A tense silence hung in the air, broken only by whispers and murmurs. Slowly, emotions began to spill into the crowd.
Some students groaned in frustration, bitterly muttering about how close they'd been. Others let out cries of disbelief, a few clapped politely for the newly announced Top 10, while others crossed their arms and sulked, their eyes narrowing with envy.
Adrian and Aiden stood near the edge of the clearing, catching their breath from their trek through the forest.
Adrian grinned as he elbowed Aiden. "Ninth and tenth. Not bad for our first day. Guess we make a pretty good team, huh?"
"And here I thought we won't make it to the cut. The troll did us a good one."
"The following students are hereby announced as the Top 10 of Genvah Academy's first-year students, as determined by their performance during the forest trials. Rankings and points are as follows. Please step forward when your name is called."
"First place: Emmeranne – 347 points."
The figure in a dark cloak stepped forward, her black wavy hair framing her features. Her dark brown eyes swept over the crowd with quiet disdain.
"Second place: Shiloh Spadille – 165 points."
The boy in the crimson robe strode forward with an air of superiority, his long black hair tied neatly behind him. Shiloh's angular features and sharp eyes gleamed with self-assurance, and a faint, mocking smile tugged at the corners of his lips. His gaze scanned the crowd, pausing briefly on Adrian and Aiden before moving on.
At this, the boys both rolled their eyes.
"Third place: Ammonn Lot – 142 points."
A tall, dark-skinned boy emerged from the crowd, his black hair styled in tight coils. He smiled at the others before taking his place beside Shiloh.
"Fourth place: Jana Hanako – 142 points."
A girl with sleek, straight black hair walked forward gracefully, her grey eyes cold and calculating. She wore a kimono-style outfit that swayed as she moved, and her katana hung loosely at her side.
"Fifth place: Sevan Wasterfall – 137 points."
Sevan, the cheerful blonde with wavy hair and sunkissed skin, stepped forward with a friendly grin. His relaxed demeanor was a stark contrast to the tension in the air, and he waved lightly at the students behind him.
"Sixth place: Amihan – 137 points."
A pale girl with white hair and purple eyes emerged from the crowd. Amihan moved like a ghost, silent and ethereal, her expression blank and unreadable. Her long, flowing hair shimmered under the sunlight, like she was made out of air itself.
"Seventh place: Jarek Guerra – 131 points."
Jarek, a towering figure with muscles to match his height, stepped forward with a commanding stride. His dyed blue-green hair contrasted sharply with his dark green eyes, and the massive mace strapped to his back was a clear statement of his strength.
"Eighth place: Morrigan Wilder – 131 points."
Morrigan, with her golden blonde hair cut neatly at her shoulders, stepped forward with an energetic bounce, her bright smile contagious.
"Ninth place: Adrian Caleena – 122 points."
Adrian nudged Aiden before walking up the front with a big grin on his face. He adjusted his leather jacket, his scratched and worn appearance only adding to his roguish charm. His hair, styled in his half-up, half-down look, was still slightly damp from the earlier plunge.
"Tenth place: Aiden – 122 points."
Aiden followed closely behind Adrian, his composed and serious demeanor contrasting with Adrian's laid-back attitude.
The voice continued as the Top 10 lined up in front of the other students.
"These students are now designated as the Top 10 for first-year students. However, this list is subject to immediate change. Any student may challenge a Top 10 member to a one-on-one duel to claim or defend their position."
The crowd buzzed with murmurs, shock and intrigue rippling through the students.
"To ensure fairness, the Top 10 placements will also be re-evaluated every two months through a round-robin competition. This will determine the rightful rankings among the Top 10."
Adrian leaned toward Aiden. "Looks like we're not done proving ourselves."
"Now, we shall begin the cleansing process."
A sudden light flared at the centre of the crowd. It started as a faint glow, but within seconds, it expanded, spilling outward in a wave of golden brilliance. Gasps and murmurs filled the hall as the light reached every student, wrapping around them like a cocoon.
Aiden froze as the warm, weightless energy enveloped him. He glanced down, watching in disbelief as the light wove around his body, pulsing with a rhythmic hum. The sharp sting of the gash on his stomach, which had been nagging at him since their fight in the forest, ebbed away as though it had never existed. His hand instinctively moved to the spot, but where there had been blood-soaked fabric and raw pain, there was now smooth, unbroken skin.
Around him, other students experienced the same transformation. Clothes that had been ripped and stained were seamlessly mended, their fabrics gleaming as if freshly made. Even their shoes, scuffed and muddy from the trek through the forest, shone as though untouched by dirt.
Adrian's leather jacket, which had sported a deep tear across the sleeve, looked brand new, its black surface polished and unscathed. He held his arm up, inspecting it with a raised eyebrow.
"Oh thank the gods my leather jacket is fixed," Adrian muttered, reciting a prayer.
"Once again, welcome to Genvah Academy. The brightest paths are lit by those brave enough to follow the sun."
A collective hush fell over the group, as if the weight of those words was pressing down on them.
For a moment, the only sound was the rustling of the wind through the tall oaks that lined the path ahead. Then, with a groan that seemed to reverberate in their bones, the gates began to creak open.
