The next morning, everyone lined up, the new top sixty students in the front, Rethrus leading the pack as their representation.
The other mages were clustered behind them, their hushed conversations a symphony of nervous excitement.
Rylan, standing alone in a corner, watched the ceremony unfold, a bitter taste of loss settling in his mouth. He remembered a time when he had dreamed of being in their shoes, but his dreams had been shattered by his failures. A single tear escaped, tracing a lonely path down his cheek.
'Wow! It's so big,' a random guy exclaimed, his eyes wide with awe.
'Yes, this is the start of making a name for ourselves,' murmurs echoed through the crowd.
"Hey look, at the other students on the front, dammit if I just try harder I could've been there," an orange-haired guy bragged, his voice laced with a tinge of bitterness.
As the ceremony began, the trumpets blared, announcing the arrival of the Generals.
First, General Jean strode into the courtyard. Her silver armor gleamed under the morning light, and her piercing blue eyes scanned the crowd with an unyielding gaze.
She exuded an aura of authority, a warrior queen whose power was undeniable. The boys fell silent, their eyes fixed on her with admiration.
"Wow, she's so pretty and strong, as they say," some of the boys whispered.
"I would marry her," Jack declared, his voice filled with a mixture of awe and bravado.
Rina, who sat beside him, splashed water on his face, her expression unreadable.
"Why did you do that for?" Jack protested, his voice rising in anger. Haldrin and Hans restrained him.
"Just let it slide, Jack," Hans advised.
"Don't be a dog." Rina snapped.
"Sheesh" Elizabeth said with a smile, her tone both amused and calming.
Jack, reprimanded by Elizabeth, settled back down, his eyes still lingering on General Jean.
Next came General Slade, his entrance a stark contrast to General Jean's. He walked with a swagger, a confident smile on his face.
"I've heard that you can't hurt him," Aethra said to Rethrus, a hint of curiosity in his voice.
"Why?" Rethrus asked, his eyebrows raised.
"He's basically a fire, like he can turn himself into fire," Aethra explained.
Rethrus pondered this for a moment. "Huh, he's basically like the pirate in the Manga I read back then," he thought.
Slade, about to take his seat, was interrupted by a deafening shriek that echoed across the courtyard.
"AHHHHHHHHHHHHH!"
The girls were screaming.
Slade's face contorted into a grimace as he watched Chan perform his grand entrance. His expression, always a mask of controlled power, betrayed a hint of annoyance. He loathed the theatrics.
"Arghhh, that guy," Slade muttered under his breath.
It was General Chan, his dark green hair a striking contrast to the other Generals. He walked with a swagger, his eyes twinkling with mischief. The girls' screams only intensified.
Chan stopped, his eyes sweeping across the crowd. He blew a flying kiss, sending the girls into a frenzy of excitement.
"ARGHHH, hate that guy," Slade thought, his face a study in annoyance.
"Wow, he's actually handsome," some of the boys thought, their eyes reflecting the same admiration that the girls felt.
Chan, with a mischievous glint in his eyes, smirked at Slade's annoyance.
"Can't handle a little bit of fun, General?" he teased.
"Besides, it's good to keep the troops happy."
Slade, unable to resist Chan's playful provocation, rolled his eyes.
"You really dye your hair for this, huh?" he said, his voice dripping with sarcasm.
Chan, undeterred, simply shrugged. "Come on, I'm just making them happy."
He threw another flying kiss to the screaming girls. "It's all about keeping the morale high," he added with a wink.
The shouting still continued as General Ezekiel arrived, the tall, dark, and handsome prince of Starling Kingdom, a figure who commanded attention with his regal bearing and piercing blue eyes.
"Ackkkk, he's more handsome than Prince Ezra," some of the girls shouted, their voices filled with admiration.
Prince Ezra, standing in the back of the line, watched the scene unfold with a mixture of resentment and envy.
He'd never been one to covet attention, but seeing the adulation given to his rival, he couldn't help but feel a pang of envy. It was a reminder of the position he'd always held, forever in the shadow of his brother.
As the crowd fell silent, anticipation hung thick in the air. The Supreme General, the leader of their kingdom, was about to appear.
