Everywhere in the city was a hive of activity. The locals were looking forward to the festivities after the ceremony and the graduates made good customers for the many traders. After pushing their way through the crowds on the platform, the graduating class from Retorum boarded one of the smaller trains that would take them towards Tiacum's Nameday square. The naming ceremony began in the early evening hours and would probably last all night. Since the elevation of the first emperor, this day was the biggest holiday in the entire empire and more than 700,000 students from all over Germania would attend in Tiacum. The square and the building behind it, where the oracle would distribute the names, were correspondingly huge. A big crowd had already gathered in front of it to celebrate Namingday, as Valerian could see from the train. They got off the train and struggled to reach the large square. Once there, they made their way to the Temple of the Oracle.
It took them more than half an hour to finally find their assigned place in front of the gates of the building. Each school was assigned a fixed place to keep some order. Depending on your position, you might have to wait several hours, although their class seemed to be quite far ahead. Officially, the ceremony would not begin for another 20 minutes, which gave the young people some time to catch up and talk about this breathtaking city. The Magister, who had been assigned to accompany them, told them to sit down, as they would probably be here a little longer. After the group had taken their assigned seats, the students began to talk excitedly.
"...and I could have sworn I saw one of the demigods earlier. I think it was rank 856, Americus Gellius Fortis, the newspaper said he single-handedly defeated more than 100 of the Tsarite rebels..." At that moment, a loud roar sounded from the direction of the temple, interrupting Nico's narrative. A glow flared up at the top of the enormous dome and calm settled over the crowd. Excitement spread through the pit of Valerian's stomach and he saw a tall figure hovering from the top of the dome towards the crowd. Besides the glow, there was a strong sense of strength and power emanating from the mysterious man. As more and more of the citizens began to cheer, he heard the first bystanders call out a name: "SEPTIMUS! SEPTIMUS! SEPTIMUS!" shouted more and more Romans full of enthusiasm. Modern armor adorned the giant of a man and a huge longsword was emblazoned on his back. The helmet with a grey ornamental bush was tucked under his arm. Even though Valerian couldn't really make out his face from a distance, he could see the broad grin on his face. Modern armor adorned the giant of a man and a huge longsword was emblazoned on his back. The helmet with a grey ornamental bush was tucked under his arm. Even though Valerian couldn't really make out his face from a distance, he could see the broad grin on his face.
"My brothers and sisters." His voice rang out in an unnaturally loud voice even to the farthest corner of the square. "We have gathered here today to celebrate the 791st name day of the New Roman Empire. If you prove yourselves loyal and worthy to Rome, power and honor await you in the Temple of the Oracle. Though it may be a terrible fate, the unworthy will not receive a name from the sacred representatives of our Emperor." With that, the Praetor voiced Valerian's greatest fear and he felt his knees buckle a little. "Nevertheless, I see many promising candidates before me who carry the future of our glorious empire. Even if, as a politician, I sometimes have to be a man of words, let us now get down to action! Victor Roma! Hail, Primus Ceasar Optimus!" As the many gates of the palace opened, the spectators and students took up his call. Thus they honored the emperor and direct descendant of Ceasar, which marked the beginning of the ceremony. Filled with a mixture of anticipation and fear, Valerian began to await his fate