Ashen walk over to his team, The Headmaster of Aetherion Academy begins to give his speech. With his mere presense shutting down the voices in the room, making it as quiet as a cemetry.
Ladies and gentlemen, esteemed guests, and most importantly, the students who stand before me today as the future of our realms,
It is with great honor and a swelling sense of pride that I welcome you all to this hallowed hall on the eve of the most anticipated event of the year—the Annual Grand Tournament. This is not merely a contest of skill, strategy, and sorcery. It is a celebration of the very essence of who we are as scholars, warriors, veylorians, and citizens of our great academies.
For centuries, this tournament has stood as a crucible, a proving ground where legends are forged and alliances are tested. It is a stage where your brilliance, your courage, and your camaraderie will shine brighter than the brightest star in the night sky. But make no mistake, this is not a path for the faint of heart. Challenges will rise like towering waves, and adversaries will stand before you like immovable mountains. Yet, within each of you lies the spark to overcome them all.
To the Elementalists, whose mastery over the forces of nature could reshape the battlefield: Remember, it is not raw power that defines greatness, but the wisdom to wield it.
To the Blademasters, whose swords dance like whispers of the wind: Your strength lies not only in the sharpness of your blade but in the clarity of your mind.
To the Enchanters and Alchemists, the weavers of miracles and makers of wonders: Let your creativity flow boundlessly, for innovation is the soul of triumph.
To the Seekers and Rangers, whose vigilance and precision are unmatched: Trust in your instincts, for they will guide you through the darkest of trials.
And to all of you, regardless of discipline or creed, remember that you do not stand alone. Beside you are your allies, your comrades, your friends. Together, you form a tapestry of brilliance that no foe can unravel. Let the bonds you forge here grow ever stronger, for they will endure long after the tournament's final blow is struck.
Now, I would be remiss if I did not remind you of the true purpose of this gathering. While the glory of victory is a worthy pursuit, it is the lessons learned, the respect earned, and the memories made that will shape the future of our academies and our realms. The tournament is not merely a test of might and magic but a celebration of unity amidst diversity, a reminder that even in competition, we are one.
So, as you step onto the grand stage, as the banners of our academies flutter in the wind, as the cheers of your peers and mentors echo in your ears, remember this: The heart of a champion is not measured by their trophies but by their spirit, their resolve, and their honor.
May your blades stay true, your spells ring with clarity, and your hearts burn with the fire of determination. Go forth and etch your names into the annals of history. Make your academy proud, and may the best among you rise to greatness!
Now, let the banners be raised, the drums sound, and the tournament begin!
Chants and celebrations echoes throughout the Great hall as the speech of the Headmaster raises the morale of every student.
The tournament begins the next morning and as such every team is given the chance to celebrate and have fun the night before as this might be the only time all these students are able to see and unite with each other.
As every student from the various academies make their way to clubs, arcades and other recreational facilities to have fun, Ashen secludes himself in his chambers looking at the night sky through his windows and the sounds of celebration echoing through the streets of Aeferion. This is a night that many would remember, a night to make bonds and friendships as this might be the last time you will see any of these students yet Ashen, friendless and lonely has to watch from the sidelines.
As he begins to think to himself about how lonely his life is and how he has no one to share the night with, a beautiful woman suddenly appears infront of him with her beauty overshadowing the moon and night sky, her elegant yet silky garment moving with the flow of the wind and her skin refelcting the light of the night sky. For a brief moment, Ashen's heart was moved and he fell a feeling.
Is it love? he questioned himself, as this woman stands on his windows, blocking his view to the outside world but this did not concern Ashen as he wouldn't trade this beautiful view of this woman for anything.
Are you going to let me in or let me freeze in the cold?, she said
oops! sorry, you can come in, Ashen said in a nervous tone
I knew you were a loner but at least clean your room. Boys!, she exclaimed with her hand on her forehead almost as if she was exhausted from continously seeing sights like these.
To be honest I barely have anyone come visit me, so I wasn't that prepared for such an encounter. Who are you, if I may ask?
I understand why you may be curious as to who I am afterall it would be hard to recognise me with this mask on. It is me, Sylvie!, she said as she proceeds to take off her mask further revealing the beauty that was hidden beneath.
