15. Entrance Ceremony
On the morning of the entrance ceremony, Emma woke up to the sound of the Luminous College bell.
Dressed in their robes, the new students formed lines and headed toward the central plaza. There, the grand floating hall known as Celestium awaited them, radiating a brilliant glow.
The plaza was overflowing with first-year students. As Emma stood in line with her fellow Luminous College students, she gently adjusted the hem of her robe. Around her, other students whispered excitedly, a mix of anticipation and nerves in their voices.
"Where is the human freshman? I’ll make sure he or she doesn't last here. I can’t believe a human is actually attending Arcana Academy of Magic."
The words came from right behind her, making Emma instinctively shrink back.
"Hey, keep your voice down!"
Another voice sharply cut in, silencing the first.
Emma turned to look and saw two boys standing behind her, dressed in robes from another college. One of them had a defiant smirk, while the other remained calm, stepping in to restrain him.
"What? I’m just stating the truth."
The defiant boy muttered, looking irritated.
"Don’t you understand that words like that can hurt someone?"
The calm one stepped forward, his gaze sharp as he stared down the other boy.
For a moment, the noise in the plaza faded, and all eyes turned toward him. He had striking crimson hair and piercing golden eyes, exuding an air of nobility. Whispers quickly spread through the crowd.
"That’s Kai from the Faldion family...!"
"For real?"
Emma’s eyes widened at the name. Kai Faldion—descendant of an ancient noble lineage and already considered a legend in the magical world.
"One’s birth or bloodline doesn’t determine what’s right in the world of magic."
Kai continued, his voice calm but unwavering.
"This is a place where effort and talent are nurtured. If you can’t understand that, then leave now."
The defiant boy clenched his jaw, shifting his gaze away in frustration. The noise in the plaza gradually returned, but Kai’s commanding presence lingered.
For a brief moment, Kai glanced at Emma and offered her a gentle smile.
Soon, the professors—representatives of each college—arrived to lead the students to the floating grand hall, Celestium. A staircase of light slowly appeared in the air, and the students stepped onto it one by one.
Walking alongside Sophia, Emma ascended the majestic staircase. Clouds drifted beneath their feet, and the vast plaza spread far below them. "I can’t believe a place like this exists..." she murmured in awe.
Inside Celestium, the atmosphere was dreamlike, as if they had stepped into a starry sky. Glowing inscriptions adorned the walls, and the ceiling stretched endlessly, resembling the night sky. The new students took their seats, grouped by college.
Then, an elderly wizard stepped onto the stage and addressed them in a gentle voice.
"New students, welcome to Arcana Academy of Magic. We have long upheld the traditions of ancient magic while embracing the future. We welcome those who will help shape it."
When the ceremony ended, the students descended the floating staircase and returned to their respective colleges. As Emma walked toward the dormitory, her heart was still racing with excitement.
