After the dean's inspiring speech, the students were gathered in the grand courtyard under the open sky. Mingma and the other new entrants stood in orderly rows, waiting anxiously as instructors moved among them, calling out names. Today was the day they would be divided into the academy's four houses—each representing different ideals and strengths.
Standing before the students, an instructor stepped forward, a scroll in hand. "Listen well, new recruits," she announced. "The Royal Military Academy operates under the principle of competition. Each of you will be placed into one of four houses, each with its dormitory and unique identity. Your house is your team, your rivals, and your family within these walls. However, no position is fixed. Twice a year, you will have the opportunity to challenge students from higher-ranked houses to earn your place among the elite. This ensures that the strong rise, and the weak make way."
The crowd murmured with excitement and apprehension. Mingma remained calm, his analytical mind already turning over the implications.
The instructor continued, introducing the four houses:
House Ignis (The Flame Bearers): Known for their fiery determination and aggressive combat styles, this house favored students with explosive power and raw strength. Its emblem was a blazing phoenix, and its motto: "Burn brighter, rise stronger."
House Glacialis (The Frozen Vanguard): This house valued calm, discipline, and strategic thinking. Students here excelled in defensive tactics and precision. Its emblem was a snowflake-laden shield, with the motto: "Steadfast and unyielding."
House Ventus (The Stormcallers): Dynamic, adaptable, and fast, this house represented those who thrived on unpredictability and ingenuity. Its emblem was a swirling tornado, with the motto: "Harness the chaos, master the storm."
House Aetheris (The Celestial Striders): The most prestigious house, Aetheris admitted those with exceptional bloodlines or rare magical affinities. They were the dreamers, visionaries, and trailblazers. Its emblem was a radiant star, with the motto: "To ascend is to achieve eternity."
One by one, the students were assigned to their houses, based on their performance in the entrance trials. Mingma stood silently as names were called, his mind already analyzing the house characteristics.
When his name was finally called, the instructor paused briefly before declaring, "Mingma Rathore, House Ignis."
He stepped forward, joining the other newly assigned Ignis members. Mingma wasn't surprised; his performance in the jungle trial and his fire affinity likely influenced the decision. While House Aetheris might have seemed more fitting due to his gold affinity and bloodline, Mingma had no complaints. He viewed Ignis as the house of potential—a house for fighters, for survivors.
Once all the students were sorted, they were escorted to their respective dormitories. The dormitory of House Ignis was located on the southern side of the academy, its architecture exuding a fiery grandeur with crimson banners and blazing torches lighting the halls.
Inside, the students were shown their shared quarters. Each dorm room housed five students, encouraging teamwork and camaraderie. Mingma was assigned a room with four others, each vastly different in personality and background. This, he realized, was the first test of his adaptability—learning to coexist and even collaborate with strangers.
Later that evening, the instructor gathered all Ignis members in the dormitory's central hall. "Remember this," she said, her voice carrying the weight of authority. "Every six months, the academy holds the Dormitory Challenge. If you believe you are strong enough to move to a higher house, you may challenge one of its students to combat. Win, and you take their place. Lose, and you stay where you are—or worse. There is no mercy here, and no sentimentality. Prove your worth or be forgotten."
Mingma clenched his fists. The system was harsh, but it was fair in its own way. It was a meritocracy where only the strongest and most resourceful could thrive.
As the night settled over the academy, Mingma lay on his bunk, his mind racing. The division of houses was more than a way to organize students; it was a hierarchy that encouraged competition at every level. He thought back to the trials, to the gap between himself and students like Long tian. The road ahead would be brutal, but Mingma wasn't deterred.
His time in House Ignis would be his proving ground. He wasn't here just to survive—he was here to rise.