The Summoning Hall thrummed with nervous energy. Disciples surged toward the towering tablet of light, its surface shimmering with runes that rearranged themselves like living fireflies. Every name carved in arcane glow was a fate decided, a path set in stone.
"I hope we're in the same class…" Shaun muttered, his voice nearly lost in the cacophony of whispers and shuffling feet.
He and Natasha squeezed their way through the crowd, brushing past anxious murmurs and elated cries. The air felt heavy—charged with tension, dreams, and the faint crackle of lingering magic.
At last, they reached the front. The tablet blazed brighter up close, countless names swimming like constellations across its surface.
"Of course we will be, silly! Now let's see…" Natasha pressed forward, eyes darting across the glowing script.
Shaun leaned over her shoulder, squinting. "It's so bright! Do you see our names?"
"Hold on, hold on…" Natasha's brow furrowed as her finger traced down the endless streams of names. Then, her expression lit up like dawn breaking through the clouds.
"Aha! Here it is! Apprentice Batch Two—Shaun Thunderhawk and Natasha Ikazuchi!"
She spun toward him, her ponytail whipping behind her as she jumped in excitement. "Shaun, we're together!" Her eyes gleamed with relief and triumph, a radiant smile blooming across her face.
Shaun blinked, a weight lifting from his chest. "Huh? Oh—wow! That's… that's fantastic, Natasha! I'm so glad we're together." His smile softened, genuine and full of warmth.
"Apprentice Batch Two? That's my batch as well." Before Natasha could reply, a new voice slipped through the din—gentle, yet carrying an unmistakable presence.
Shaun and Natasha turned, their gazes locking onto the newcomer who had spoken.
**********
A tall boy with striking blue hair and a fair complexion stood before them, his eyes wide with astonishment. He wore a weathered light-blue long-sleeve vest over a gray gi with blue linings, a black sash tied neatly at his waist, padded wrappings, white baggy pants, and straw shoes. Realizing he was staring, the boy quickly averted his gaze, his cheeks tinged pink.
"Oh, my apologies for interrupting. I was just surprised we're in the same batch," he said softly, his voice warm and polite.
"No worries at all, brother! We were just chatting. It's nice to see a new face. So, you're new to the academy too?" Shaun offered him a friendly smile.
"Yes, I am," the boy replied, visibly relieved. Straightening, he offered a graceful bow.
"Please forgive my abruptness earlier. Allow me to introduce myself properly. My name is Sabastian Seaborne, from South Coast Village in the Southern Silver Heaven Region. It's an honour to meet you."
"Nice to meet you, Sabastian! I'm Shaun Thunderhawk, and this is my childhood friend, Natasha Ikazuchi. We're both from Nuzzle Village, way out in the west," Shaun said, gesturing to Natasha.
"Pleasure to meet you, Sabastian," Natasha added with a polite but confident nod.
"Nuzzle Village... interesting," Sabastian murmured thoughtfully before curiosity lit his eyes.
"Shaun, Natasha… if you don't mind me asking, what were your scores on the Spiritual Entrance Test?"
Shaun scratched the back of his head, caught off guard. "Uh, sure. Natasha scored amazing — 650! And me… well, 405. Barely above the passing mark of 400."
"A 405...? Not quite what I expected. You can't possibly be him…" Sabastian muttered under his breath, disappointment flickering in his expression before realization struck. He quickly straightened, flustered.
"Oh, forgive me! I didn't mean that. My score wasn't much higher either — 430."
Trying to ease the tension, he asked gently, "So, what are your dreams? Why choose Silver Heaven Academy?"
"Dreams? Mine's simple — well, not really." Shaun grinned, rubbing his messy black hair. "I want to graduate as a top mage and then take down the Supreme Mages. I'm going to be the World's Strongest Magus."
"Shaun's dream is amazing!" Natasha chimed in, eyes shining. "As for me, I want to be a strong Thunder Magus like my father. And I want to stand by Shaun's side as his partner — we've always supported each other."
Sabastian's chest warmed at their sincerity, and he smiled. "Those are truly inspiring dreams. Hearing them fills me with joy. I'm glad destiny brought us together here."
"My dream is to become the Strongest Aqua Magus. My father wished for me to honour our ancestors by elevating our family's name — financially, politically, in every way. By succeeding here, I can make that happen." Lowering his gaze for a moment, Sabastian's tone grew more resolute.
"That's a great dream, Sabastian! I'm sure you'll achieve it. We'll support you every step of the way!" Shaun said, patting him on the shoulder. Natasha gave him an encouraging smile.
"Thank you, both of you. That truly means a lot," Sabastian replied warmly.
Just then, a woman in an elegant robe stepped before the glowing tablet. Adjusting her glasses, her voice rang out clearly:
"Attention, disciples! Those who have confirmed their names and batches, proceed to the summoning hall. The welcome ceremony begins in thirty minutes. Those who haven't, verify at once."
A murmur rippled through the crowd as disciples rushed either to the tablet or towards the hall.
"Guess that's our cue," Sabastian said with a playful smile. "We've confirmed our names, so shall we?"