Beyond the heavy iron bars lay the vast courtyard, paved with smooth cobblestones that gleamed faintly in the sunset. The roar of cascading waterfalls surrounded the academy like a hymn of nature, the mist catching glimmers of light that danced in the air.
The students stood gathered just inside the gates, eyes wide with awe and anticipation. The academy towered above them, its golden-accented spires piercing the sky.
For most, this was their first glimpse of the place that would shape their futures, the place they had dreamed of reaching.
But as wonder filled the air, a sound shattered it like glass.
Clang. Clink. Drag.
"Did you hear that?" Aiden asked.
Adrian replied, "No, I don't. Wait... hold on. I'm hearing something... yeah..."
The noise came from further down the path, growing louder with every passing second. It was a harsh, metallic sound, like chains being dragged across stone.
The students froze.
Slowly, their attention turned toward the source of the noise. Emerging from the shadows of the forest was a figure so large and imposing that he seemed to belong to a world of myths and nightmares.
The man stood nearly seven feet tall, his massive frame clad in a dark jacket that barely contained his bulging muscles. Every inch of him exuded power, from the scars crisscrossing his weathered face to the way his broad shoulders moved with a predator's grace. But what drew everyone's attention and fear was the weapon he dragged behind him.
Two massive iron spheres, each as large as a human head, were connected by thick, rusted chains. The bolas scraped against the cobblestones, leaving faint grooves in their wake. Each clink of the chains seemed to reverberate in the students' chests.
Some of the smaller students immediately ducked behind their taller peers, their eyes wide with a mixture of terror and awe. Whispers broke out among the crowd.
"Who is he?"
"Is he... one of the teachers?"
"Is he going to kill us?"
"Holy shit... that thing's bigger than your head..." Adrian muttered to Aiden.
"Good thing yours bigger with all that ego inflating your head."
Adrian snorted.
The man stopped just before the open gates, his gaze sweeping over the gathered students. When he finally spoke, his voice was a booming growl, as if the very stones beneath his feet were compelled to listen.
"Well, aren't you all a delightful bunch?" he boomed, his voice deep but shockingly cheerful. "Fresh faces, wide eyes, trembling knees—it's like watching a litter of pups trying to figure out how to bark!"
A few nervous chuckles escaped the crowd, but most of the students remained silent, uncertain whether he was joking or mocking them. He clapped his massive hands together, the sound like a thunderclap.
"First-years!" he declared, his tone now sharp as steel. "I am Bernard Carp, your teacher for Physical Education. You may call me Sir Bernard, not that professor crap. Or, if you're feeling particularly bold, Bernard." He winked, though it felt more like a warning than an invitation.
"I don't think anyone would even dare call him by his first name..." Adrian muttered.
He hefted the bolas into the air, swinging the massive iron spheres with an ease that defied their weight. The chains rattled ominously as the spheres spun in a slow, deliberate circle.
Aiden inched closer to Adrian instinctively.
"Now, let's get one thing straight," he continued, his tone turning darker, though his grin never wavered. "This place? It's not just a school. It's not a sanctuary. It's a forge. And you?" He pointed the bolas toward the group, the chains jangling like a predator's growl and the crowd of students stepped backward like they're afraid he'd go swinging his bolas. "You are the raw metal. Some of you will be shaped into blades so sharp you'll cut through mountains. And the rest of you?"
He let the bolas crash to the ground with a deafening clang. The students flinched as the sound echoed around them.
"Well not every lump of iron survives the heat, now does it?"
A nervous silence followed his words, broken only by the faint rustle of the wind. Bernard let the moment hang, then clapped his hands again, his grin somehow even wider.
"Ah, but don't look so grim!" he said brightly. "I'm not here to scare you. Well, not only to scare you. I'm here to help you survive, thrive, and maybe even enjoy the process! Trust me, you'll love it here. Or hate it. Either way, you'll learn something."
He began pacing in front of the crowd, the bolas dragging behind him once more.
"Genvah Academy isn't for the faint-hearted. It's for the brave. The determined. The ones who laugh in the face of danger and spit in the face of death. If you don't think you have it in you, well... don't worry." He turned to face them again, his grin fading slightly, replaced by a more serious expression. "We'll find out soon enough."
He waved a hand toward the towering main entrance of the academy, its golden-tipped spires gleaming in the sunset.
"Now, follow me, little pups," he said, his cheerful tone returning as he started toward the doors. "Let's see what you're made of."
The students hesitated for only a moment before shuffling forward, their steps uneven as they tried to keep up with his long strides. Bernard's whistling echoed behind him, a jaunty, almost mocking tune that felt strangely out of place in the grandeur of the courtyard.
As they approached the grand entrance, the academy's beauty became even more breathtaking. The golden accents glimmered brighter now, tracing along the arches and carved details like veins of light. The cascading waterfalls framed the academy in a shimmering mist, while the statues of winged creatures flanking the entrance seemed to watch them, their eyes glowing faintly.
Sir Bernard stopped at the base of the massive doors and turned to face the group one last time. His grin returned, equal parts ominous and inviting.
"This is it," he said, his voice quieter now, though no less commanding. "The place where your stories begin. Welcome to Genvah Academy, where legends are forged... and where those who fall are forgotten. Try not to be one of the latter, will you?"
With that, he pushed open the grand doors, and the students stepped inside.