Four people exited the backstage. One was a familiar face—the man who had earlier stopped the commotion. Three of them made their way to the left and stood at attention, while one man stepped to the podium and spoke into the microphone.
"Greetings, new pupils! It is I, your headmaster, Indred Vangris. It is my honor to welcome you to Eldritch Academy!"
Indred exclaimed cheerfully, though his introduction was met with a silent crowd and an awkward ambiance. The headmaster stood tall, possessing brown eyes, a well-trimmed gray beard, and long gray hair. He was above average height—well, by this world's standards, perhaps just average. Kolden pondered the man's hat; it looked silky even from where he was sitting.
"Well, it seems we have a strict set of cadets this year. Or maybe... was it the welcome?"
Indred looked back at the familiar face behind him and smiled. He cleared his throat and continued.
"What an introduction you students must have had! The man who serviced you at the entrance of the hall is the vice-headmaster and professor of magic theory. He is none other than the great Canon Zenithflare."
The mention of that name changed the energy of the room, instantly piquing the interest of the cadets. A small rumble of voices broke out. Kolden glanced at Laerita, anxious to ask who the man was.
"Is he an important figure or something?" Kolden whispered.
Laerita glanced at him, her voice low. "I'm surprised you don't know. Haven't you ever read the World Paper?" It wasn't a question that required an answer.
Kolden's eyebrows shot up at the mention of the World Paper—evidently this world's version of a newspaper.
"The short version is, The man on stage is Canon Zenithflare is one of the seven current seated Vanguard Altruist. Canon stands as the third strongest among them. Also the only Vanguard with such a public image," Laerita finished, leaving Kolden with a lingering chill.
Kolden stared at the man once again. He had felt that crushing presence earlier when the man silenced the crowd, but other than being scared shitless, he hadn't thought much of it. Kolden looked down at his own rune as it glowed faintly. How exactly did he scale to the power of this world?
He repeated the words Laerita had used earlier: aura and presence. Kolden couldn't sense either from anyone, not even from the powerhouse on stage. Was he really that weak? A bead of sweat dripped down his forehead. He looked at Laerita in a flash of fear—could she kill him at any given moment?
Kolden's spiraling thoughts were halted by the headmaster.
"Yes, this is the Vanguard Canon Zenithflare, but please refrain from further conversation. He will have his time to speak to you all." Indred cleared his throat. "As I stated, I am your headmaster, Indred Vangris."
His tone shifted, becoming more formal. "Most of you stem from noble bloodlines and storied names. Others were allotted scholarships purely through work ethic and talent, despite not coming from nobility."
The man emphasized the last part of the sentence. It seemed the academy had no tolerance for class discrimination.
"Everyone in this academy has earned their spot one way or another. Simply by standing here, I can feel the potential each of you holds. I, Indred Vangris, assure every one of you that you have been granted an education here by your own will and dedication."
He finished his speech with a valiant tone that made his words feel like an indisputable fact. Kolden smiled; if this was the person running the academy, he looked forward to meeting the professors. The once-silent crowd clapped in unison, and Kolden followed suit. As the applause dimmed, Indred announced the next speaker.
"Now, I welcome to the stage our vice-headmaster, Canon Zenithflare."
The clapping erupted again as the professor approached the podium. The excitement of the students quickly dissolved into a nervous hush as Canon took the stage. He walked confidently and began to speak.
"That was quite a spectacle from Indred, wasn't it?"
He spoke calmly, but his words were sharp—almost as if he were prepared to insult the audience at any second.
"Although what he said stands true, it is a simple reality that those without nobility are weaker. Not in talent or potential, but in the resources available to you."
Canon didn't have to raise his voice; his words were impactful enough. He had the exact opposite effect of Indred's warm welcome. Kolden noticed his peers averting their gazes as the man spoke.
"In this academy, you are offered protection from professors—powerful ones at that." He gestured to the figures standing behind him. "You are protected from political power and oppression. But that system is not perfect, for the very things you are being protected from are the reasons the system is failing."
His voice grew stronger.
"I have few beliefs in this life, but I will share one: If you cannot handle the dragon, do not taint the flame."
Canon voiced these words with raw passion.
"Simply put: if you cannot handle words, threats, or attempted harm, you have not taken these lessons to heart. Everyone here has something they want in life. Those wants can only be achieved by interfering with people who have conflicting goals. If you cannot handle the situations you encounter here, do not expect to live more than a year outside of this institution."
The impact was immediate. Nervousness radiated through the hall, but it hit Kolden the hardest. Laerita's mention of a "selection for the throne" combined with Canon's warning made him realize his position. What resources did he actually have? If there were other candidates in the academy, he wouldn't just face insults—he might face assassination.
Kolden slouched in his chair and cursed. He needed to discover what this body could do, and he needed to do it soon.
"As a professor, I promise you: I will do my job to teach you what this academy requires, but I will also ensure you become strong enough to handle this corrupt world. Do not think I am simply fear-mongering; I am giving you a reality check. That is all."
Canon ended his speech abruptly, without even introducing the next speaker. Kolden sighed. Why isn't that man the headmaster?
Kolden smiled nervously and clenched his fist. His palms were sweating, but not from fear—it was excitement. He had been thrown into an unknown world, and now it was a game of life or death. What a sick joke.
Kolden stared at his rune. What exactly was he here for? Who was the World Whale? Was he really here just to live a "fulfilling life"? He had so many questions that only he could answer. He looked back at the stage and grinned. He was going to figure out exactly what he was doing here.