"I've heard he never lost a battle," whispered one student.
"Yeah, he's the strongest in the East," another said, his voice filled with awe.
"But he's old," a third student muttered.
"He's the hero of Greenvale. One of the great battles in our kingdom," a voice from the crowd chimed in.
Rethrus, listening to the murmurs, couldn't help but feel a sense of excitement.
He'd heard whispers of this legendary warrior, a man who had won every battle he'd ever fought. He might be the one.
A red-haired guy, standing behind Rina, bowed his head, his shoulders slumped with sorrow.
"HAHAHAH"
a loud laughter erupted, and the students turned to see Marco, the Red Rock Valtoria. His red hair, now streaked with gray, still commanded attention.
"Nah, he's old already," someone murmured.
"But he's still buff and formed," another said, their voices filled with a mixture of amusement and respect.
As the king prepared for his entrance, General Marco, with a practiced air of authority, stood up, his eyes scanning the crowd.
"Everyone," he boomed, his voice resonating with power.
"The king is coming. All of you, KNEEL!"
The students, taken aback by his command, dropped to their knees, their bodies obeying the unspoken power that emanated from Marco.
"Obbbbbb," a collective gasp echoed across the courtyard.
"What is this? I can't stand up. It's like something is pulling me," Rethrus thought, a wave of disorientation washing over him.
General Marco, a master of earth magic, had just demonstrated one of his most powerful techniques,
"Gaia's Grasp." The ground beneath their feet had shifted, pulling them down with an invisible force. It was as if the earth itself had become a living entity, obeying Marco's command. A chill ran down Rethrus's spine as he realized the true extent of Marco's power.
"Is that one of his techniques?" murmurs of shock and amazement rippled through the crowd.
As the pressure was gone, the students suddenly understood how powerful this person was. All hail King Darrios Starling The 4th. The trumpets blared, and the crowd erupted into cheers. The royal family took their places in the center, Queen Mildred and Princess Elaina capturing the attention of the boys.
"Woah, she's too beautiful," some of the boys whispered, their eyes fixed on the Princess.
"Damn, I wish I could marry her."
Rethrus, his eyes scanning the crowd, was struck by Princess Elaina's beauty.
"Wow, so that's Princess Elaina." he thought.
"She's so beautiful. But Elizabeth is still the prettiest, though," he added, a small smile playing on his lips.
On the upper right part of the stadium, we can see some noble men and women watching the ceremony. On the left are high-ranked mages, wizards, and witches. Also, guild masters were present, eager to spot new talents.
"Hmmmm, that young man at the front is having so much immense Mana," one of the guild masters said, his eyes focused on Rethrus.
"He can be a good Warlock, if you asked me," a witch chimed in.
The King stood up, his presence commanding silence.
"It's time for the speech," a voice whispered.
"Good day everyone," the King began, his voice booming through the stadium. "Especially for our future heroes. I am here to tell you that you are wasting your life."
The atmosphere in the stadium shifted, a palpable sense of unease settling over the crowd. Rethrus, and the other students felt a chill run down their spines.
"Here, you can lose your arms," the King continued, his voice laced with a grim determination. "The ability to walk, or even think straight. Here, you'll lose your beauty, and you'll be stressed. And here, you'll lose your life."
The students sat in silence, the King's words echoing in their minds. He was right. They were naive to think that the war would be a game.
"BUT!" the King roared, his voice rising to a crescendo. "We are born into this world with a power in our hands. And what should we do with it?
"Magic was given to us to defend ourselves!" He shouted, his voice booming through the stadium, "And our family, our friends, and our land!"
"Ohhhhhh!" The students responded, a collective gasp rising from the crowd.
"And someone out there is trying to get what's ours!!!!" Darrios roared, his eyes blazing with fury. "Do you all want that?"
"NOO!!!!" the students shouted back, their voices a unified chorus of defiance.
"Now then, it's time to start your training to become the heroes this kingdom needs!" The King declared.
"Ohhhhhhh!" The crowd erupted into cheers, their spirits lifted by the King's words.
"Protect this kingdom, and this kingdom will take care of you!" the King's last words echoed through the stadium, inspiring the students to fight for their homeland.
