on the desk. The image of Alexander undergoing his ability test played in an endless loop, every movement, every reaction of his carefully observed. The crystal pulsated, shifting through a mesmerizing array of colors—red, blue, green, white, grey, blood, and finally, a dark, foreboding black, before settling on a faint, pale red.
"The puzzle piece has appeared," Mistress Seraphine purred, a sly smile curling at her lips. "Make an opening to reach him." She paused, her voice dripping with seductive intent. "He's cautious, very vigilant. The best way to get close is through the honey trap—and a shared enemy."
"Understood, Mistress Seraphine," replied the female voice from the shadows, cold and detached.
....
The first light of dawn filtered through the narrow window of Alexander's room, casting long, slanted shadows across the stone floor. He lay awake in his bed, staring up at the ceiling, his mind a whirl of thoughts and emotions.
Yesterday's events had been a whirlwind—his first encounter with magic, the orientation ceremony, and finally, being sorted into House Noctis. It all felt surreal, like a dream he might wake from at any moment.
But as the cold morning air seeped through the walls, Alexander knew this was no dream. Today was the first day of classes, the beginning of his formal education in magic, and he felt a mixture of excitement and apprehension.
He rolled out of bed, the chill of the stone floor biting at his feet, and quickly dressed in the dark robes that had been provided for him. They were simple yet elegant, with the insignia of House Noctis embroidered on the sleeve—a crescent moon and stars in silver thread. He caught a glimpse of himself in the small mirror above the washstand and took a moment to straighten his robes, trying to shake off the lingering nerves.
As he stepped out into the hallway, he found the dormitory surprisingly quiet. Most of the other students had already left, likely heading to the Great Hall for breakfast. Alexander followed suit, making his way through the dimly lit corridors of the Noctis dormitory, his footsteps echoing off the stone walls.
The Great Hall was buzzing with activity when he arrived. Students from all five Houses were gathered at long tables, eating breakfast and chatting animatedly about the day ahead. The atmosphere was charged with anticipation, a palpable sense of excitement that hung in the air.
Alexander found a seat at the Noctis table, where he recognized a few of the students from the sorting ceremony the day before. Selene, the quiet girl who had also been sorted into House Noctis, gave him a small nod of acknowledgment as he sat down.
Breakfast was a simple affair—warm porridge, fresh bread, and a selection of fruits—but Alexander barely tasted it. His mind was elsewhere, focused on what lay ahead.