"Ding! Dong! Ding! Dong!"
The school bell rang, signaling that it was time to end the lesson as the teacher who stood in front of the class brought her teaching to a halt.
"That brings us to the close of our final lesson, class. I'm so proud that you'll be graduating tomorrow. I urge you all to prepare for the graduation exam tomorrow. You've been one of my best classes since I became a teacher in this school, and I have high hopes for you. Goodbye, see you tomorrow."
A female teacher with long blonde hair, adorned with blue eyes, dressed in a tight yet unrevealing office suit that exhibited her reluctant curves, said in a cheerful, sweet tone, expressing her level of joy and high hopes for her class.
The students seated, a total of twenty-five, waited for her to bring her encouraging words to a close before walking out of the classroom, which seemed like a normal class.
The only difference between that and a normal class was the strange stones fixed to the ceiling, illuminating and serving as a source of light for the night class.
As the students walked out, mutters could be heard emanating from them as they expressed their thoughts on finally graduating. They shared their high hopes for each other as they walked through the hallways, which were also lit up by the peculiar stones, heading toward a large statue that stood in the middle of their school.
After reaching its feet, they arranged themselves in a five-by-five manner, silence dominating the once enthusiastic crowd as they bowed their heads and closed their eyes. They started to recite what seemed to be a prayer, offering thanks to the statue of the god of creation as their bodies began to radiate colorless, bright auras that made them noticeable in the darkness of the night.
The prayer lasted a minute, and they scattered afterward, dividing into groups of boys and girls as they made their way to their dorms.
---
"Finally, the day has come. We now have the opportunity to be scouted by a guild. I hope one of the top guilds finds me a worthy talent. God of creation, please grant my wish."
One of the male students said with an enthusiastic tone as they walked out of their dorms, each dressed in their school uniform, which consisted of long black trousers and black long-sleeved shirts with a buttoned design from the neck downward.
They all had their swords neatly fixed in their scabbards, strapped to their waists. Among the enthusiastic crowd was a boy with snow-white hair that stood out from the rest of his class.
Even though different colored hair was a norm, his was distinct, as it always glowed faintly, making it easy to spot.
Apart from this outstanding feature, he also had eyes that seemed crimson from a distance, making him the hot guy on campus as all the girls drooled around him.
Even though he walked among his other classmates, who were all excited, he remained silent as he wore a blank face.
They walked for a while through the corridor, meeting up with the girls as they continued to make their way outside the school building.
"It's showtime!" one of the boys exclaimed as they opened the door leading outside the building.
They were met by a bustling crowd, all dressed in the school uniform, cheering for them as they were all excited for that day's event.
The school had been exceptionally decorated for the event, with balloons, flowers, and several other ornaments visible at every angle.
"All our hard work is finally paying off, ain't I right, Crim?"
A girl with blue hair and silver eyes, wearing the girls' uniform, said as she moved closer to the expressionless boy now identified as Crimson. This was the name given to him by his classmates due to his eyes, but since she was exceptionally close to him, she had the privilege of shortening it.
She wore the female uniform, which consisted of the same long-sleeved top with a black mini-skirt that covered enough, also bearing a sword neatly strapped to her waist.
"Oh, it's you, Mia," he replied in an emotionless tone, shifting his gaze to look at the girl who had held his hand and rested her head on his shoulder as they walked, showcasing the kind of relationship they were in.
Mia was his lifelong friend and the only person he was comfortable around, while to her, he was her boyfriend, unaware of how Crimson viewed the situation.
The crowd of classmates seemed unbothered by their actions since most of them also walked in the same postures.
"Act as if you're glad I'm here for once, Crim," she said, looking at him with a cute expression that was supposed to convey annoyance.
"But I am," he replied, still bearing an expressionless face.
In a matter of minutes, they reached their destination, which was a coliseum, its capacity maxed out with spectators who weren't only students but also parents and journalists.
The reserved VIP stand was also filled with dignitaries, including kings, headmasters of other schools, and the guild masters of various popular guilds.
They all waited, eager to witness the show of power by the graduates of the greatest school on the continent.
As the crowd in the coliseum bustled, the contestants for the tournament, specifically Crimson's class, went into their changing room to gear up and prepare for their various fights.
"Crim, remember that no matter what, we're to be in the same guild, right?" Mia said in a determined tone. Crimson nodded in agreement to her words, showing a hint of determination in his eyes that lasted a second before they split up into their changing rooms.
As they prepared, their school principal, an old man with gray hair and a beard, also dressed in the men's uniform, kicked off the ceremony. They all stood up afterward, offering their prayers to the god of creation before announcing the first contestant.