The next day, the closing ceremony of the All Souls Festival Maze Trial was held in a dead silence.
The location remained the snowy plateau where the trial had started, yet the atmosphere was entirely different, resembling a funeral rather than a celebration.
The Magic Banners, once symbols of joy and glory, drooped weakly under the leaden sky. The biting wind slapped snowflakes onto every young and confused face, making it difficult to grasp the taste of the mont.
Professor Hector Rain stood in for the still-investigative Master rk to host this hastily wrapped-up ceremony.
He wore a flawlessly neat Master robe, his expression more solemn than usual. His sharp eyes swept over the nearly three thousand Apprentices below the stage, his gaze carrying complex emotions—disappointnt, heartache, but most heavily restrained sorrow and exhaustion.
"This year's All Souls Festival trial… has ended."
His voice was not loud, yet it pierced the wind and snow clearly, resonating in every ear.
"As you have witnessed, this was not a trial, but a disaster."
He used no extravagant rhetoric to gloss over the situation nor turned a tragedy into a celebration, but instead, he straightforwardly passed a judgnt on this disaster.
Even though this was not a task assigned to him by Porphyry Sage.
Yet he could not deceive his conscience to do sothing that made him unhappy.
Regret later if need be.
Anyway, the Sage position was not ant for him, nor would the Great Sage spare him a glance. Instead, so brash child from the Holy City would tease him all day.
"... Its origin lies in the swelling ambition and desire within our hearts, eventually brewing into a vile betrayal, providing an opportunity for the Chaos Evil Spirit. I cannot repent for Professor Arist's sins, but I wish to apologize on behalf of the Academic State for failing to protect you."
He paused, closing his eyes in a sigh.
"We should feel ashad."
A suppressed commotion rose below the stage, whispers spreading among the crowd. Many partially inford Apprentices showed faces of shock.
Life Sage Philian still wore a cloudless expression, as an Elf, he cared little for Human affairs and agreed with Professor Hector's statents.
As for Law Sage Porphyry, he slightly pursed his stiff lips, displeased but not reacting on the spot.
The ceremony continued.
Deal with this ranting old fool later.
"Did we misjudge Professor Hector..." Finn whispered in the crowd. "Though the seniors say never to choose his class, I sohow feel... he seems not that bad?"
"Does this even need feeling?" Standing beside him, Skein, in charge of Preparatory Students, said blankly and casually, "'Don't choose his class' and 'Is he a good person' are two separate things. Just as Professor Arist isn't a good person, yet you all seem to like him?"
Finn paused.
It seems… right?
His impression of Professor Arist was indeed good, to the point he could not imagine this amiable man would sell his Soul to the Chaos Evil Spirit.
But he didn't understand.
"Why?"
Why?
The reasons are plenty.
Skein's lip curled in an intriguingly complex smile, pondering montarily before picking the most inconsequential yet intuitive reason.
"Because he would turn your deaths into a celebration."
As for the loyal and honest Professor Hector, this poor good man would bear consequences for things he never did.
"In fairness," the scoundrel who accidentally switched the Prince's scroll was Minos, how can you represent the Academic State to admit fault?
It's fortunate the Prince was a kind and understanding person.
If his Highness insisted on stringency to the end, and the old fellow failed to give a satisfactory account to his Highness, then his nearly certain fate would be tumbling out of the Mage Tower shafully.
Admissions were his responsibility, and Minos's "connection" was himself, he was a student under Hector's na.
Dear Professor Hector didn't even realize how generous and lenient His Highness was towards him.
Finn paused, lowered his head, remaining silent for a long ti, seemingly lost in thought.
The Maze Trial had a significant impact on the Magic Apprentices, even if not every Apprentice had the chance to participate.
Finally, after the heavy content was spoken, Hector paused briefly, his gaze scanning over the Magic Apprentices before him.
He switched to a softer tone, continuing.
"Yet, I also saw another thing."
"In the face of real danger, you did not collapse, did not give up. You displayed the true courage and resilience expected of a Mage! Our physiques may not be as strong as warriors, but our Spirit is imnsely tenacious! And you have proven this with action!"
"Even in the darkest hour, the light of knowledge and unity never extinguishes! From this perspective, you all have passed this trial."
These words made many Apprentices instinctively straighten their chests, the bewildernt in their eyes replaced by a faint glimr.
"According to the Council of Sages' decision!" Hector's voice regained its seriousness, "The champion of this trial will be awarded to the warrior who destroyed the Chaos-tainted core in the Maze's depths, ending the disaster's source! Ophelia Castellion, Ilana Otavia, Bain, Hard… Congratulations, though as an elder, I hope you won't take such dangerous actions again!"
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