Ashen too stunned to speak just stood there in silence. This wasn't because of the beauty the young woman but rather the fact that someone like her would visit him.
I came here to apologise about what happened last time. I just wasn't myself and when I had that faint smell of "those people" from you I just went a little bit overboard.
As much as you have your reasons trying to kill me on such grounds is not really something I can easily forgive. As the leader of the student protection council, you should be equal and protect the lives of us students yet you raised your blade at me and looked down me for being weak. Isn't that very hypocritical of you, Sylvie?
Yes I know I acted wrongly and my actions cannot be justified that's why I came here personally to apologise. I even gave you a spot on our team so that you can have the chance to prove everybody wrong about you, she said
Is that what you think! Sylvie!, that coming here and sneaking through my window to apologise and giving me a spot on a team whcih I never asked to be is going to change anything. You humiliated and tried to kill me in public, the least you could do is try and apologise to me in that same setting and not sneak through my window in the middle of the night to give such half-assed apology. You act as if you stand for student equality yet you just another hypocritical, prideful woman that only cares about her social standing and image. You didn't add me to the team to help me change how I am viewed and neither did you come here to apologise because you meant it, you just did all that because of how you thought people would view you. Coming to my room drunk yet claiming to apologise for your misdeed such shame. I used to respect you Sylvie but now all I feel is shame and pity. Trying to live up to the expectation of others without seeing how it is eating you up.
Sylive knew what Ashen was saying was right yet she couldn't bring herself to accept that reality. Angered and ashamed by what Ashen said, Sylvie let out a loud voice
You don't know me, you know nothing about me. Don't stand here and say stuff about me that you don't even know. I came here to apologise but it seems this was a waste of my time.
Ashen let out a loud sigh!
Seeing how you didn't even deny what I said but rather tried to claim how I don't know you proves how much even you don't know about yourself. Thank you for your apology and Thank you for adding me to the team, you can leave here now
Ashen said as he proceeds to walk to his gate and holding the door out for her to leave
Sylvie leaves Ashen's chambers unable to look him in the eye.
See you tomorrow, she said as she proceeds to leave.
Ashen shuts the door behind her and goes on to lie on his bed, staring at his ceiling and not long after falling into the embrace of the night.
Sylvie regroups with the other students of Aetherion and the academies trying to have fun but she finds herself unable to. The words of Ashen was like a virus, eating at her thoughts and sowing a seed of conflict within herself but... pride and self-ego cannot be broken in a mere night. Sylvie casts the conflicting thought within herself away overshadowing it with her own pride and ego.
Why will the words of someone as weak as him even affect me, she thought to herself.
Hammon, the boys and the other girls all approach Sylvie
Why do you look all gloomy and sad? It is not like you to look so depressed Sylvie, Hammon commented
you shoud definetly keep that look Sylvie, It looks good on you, Maria commented almost as if she was Jealous
Oh! come on Maria, we all know you are jealous of Sylvie but on a serious note keeping that look will make you look old though, Axel said as he proceeds to troll Sylvie
My!My! what do we have here? The cheerful, energetic Sylvie looking all depressed. Hm! I wonder what caused that but who cares it is only going to give us the edge in the tournament tomorrow hahaha!, said Lancelot in his typical egotiscal, snubby and prideful tone.
Hammon confronts Lancelot. As a fight between those two boys seemed imminent, Axel jumps in and stops the two boys
hey guys, this night is not a time for us to fight each other okay. We are supposed to have fun like allies this night and become enemies tomorrow. So throw away your dislike for each other and have fun afterall even I am not fighting, Axel said with his arms wrapped around the necks of the two boys.
you are right, they both exclaimed
Are you going to join us, Sylvie?, Hammon asked strecthing his hands for Sylvie to reach
Sylvie sighed almost as if she was tired of these people
Since you guys want me to join you so bad, it won't be bad to have at least one drink before the tournament tomorrow, Sylvie said as she accepts Hammons hand
The party proceeded to continue smoothly with everyone having fun and doing all sorts. As for Lancelot, well he was just being lancelot.
Just like that the night fades into the mist paving way for the Morning, The start of the tournament.