The Empire of Aetherion
Emperium Capital City Elaris inside Arkanveil Academy
The sun blazed high above a colossal stone coliseum, its golden rays dancing across steel blades, polished armor, and robes stitched with threads of gold. The air thrummed with nervousness and excitement, as if the sky itself held its breath in anticipation.
The colossal structure, circular and ancient a symbol of history and pride. Tens of thousands of eyes peered down from the gallery above, the stands packed with nobles, scholars, knights, and spectators from across the continent.
This was the Academy of Arkanveil, the most prestigious magic and combat academy in the known world. And today marked the first trial: the Gate of Worth, the symbolic tradition of Arkanveil Academy for the entrance test.
Below the crowd, on the wide white-stone arena floor elegant yet strong stood thousands of youths. Candidates from every kingdom, house, and caste. They were the next generation of heroes, bigshots or so they hoped. Boys and girls, some no older than sixteen, some nearing twenty, stood in clusters, chatting among themselves, a blend of excitement, nervousness, seriousness, and every kind of emotion. Some even bore faces of fear and worry, as if this might be their last day.
There were those clad in brilliant robes of house colors, crests stitched proudly into their sleeves. Many bore weapons blades, halberds etched with runes some stood with none, yet their bodies hummed with mana. Each one of them had a story, a family, a background that either screamed nobility or whispered ambition.
Nobles stood in clusters, noses in the air, murmuring among themselves, casting disdainful glances at those in simpler clothes or without family crests. Commoners, by contrast, kept their distance yet the ambition in their eyes burned brighter than any noble's. Their eyes held hunger, but also a dark, eerie aura, as if they had long since said their goodbyes and accepted that they may not return.
Though nobles and high-standing candidates started whispering among themselves
"Did you hear? The heirs of all top four families are joining the academy this year too!"
"Are you utterly devoid of sense? Who could possibly be ignorant of that? Is that even a question worthy of asking?" one noble scoffed sharply only to be silenced by another, likely of higher rank."
"No, it's three duke houses, you imbecile. The Virelan heiress is already well into her fourth year."
"Just look up at the crowd above. That alone tells you everything," his gaze drifted upward, toward the stands packed with nobles like spectators.
From below, they gulped as they looked up.
High above the crowd, built into the stone walls of the arena itself, were five grand viewing chambers, spaced equally as if their placement had been carefully considered. The center one was the largest, radiating its higher standing and respect.
The five chambers, visible to all, were for the Four Duke Families. The highest, even slightly elevated compared to the others, belonged to the Royal Family.
Royal guards stood in front like stone statues strong, unmoving, radiating a powerful aura. Each chamber bore house flags, fluttering in the wind.
The Royal House sat at the center, its crest a divine crown and two swords gleaming under the sun.
Flanking it were the Four Grand Duke Houses, each cloaked in their own majesty
The shifting illusions of Virelan
The blazing heat of Drakenvyr
The blooming spirit vines of Faerelith
And the radiant glow of Luminus
"Yeah, look at the Royal Knights in the stands. I think the Royal Princess might be joining the academy this year too. If not, I don't think the family would've sent their Royal representatives and even the Royal Guards," one whispered, gulping. "This might be the first time in history since the academy's founding heirs from all Four Duke Families and the Royal Family in one academy."
"That's... scary. But still, I don't get it why are they even joining the Academy Trial Test? As far as I know, people like them get directly admitted to the highest classes. What's the point?" another candidate asked, a little nervous.
"Obviously, genius, it's precisely because they want to prove who stands first. It's a race a contest to determine the victor. Though I doubt the Royal Princess will take part, the rivalry among the four Duke Houses is certain to unfold."
"Since the Virelan family's heiress is already in her fourth year, the competition will likely be among the three remaining Duke Households. That might also explain why it won't be a fully-fledged contest perhaps even why the patriarchs themselves aren't present. If all four houses were involved, this would have been a much grander affair. That's probably why only these representatives showed up."
They all were discussing this, but a little far from them, in an almost conspicuous place away from the crowd, stood a figure in a black robe, covering him from head to toe. His face couldn't be seen, hidden by the long robe draped over his head, but if someone gave him enough attention, they would notice his pale-looking appearance and sharp features, with dark black obsidian eyes with depth so deep anyone would feel like they'd sink just by looking into them and dark royal purple-blue colored hair.
He was silently standing on the side, just a plain face, as if he was unable to show any of his emotions in any condition by itself, like it was permanent. But inside, he was sighing, just wanting to shake his head.
[Tsk tsk, host... this seems more like an event made just for you. Just how a perfect villain should enter, huh? Who else can have an aura like yours? Just look all the higher-ups somehow connected to you...]
[Your ex-fiancée, the royal princess herself, is here tsk tsk. Your elder sister, Mirellia Virelan, who hates you to the core tsk tsk. The protagonist, the golden sun of this world, your fated and eternal enemy the one destined to kill you Aeron Drakenvyr tsk tsk. And of course, how could we ever forget your childhood friend who accused you of rape Selene Luminus... Ohh, she's also a saintess now too tsk tsk.]
[You really are the ideal villain, host. I'm proud of you enemy of the strongest empire in the world, with all four duke families and even the royal family stacked against you tsk tsk.]