The Grand Hall was filled with the quiet tension of a new beginning. Below, rows upon rows of fresh first-year students sat in silence, their eyes fixed on the stage. Sunlight filtered through enchanted stained-glass windows, painting the polished floor with warm patterns.
Crimson and gold banners hung above, proudly bearing the crest of the Academy.
At the front of the hall, Nicolas von Aldros stood tall behind the podium. Dressed in formal robes, hands resting calmly on the edge, he began to speak—his voice carrying effortlessly across the massive room.
"Welcome to the Imperial Academy of Valor. Today, your journey begins. You will learn more than just magic or swordsmanship here. You will learn what it means to survive. To adapt. And if you're lucky… to thrive."
The message was clear, as it always was: many enter. Few succeed.
