It wasn't unreasonable to assumed that this academy being held as one of the top — if not the very top schools on the entire world that only the creme de la créme would emerge from its hallowed halls.
Set them apart on a global scale as within these holy grounds where it had been graced by most students whom boasted either their impeccable backgrounds or exceptional talents.
Whether you are a noble or commoner, royal or not, human or demi-human, everyone here was treated with fairness and equality; it was a designed by this prestigious institution to be impartial.
Only with your skills and performance were mattered here; as the ranking system was stood as a living testament to that, proving results were highly paramount.
The holy land stood as the beacon of excellence, a bastion of knowledge and aspirations. And just like the institution itself, each and every faculty member were also alumni, a former students whom exuded greatness in their own right.
They upheld the holy land's tradition and rules with unwavering dedication, their unyielding commitment to excellence.
Yet there were boundaries that they couldn't ignore, no matter how steadfast their resolve, even they had their own limitations.
"Had you send the letter to Ashfallen's head, Dorothy?"
"Yes, principal."
"What about Gloryfield's head then?"
"Yes."
"And did you make sure to apologize properly?"
"..... Yes, the packages were inside was also been already delivered without any problems."
"Good. You may go now."
Bowing her head slightly, with a small sigh, Dorothy exited the dimly lit room, her thoughts weighted down by a bag of responsibility.
As the heavy doors closed behind her, the room was now fell into a hushed stillness that was save for the magic crystal's soft hum, glowing at the center of the table.
Its ethereal light illuminated the empty space, casted dancing shadows against the walls. With a flicker, the crystal projected a video onto the air above, revealing the chaotic scenes that were unfolded one of which recently happened at the gymnasium.
In a footage, a young man with silver hair was seen being fighting head on against a certain mage before he was engulfed by a third-level lightning spell, his body was convulsing as electricity surged through him.
The impact sent him hurtling across the gymnasium, crashing into the walls with a bone-jarring force.
A once solid and imposing structure was buckled under the sheer force of the blow, it's cracked walls were like spider-webbing outwards similar to a fractured glass.
As the surreal spectacle played before the eyes of the onlookers, eliciting gasp and murmurs of disbelief.
Even some of the seasoned staff members, who had witnessed the event firsthand was found themselves perspiring with nervous tension as they relive to that moment.
Ordinarily, a third level lighting spell wouldn't inflict such catastrophic damage. But when it was casted by a top student among the third years like Alicia, such a mere attack would transcended it's classification from a low-level to high-level lighting spell within short amount of time.
"Haaah.... since we've sent an apology, I guess that concludes the matter, right?"
The dean of the mage department break the heavy silence first with a small sigh, her weariness was evident in a way as she slumped in his chair.
Seated beside him, a man with gray hair leaned back, despite wearing glasses it cannot hide his sleepy eyes flickering with a hint of concern as he absent-mindedly shook a potion in his hand.
"I just hope it won't escalate too much, it would already hindered much of my precious working time on Lancelot." He murmured, his voice tinged with unease.
The dean of knight department with his arms crossed in front of him, despite having a eye patch as his other eye was gazing intently on the footage.
As someone tasked with student screening and maintaining order, witnessing the fight from the beginning till that very moment, he couldn't shake off a sense of mixed feelings over what had transpired.
"Who knew that a lone student would be the Silver Warden's only son." He mused, his voice was heavy with a hint of shame.
If they had known the true significance of this individual was involved, perhaps they would have interfere by made a exception to the rules. Bias or not, they certainly didn't want to risk someone of such importantance.
The principal turn his attention to the headmaster, he posed a question. "Did you know about this would happened, headmaster?"
A woman gazing at the window, her light pink hair framing her face, contemplating her inner thoughts, a faint of thin smoke curling from the teacup before sipped through between her lips.
"Yes.... I have been well informed." She replied, her blue eyes focused intently on the screen before her. "I just only hope the grand duke won't look at the holy land in a bad light.... considering the news that he intends to enroll his precious daughter here within two years from now."
"U-um I think his sponsorship would be something we need to worry about more." A member of the faculty interjected, voicing a concern that weighted heavily on everyone's mind.
Indeed, the academy faculty couldn't have fathomed that the young man with silver hair featured in the video wasn't just any ordinary student but a highly favorable noble, sponsored by a renowned aristocrat of a significant influence.