"That's the king for you," Slade said, a grudging respect in his voice.
"Oh my, the morale of these young mages is at an all-time high," General Chan said with a seductive smirk. He threw a wink in the direction of the screaming girls.
"Wow, that's the king for you," Jack echoed, his voice filled with admiration.
Rethrus nodded, a sense of wonder washing over him.
"Even I'm convinced," he thought. "Never thought leaders could be that impactful. Especially how the world leaders in my old world were so corrupt and unjust, and didn't even have credentials to be a leader. Anyways, I have to stop thinking about it."
"Now let the big banquet begin!" the King declared, his voice echoing through the stadium.
"Yeyyyyyy!" the students shouted, their excitement reaching a fever pitch.
"But where to eat?" they wondered, their eyes scanning the courtyard for tables and chairs.
As confusion spread through the crowd, General Chan stepped forward.
"Your Highness, lemme do the preparation," he said, bowing gracefully to the King.
"Sure, sure," the King replied, engaging in a conversation with General Marco.
General Chan then descended to the level of the young mages. The girls screamed, their voices a chorus of adoration. The boys watched in amazement, their eyes reflecting the charm and power that Chan exuded.
"Can you step aside, all of you?" Chan asked, his smile as dazzling as his green hair.
"AHHHHHHHH," the girls screamed, some gasping for breath.
"Hey, call a healer!" a random girl shouted.
General Slade watched the scene unfold, his expression a mixture of annoyance and begrudging admiration. He knew that Chan's charm could be a powerful weapon, a weapon that could disarm even the most hardened of hearts.
"Arghhh, that four-eyes," Slade muttered, grinding his teeth.
"HAHAHA, just relax there, Slade," General Jean said, placing a hand on his shoulder, a playful twinkle in her eye.
"Hmmm, there's like so many of you," Chan said, his eyes scanning the crowd.
Chan raised his hand, and his fingers pulsed with a gentle green light. From the air, thick, sturdy wooden tables and chairs materialized, arranged in an elegant formation, as if conjured from thin air. The students gasped in awe, their eyes wide with wonder.
"Wow, the students are in awe. Did he create this out of nothing? the students thought.
It's called Conjuration magic.
Narrator: Conjuration magic is a powerful and versatile form of magic that allows a mage to create something from nothing. It requires a deep understanding of the elements and the ability to manipulate them on a fundamental level. Conjuration mages can create a wide range of objects, from simple tools and weapons to elaborate structures and even living beings. The magic can be incredibly complex, requiring years of study and practice to master.
However, a conjurer can only create objects that are based on their chosen element. A fire mage can conjure flames, a water mage can conjure water, and so on.
"So that's a General for you, huh?" Rethrus thought, a mixture of awe and disbelief washing over him.
"I wonder if we can reach their level?" Jack asked, his voice filled with admiration.
"I will," Aethra thought, a fierce determination burning in his eyes.
As the food was being prepared, a knight approached Rethrus.
"Uhm, Sir, the King wants to see you and the other two," he said, pointing to Aethra and Leo.
The other people at the table were filled with awe and envy for them.
Their friends, however, were happy for them.
"Damnit, even the King wants to see them?" Haldrin said, his voice laced with frustration.
"That should have been you, Jasper," Julian whispered to his little brother, a hint of disappointment in his tone.
As they walked towards the King, Aethra saw how Leo was walking second to Rethrus. Aethra fell into step beside Leo, a subtle nod of acknowledgement passing between them. He had accepted his position as the second strongest, but that didn't mean he wasn't driven to improve. He would rise to the top, even if it took him longer.
Rethrus's heart pounded in his chest. He'd always been a bit of an introvert, but suddenly being thrust into the spotlight felt both exhilarating and terrifying. He had a lot to prove, especially to himself.
Leo, walking alongside Aethra, felt a surge of pride. He knew he was overshadowed by Rethrus and Aethra, but he wouldn't be content to remain in their shadow. He had his own strengths, his own ambitions.
He would prove himself worthy of respect.
The other students watched them walk towards the King, their faces a mixture of surprise and envy. It was clear that Rethrus, Aethra, and Leo were destined for greatness.