As I followed the crowd towards the grand building, I couldn't help but feel a sense of awe at the sheer scale and beauty of the academy. The building seemed to shimmer and shine in the light, and I could feel the weight of history and magic emanating from it.
As we entered the building, I found myself in a grand hall filled with rows of seats and a large stage at the far end. The walls were adorned with intricate carvings and tapestries, depicting scenes of great battles and powerful magic.
At the front of the hall, a group of dignitaries stood on the stage, dressed in formal robes and adorned with medals and badges of honor.
They were the faculty of the Eridorian Academy of Magic, and they looked every bit as impressive as I had imagined.
As the students and faculty took their seats, a hush fell over the grand hall. The air was electric with anticipation, and I could feel the weight of history and magic emanating from the very walls themselves.
The intricate carvings and tapestries that adorned the walls seemed to come alive, as if the ancient stories and legends they depicted were about to unfold before our very eyes.
The lights in the hall dimmed slightly, and a soft, golden glow began to emanate from the stage. The atmosphere was charged with an almost palpable sense of expectation, as if the very fabric of reality was about to be torn apart to reveal a hidden truth.
And then, in a moment of perfect timing, the Dean of the Academy, Archmage Orion, emerged from the shadows. His presence was like a thunderclap, commanding attention and inspiring awe.
His long, silver hair cascaded down his back like a river of moonlight, and his piercing blue eyes seemed to bore into the very soul of every student in the hall.
As he stepped forward to address the crowd, his voice boomed through the hall like a mighty drumbeat, echoing off the walls and ceiling and sending shivers down the spines of even the most skeptical among us.
The sound was like thunder on a summer day, shaking the very foundations of the academy and awakening
something deep and primal within us all.
"Welcome, young students, to the Eridorian Academy of Magic!" he declared, his voice like a clarion call to adventure. "Today marks the beginning of a new chapter in your lives, a chapter filled with magic, wonder, and discovery. As you stand before us, you represent the future of our world, and we are honored to have you join our community of scholars and wizards."
As he spoke, the golden glow from the stage grew brighter, illuminating the faces of the students and casting a warm, golden light over the entire hall. The air was filled with an almost palpable sense of excitement and anticipation, as if the very essence of magic itself was being distilled into this moment.
"Today, we gather to celebrate not only the beginning of your journey, but also the rich history of our academy," the Dean continued. "This academy was founded 100 years ago, in the aftermath of the Great War against the monster races. It was a time of great darkness and danger, when the very survival of our world was threatened. But through the bravery and cunning of our ancestors, we emerged victorious and established this academy as a beacon of hope and learning."
"Since then, the Eridorian Academy of Magic has become a symbol of excellence and innovation, attracting students from all over the world who seek to master the arcane arts. And now, you are part of this proud tradition, joining a community of scholars and wizards who will shape the future of our world.
"Over the next 4 years, you will study the fundamentals of magic, from spellcasting and potion-making to enchantment and transmutation. You will learn about the history of magic, from the ancient civilizations of the past to the modern-day applications of magic in our world.
"You will also have the opportunity to specialize in a particular area of magic, whether it be elemental magic, illusion magic, or one of the many other disciplines that we offer. And through it all, you will be guided by our experienced faculty, who are dedicated to helping you reach your full potential.
"But the Eridorian Academy of Magic is more than just a school - it is a community, a family of wizards and witches who support and encourage each other. And as you begin your journey here, I urge you to remember the values that have made our academy great: courage, curiosity, and a commitment to using your powers for the greater good.
"So let us begin this new chapter in our lives, together! Let us embark on a journey of discovery and adventure, and let us make the most of this incredible opportunity that lies before us!"
As the Dean finished speaking, the hall erupted in applause.
As the Dean's words hung in the air, I felt a sense of detachment wash over me. I had heard these words before, or rather, I had written them. This was my story, my novel, and I was now living it.
The excitement and anticipation that I saw in the faces of my fellow students was not something I could fully share. I had already known what was to come, had already written in the outline.
But as I looked around at the sea of eager faces, I couldn't help but feel a sense of curiosity. How would this story play out in reality? Would the characters I had created behave as I had written them to? Would the plot twists and turns unfold as I had planned?
I felt a sense of irony wash over me. I was the author, the creator of this world and its inhabitants. And yet, I was now a part of it, a character in my own story. It was a strange feeling, one that I was still trying to wrap my head around.
I couldn't help but think about the story that was to come. I knew the outline, the plot, the characters. But I didn't know the details, the nuances, the unexpected twists and turns that would arise from the interactions of the characters.