He also contributed with his knowledge of magic and bravery in defending a lone floating ship against a small group of terrorist, granted him a recommendation for a rank promotion of baron from the king of ambrosia himself.
Rumored to be the son of renowned "Silver Warden" often based roughly from his sword style and fluid movements during that fight.
Everything about this young man was contributed as the very linchpin of the holy land's financial stability, and the thought that he had been inadvertently harmed, perhaps even brought to the brink of death, sent a shiver down their collective spines.
"Wouldn't it be better if we personally apologized?" Another faculty member suggested, their voice tinged with uncertainty.
"That has its merits, but no...." The headmaster's words resonated with a hint of finality. "Based on the letters that a certain friend of mine gave me, the young man doesn't like to overcomplicate things. So, having this as a form of apology is enough. At the end of the day, he's just a student. While he may be connected to the grand duke, showing any biases towards him might lead us more trouble."
"More importantly, we have other pressing matters at hand." The principal interjected, redirecting the conversation away from the delicate topic of the Noble's sponsorship.
As if on cue, the scene within the crystal ball had been splitted into four, revealing footages of other students. Magic exploted by magic, sword clashed each other, and spell soared through the air. It was a surreal scene, watching these promising young individuals about to enter the holy land.
"This year's students emerged today are quite the monsters."
"Just how many promising students have entered at the same time?"
"We haven't had this many prospects for the last decade, except two years ago and even then, only Alicia, Dorothy, and Lyre were stood out in the end."
"Looks like the first year professors will be having a hard time this year around."
"Ha Ha ha, I agree."
As they surveyed the scenes playing out before them, both the faculty members and each dean of every department felt a surge of anticipation and dread at the prospect of these exceptional individuals.
Among the standout students, one figure, in particular, caught their attention — a woman with black hair and striking blue eyes.
The sword skills she displayed were far beyond those of an amateur.
Despite her apparent youth, no older than sixteen, her graceful movements betrayed a mastery that belied her age. It as if she were a hundred year old sword saint in disguise, every motion of her blade was fluid and precise.
The dean of the knight department couldn't help but feel delighted at the sight, recognizing the full potential within such a remarkable student, she stood out like a beacon of promise and greatness as her emerging presence was ignited the spark of excitement within the faculty.
Another student stood out as well, notably, being involved during the terrorist incident was the pale, ethereal figure Princess Scarlett Rose, only heir of the Empire.
With ease, she cornered her senior in a low-level fire spell, showcasing her formidable abilities. However, the power behind her spells seemed to falter when casting a third level spells, hinting at her potential for further growth in the near future.
While such a powerful student would commonly be as a sign to celebrate within the mage department, the dean could only sigh heavily, feeling the weight of responsibility was settled upon her shoulders.
Handling a top student Alicia was already hard enough, by adding the princess capable of shaking the very foundations of this institution itself was no small task.
Despite the challenge, the mage dean knew she would need to thread carefully.
Hiddenly, within the midst of the notable students there were those with a promising potential, such as the daughter of Millian Flan and a young man with a black hair and golden eyes.
Despite being born from the highlands, the land of commoners as the latter surprised everyone by surpassing his seniors with pure sword skills alone.
With each exceptional individuals entering the academy simultaneously, it was inevitable that this holy ground would once again, trembled under the weight of the stories they could bring whether it be positive or negative.
All the faculty members were present at this meeting understood that they needed to be prepared for whatever challenges lay ahead.
The arrival of these students heralded a new era for the holy land, one they would embarked a journey filled with uncertainty and possibility.
However, there is one figure among the dean apartments, particularly, a woman with green hair in-charge the anti-mage department couldn't help but despise those people who've forgotten about him.
"Headmaster, may I request for young Silver's transfer in my department." She boldly interjected.
The knight dean slams his fist on the table, disapprovingly to her requested transfer. "He's our student of the knight department, don't you thinking about step back?"
The anti-mage dean's smile tugging at the corner of lips, making disgust look. "Ara~ I was helping you since you want that black hair chick more so..." She jest.
"Why.....you!!!" The knight dean bulged a mark on his forehead, anger can be seen on his face.
As the two deans cursing at each other, disrupting the meeting into a squabbles.
The headmaster heavily sigh, sipping her tea before she redirected the conversation away from further discourse. "As you can see, we've got quite an interesting bunch of students entering this year around, and I want all of you to be alert as to ensure that the incident that happened this morning doesn't occur again."