"Yeah, let's go," Shaun nodded.
"Agreed. I've heard the welcome ceremony is quite the spectacle," Natasha added with a grin as she adjusted her yellow warrior hanfu.
With a collective nod, the trio began walking toward the summoning hall, their voices weaving into the lively hum of the academy.
**********
As Shaun, Natasha, and Sabastian stepped into the Summoning Hall, their eyes widened in awe at the sheer vastness of the corridor. The air buzzed with excitement, filled with murmurs and whispers that echoed off the high walls.
In the heart of the grand chamber, four massive blocks of polished wooden chairs were arranged with flawless precision — two blocks for the newcomers and two for the senior disciples. Each block held one hundred seats, a perfect grid of ten by ten, their symmetry reflecting the academy's disciplined spirit.
The walls were lined with countless blue flags, each stitched with the proud emblem of the academy. At the front, a striking red curtain banner cascaded down, bearing the same emblem with exquisite embroidery: the letters S and H, locked within a grand silver shield, crossed by two gleaming silver swords.
Before the banner stood a spacious stage, its floor draped in blue and red fabric. A long table stretched across it, covered with a regal scarlet cloth, and flanked by rows of tall chairs reserved for the academy's esteemed teachers — and the legendary Grand Master himself.
Behind the table, the backdrop gleamed in blue silk, upon which the single word WELCOME shone in bold golden letters, greeting every disciple who entered with warmth and solemnity.
Shaun's breath caught as he gazed around, his chest tightening. This is it. The place where legends are born… He swallowed hard, fighting back the nervous flutter in his stomach.
Beside him, Natasha's lips curled into a confident smile, her eyes shining like a child's on festival day. "Incredible! Look at this, Shaun… it's everything I imagined and more!" she whispered, her excitement brimming over.
Sabastian, meanwhile, straightened his posture, his blue eyes flickering with both awe and determination. "So this… is where our paths will be tested," he murmured softly, more to himself than to them, though a small smile tugged at his lips.
**********
"Wow, this place is even bigger than I imagined!" Shaun said, his wide eyes darting across the massive summoning hall as disciples jostled noisily for seats.
"I told you it would be impressive. We should grab some before they're all taken," Natasha replied, slipping her hand around his arm to guide him through the crowd.
"Natasha's right. Finding a good spot is key for orientation," Sabastian agreed, following close behind.
Amidst the chaos, Natasha and Sabastian secured three seats in the centre of the newcomer block. Natasha claimed the seat on Shaun's left while Sabastian settled on his right. Their gazes wandered over the sea of faces and nervous chatter.
"We got the perfect seats, Shaun!" Natasha beamed, giving his hand a quick squeeze.
"Indeed. A prime position for observing the ceremonies," Sabastian said, his voice calm yet tinged with anticipation. Around them, the newcomers filled the air with a melody of excitement and nerves.
"So, Shaun, tell me more about Nuzzle Village. What's it like growing up there?" Sabastian leaned in with genuine curiosity, a warm smile tugging at his lips.
"Oh, it's… quiet, mostly. Lots of open fields, not many people. I spent most of my time reading old scrolls about magus history," Shaun replied, his voice softening as he thought of home.
He began sharing tales of Nuzzle Village, capturing Sabastian's full attention — until sharp whispers from the row behind them made his ears perk up.
"My spiritual score was 700! Can you believe it?"
"Bah, that's nothing! Mine was 900! But forget scores—have you heard of him? The disciple who shattered the Spirit Stone?"
"Of course! They say his power was unimaginable. The stone can measure up to twenty thousand soul power, and it shattered like nothing!"
"Apparently, the shockwaves shook the entire hall! They call him the monster. No one knows who he was. His soul power nearly knocked everyone over!"
"Shattered the stone? A monster? Mystery disciple? Hey… did you guys hear that? Who are they talking about?" Shaun stiffened, turning to Natasha and Sabastian, his eyes wide.
"Yes, Shaun. It's been the talk of the academy," Natasha said, her tone serious as she squeezed his hand. "Everyone's whispering about a disciple with power unlike anything seen in decades."
"In fact," Sabastian added, his pale eyes studying Shaun carefully, "it was all anyone talked about after the test. His identity is still a mystery… though I'm surprised you didn't hear of it yourself."
Shaun's cheeks reddened. "Oh, right. I, um… fainted during my test. Woke up in the infirmary, with Natasha scolding the healers." He rubbed the back of his neck sheepishly.
"Someone had to make sure they weren't completely useless," Natasha replied, lifting her chin proudly.
Sabastian blinked, realization flickering in his gaze as the pieces clicked together. His expression softened, though the curiosity lingered in his eyes.
"Fainted, huh? Interesting… Well, that explains it. You can't possibly be the one they call 'the monster'—not with a score of just four hundred and five."
"Hmm? Did you say something, Sabastian?" Shaun asked, frowning.
"Oh, no, not at all," Sabastian replied quickly with a reassuring smile. "I was just thinking about that harvest festival you mentioned. Tell me more about it… and about Nuzzle Village."
**********