As I glanced around the hall, my eyes scanned the faces of some students. There was Cassius Elwes, the arrogant and entitled student who would become a thorn in main character's path.
He was sitting near the front, his piercing blue eyes scanning the room with a sense of superiority. I had written him to be a rival, a foil to my own character's humble beginnings.
My gaze moved on, and I spotted Elianore Quasar, the genius and enigmatic student who would become a valuable ally of the main character. She was sitting near the back, her eyes fixed intently on the Dean as he spoke.
Her long, yellow hair cascaded down her back like a waterfall, and her bright green eyes sparkled with intelligence. I had written her to be a brilliant mind, one who would help me unravel the mysteries of the academy.
As I continued to scan the room, my eyes landed on a girl with long, straight black hair and piercing red eyes. She was sitting near the window, her eyes fixed on the Dean with a sense of intensity.
At first I didn't recognize her but After racking my brain for a bit, i was able to figure out who she was actually, She is the Grand Daughter of Archmage orion and her name was Calantha Orionis.
I was able to figure out because I noticed that she was wearing a small, intricate pendant around her neck. It was a symbol of her family's crest, but it was also a clever disguise.
I also knew that she was hiding her true identity, and that her real name was not to be known. Instead, she was going by the name of "Ayla Nightshade".
Nearby, I saw a girl with short, spiky blonde hair and a mischievous grin. She was chatting with a group of students, her eyes sparkling with amusement. I had written her to be a troublemaker, a prankster who would often find herself at odds with the academy's strict rules. Her name was Lyra Flynn.
As I looked around the hall, I also noticed the teachers. There was archmage Orion, the Dean of the academy, who was still speaking from the stage. He was a wise and venerable old wizard, with a long white beard and piercing red eyes.
Near him stood a tall and statuesque woman with long, curly silver hair and piercing green eyes. She exuded an air of confidence and authority, and I could sense that she was a demanding but fair teacher.
She was known for pushing her students to their limits, but also for being fiercely loyal to those she cared about.
On the other side of the room, I saw a brooding and intense man with short, dark hair and piercing brown eyes. He seemed to be shrouded in mystery, and I could sense that he was a complex and enigmatic figure. There was something about him that seemed... off, something that made me wonder what secrets he might be hiding.
Near him stood a young and charismatic man with short, spiky black hair and piercing blue eyes. He seemed to radiate energy and enthusiasm, and I could sense that he was a passionate and dedicated teacher. He seemed to be the type of person who would stop at nothing to inspire his students and help them reach their full potential.
Finally, I saw a gentle and ethereal woman with long, flowing silver hair and piercing blue eyes. She seemed to be a compassionate and empathetic person, and I could sense that she was a skilled healer and teacher. She seemed to have a deep connection to nature.
As I looked at each of them, I suddenly felt a surge of recognition. I remembered who they were, and what they were known for.
The woman with the curly silver hair was Professor Lyriana Vex, the head of the Transmutation department. I had written her to be a demanding but fair teacher, and I could sense that she was a true master of her craft.
The brooding man with the dark hair was Professor Kael Darkshadow, the head of the Shadow Magic department. I had written him to be a mysterious and enigmatic figure, and I could sense that he was a true master of the shadows.
The young man with the spiky black hair was Professor Arin Vashin, the head of the Elemental Magic department. But as I looked at him, I remembered that he was not what he seemed.
He was a spy from the country of Kragnir, and I had written him to be a charismatic and cunning operative. He was using his position at the academy to gather intelligence and further the interests of his country.
Finally, the gentle woman with the flowing silver hair was Professor Lirien Lyriquin , the head of the Healing Magic department. I had written her to be a compassionate and empathetic teacher, and I could sense that she was a true master of the healing arts. I also remembered that she was Aethera's aunt.
As I took in the faces of my fellow students and teachers, a sense of wistfulness settled over me, like a gentle mist that refused to lift. I felt a pang of disconnection, as if I was observing the scene before me from a remove, a detached observer rather than a participant.
My mind, always prone to analysis, began to wander, tracing the threads of fate that had brought me to this place, and wondering what lay ahead. A faint sense of unease stirred in my chest, a feeling that I was standing at the threshold of a great unknown, with no clear path forward.
Despite the excitement and anticipation that should have been coursing through my veins, I felt a dull, hollow sensation, as if I was waiting for something to fill the void within me.
Then I heard Ding!
you have completed the Main Quest: Attend the Welcome Ceremony at the Eridorian Academy of Magic
A/N : why the hell, it was so hard to write that opening speech.