Her voice cuts through the room, snapping everyone back to attention as she continued. "And also, be careful with this year's ranking, in particular this batch of students is very hard to rank."
The significance of ranks may seem trivial to the average student, but for those in specialized fields it helds a immense importance.
It determined everything once they entered the holy land — their opportunities, resources, and even their future paths.
With a such a diverse and talented group of students joining their respective ranks, maintaining order and ensuring fair assessment would be paramount.
All the faculty members were nodded, one by one stood up from their seats as they had other matters to attend. Leaving only the headmaster and dean of anti-mage department staying in dimly lit room.
In a single huff of air, the anti-mage dean raised her legs on the table like a mafia boss.
The headmaster would only sigh heavily at the sight of her, as she revert the crystal ball's footage into a single screen, where a image of a young man with silver hair can be seen clearly.
"How is she... your little sister, that is." The dean asked, looking at the image.
"She's worried sick about his condition." The headmaster's word cut through the hushed room. "Right now, she probably at the medical ward where that boy confines." She murmured, her voiced tinged with concerned.
"I say, that's quite a reunion." She jest.
"Celine...."
"What...?" The anti-mage dean whom been called Celine slightly laughed, snatching a bowl of chips that left untouched.
Bling.....! Bling...! Bling.....!
The headmaster and the dean noticed the crystal ball were flickering.
.....
As the floating ship slowly cruising by in the distant horizon, Aria was silently stood in nearby balcony of her room gazing the distant ship, her fingertips grazing the spot where Corrin's lip had briefly touched her.
It was a rare occurrence, one that stirred a whirlwind of conflicting emotions within her.
For the first time ever since they first met at his tenth birthday, Corrin had taken the initiative, a surprisingly bold move that caught Aria off guard.
Could it be that he was finally breaking free from the confines of his passive demeanor?
The thought intrigued her, and a faint smile played upon her lips, revealing a glimmering of hope.
Her pale blue eyes had turned crimson, shimmered like rubbies, reflecting a faint sinister glow of inner thoughts.
Around her neck, ethereal silver cross, casting an otherworldly aura around her.
"Has your heart finally melted for me, Corrin?" She whispered softly to herself, her hand drifting down to her chest where her beat of the heart were none to be echoed.
Ever since her birth, every people she meets have been showered her with adoration and affection. While Corrin was the only person who didn't like her as his gaze held a disdain that make her intrigued.
A unique dynamic that piqued her interest as it was a refreshing change from the usual fawning she always recieved.
When they first met at his party, her first expression of Corrin was the same as others would not till a certain event that change him.
His indifference demeanor was something to be so captivating, a challenge that she found herself oddly exhilarating.
In his eyes, she saw isn't adoration but, a raw honesty— a rarity in the world she inhibited.
But if he was starting to revert himself to the same fate with other would, then what was point of keeping him around for fun?
"Should I suck him dry, then?"
This question echoed in her mind countless time ever since his journey towards the holy land. Such a tantalizing prospect that offered a swift solution to her dilemma.
With a mere of meeting him, then she could eliminate him and be done with it, sparing herself from further complications.
Yet, no matter how tempting it was, Aria hesitated.
His presence served as the deterrent against to those unwanted suitors and undesirable marriage proposal, a convenient shield that protected her autonomy and independence.
Not to mention, his blood was so sweet that every time she drank someone else's blood felt a dissatisfaction. The only time she have drank his blood was on that day, a faint of his blood in the air that made her trembling with delight.
With a resigned sigh, Aria shook her head dismissing the notion of ending his life prematurely.
Despite his flaws, Corrin was something special to her — albeit in peculiar way.
Although her cold heart doesn't beat towards him for some reason, yet she yearns for his attention.... a notion she couldn't understand.
"Aria...." Someone was calling her name.
She turned to see her father had returned with the news she wanted to know.
As it was something very important for her, after all it was came from Corrin's words.
His passionate words resonated to her mind when he said his goal, and it was something she wanted to witnessed.
"Father, what did she say?" Aria asked as she hugged her father tightly.
"She said that they will put into consideration of transferring him to mech department." Her father replied, returned her warmly embrace.
"Yay~"
Aria smiled upon hearing news, yet her lips revealed a hint of sinister glow.