As a finishing touch for her preparations, Sofia put her crown atop her head and extended her hand, prompting her staff to co flying from the wall it had been propped up against.
I dont think Im forgetting anything.
Sofia unlocked her door, on her doorstep were five teachers having heated discussions. On one side Eternam and Zerei were speaking to each other in Avian, while on the other Astelia was speaking with a pair of Exidian twins who looked to be about the sa age.
[Mage - Lv. 199] [Warrior - Lv. 199]
Must be the Fencing and Archery teachers, theyre on the floor just above Astelia.
Is this the new trendy gathering spot for teachers? Sofia asked as nobody had even noticed her coming out of her ho.
Sofia! We were waiting for you, yes! Zerei answered, beaming. Thanks for telling Eternam was back! Were almost from the sa generation, can you believe that, yes?!
This was Zereis first ti finding another Avian alive ever since the end of her captivity, she knew about Eternam before Sofia told her about him but he hadnt co back to the academy yet when she had gone to check on him the first ti. It seed they had a great deal of things to talk about to each other. They kept speaking their weird Avian language all the way to the ceremony hall. Sofia took this ti to get to know the two twins who were exactly who she had guessed.
Ami and Umi were kids from the Empires lesser nobility, and their natural talent with martial weapons had landed them a job at the academy where they mainly took care of teaching the basics to every new student. They were a lively duo and despite being twins they were easy to differentiate, as Ami had very short hair and Umi very long hair tied in a ponytail. Sofia also learned at her own expense that they were very passionate about what they taught. She had made the mistake of showing her [Spine of the Black Sun] to Ami and the girl then spent the entire walk to the ceremony hall blabbering about how incredible invoked weapons were and showing Sofia the many different weapons she could summon as a [Spellsword].
The group advanced slowly through the academys halls and corridors; it was much more lively now than it had been a few days prior, with a lot of people running left and right. And the students arent even there yet.
Finally they made it to the ceremony hall. They entered through a service door on the top floor. From there they had a full view of the hundreds of students orderly entering the hall so twenty ters below, the main stage on which the teachers probably were at the very end of the hall was obscured by a smooth wall of roiling fog.
Thats a lot of students
The Academy is just that big though, so it makes sense, but thats still impressive. Between all the teachers and the students, this academy might as well be a military base.
Eternam took the lead, bringing the group through the fog wall which extended to the very top of the hall, on the other side was the main stage where Beryl was running around giving instructions and leading the arriving teachers to their respective spots.
Sofia expected to walk down the spiral staircase at the end of the walkways they were on but Eternam just jumped down over the guardrail and everyone followed.
Quickly eyeing the ten or so teachers who were already there, Sofia didnt notice anyone looking like the Jen she knew from her first trial. Most teachers were above level 300, with so under, Ami and Umi were the lowest level so far. There was a single human in the lot so far, a level 350 old-looking man with a short beard, round glasses and a long white robe, his nose buried in a thick book. Unsurprisingly, most teachers were Exidians.
Beryl was fast to co and tell everyone where they should stand. And lastly, Sofia will be third from the center on the right, she finished.
So close to the Emperor? Sofia asked.
Youre to be the counterpart to Jennifer on the left side for symtry. The placent is not so kind of ranking, were only managing the aesthetics here. The scene has to look grandiose to the students.
Im the counterpart for her?
I see. Its definitely who I think it is then. No wonder Zerei and Eternam are also opposite each other too with this kind of arrangent.
I wonder how high-level Jen must be by now. It should have been about a thousand years since the events of my first trial, will she be thrilled to find about her distant descendants? Thinking about it, its not too surprising that she survived, Duke Armand Skyreach must have survived too, considering the kingdom bears his na now.
Too bad Scripture fucked everything.
Maybe after I kill scripture Ill take over the country and the remains of Sovuln. Then Ill na it the Aurelian Kingdom. Doesnt that sound nice? I can probably have the support of the Red Winds Empire, Couvauz, Vasperia, and the elves. So politically its not too far-fetched to have my take-over be accepted. I dont know two shits about running a country, but surely I can find a skeleton for that by then
As Sofia daydread about stealing everything Scripture ever touched, the other teachers trickled in, and Jennifer Sellar eventually showed up.
Lords, its ten thousand percent her. She looks a bit older, like thirty-five maybe?
[Warrior - Lv. 400 ]
Sure did so growing. It seems she still likes light clothes. At least shes wearing shoes now.
Oh hey, looks like she noticed . Hi.
Sofia winked at Jennifer. The tall blonde warrior seed taken aback, which only made Sofia giggle. I do look a lot like her, there must be a lot going through her mind right now.
Were going to need to have a talk later.
Im getting to know more powerful old monsters than regular people now. If I was Scripture I would be shitting myself wondering what Dragon will co to cleanse . Hes lucky though, since I will co for him myself.
More and more teachers silently filled the rows until everything was ready. It was hard to keep track of everyone without moving from her spot, but Sofia was in for a surprise as a Saint appeared in the midst of the teachers on the other side of the stage.
[Saint - Lv. 539]
Fucking hell thats higher than Erredis!
It was a rather sinister looking man of a race Sofia knew nothing about. Looks like a scaly Orc, kind of. I never knew scales could be veiny. Maybe hes another shape-shifting Dragon?
What does this guy even teach and is anyone with the option to be in his class dumb enough to not take it?
If this guy is a Saint, does that an hes younger than the system? If so, TLDR has really been slacking with his levels. Hmm, no, thats not right, Erredis is a Saint too But not really? Does Erredis even have a system-given class?
Perhaps Sofia stared for a bit too long, the other Saint also turned to look at her. Sofia decided to wink to him too. Might as well go all the way and get to know all the powerful people I can.
All at once Sofia felt a huge pressure co down on her like a thousand moons dropped on her shoulders. It only lasted for an instant but it had been enough to almost make her collapse, the floor cracked under her feet and her bones cried in agony before the pressure was washed away by a system notification.
[You have been affected by : confusion. But your skills negated the status]
Brother Scribe, the floor fucking cracked, this was no re confusion!
The man smirked and stopped looking.
Acquaintance successful? Is trying to bully other Saints with status effects a regular thing for Saints or what? Valeure did the exact sa thing back then.
Honestly Im tempted to shower him with rot.
Ah, Beligenus is finally here.
The headmaster walked to the front of the stage and dispelled the fog wall separating the stage and the audience.
It only took Sofia a second to spot Sarias group in the sea of people, which wasnt too hard considering the students were mostly blue-skinned Exidians.
Beligenus cleared his throat, and the scenery of the hall changed from a regular auditorium to a floating platform in the sky among the clouds. Sofia wondered for an instant if it was teleportation but it did not feel like one. Through her mana senses she understood that this was actually nothing but a very convincing visual illusion.
Dear Students of Brighthall Academy, today, we co together to mark the beginning of yet another academic year, a ti for fresh beginnings and new opportunities. As your Headmaster, I stand before you, not rely as an administrator but as a guide on your journey through the realms of knowledge and personal growth.
But let this speech be different and shorter than usual. This year will be sothing special. Indeed, this year marks a significant milestone. Our esteed institution is celebrating the passing of its third millenia, and with it will co unprecedented changes and opportunities. And the greatest of them: a prize for the student who will stand as the best among you all, a treasure contributed by the Emperor himself!
A bright light shone from far above. The Emperor made his appearance.
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