Chapter 67 - 067:The Final Assembly

Chapter 67: Chapter 067:The Final Assembly

The sky was grey and held no stars at all, casting a gloomy look on the still lake that was a few miles away from where he stood and overall complemented the grey atmosphere.

The place was so silent, it seemed even the wind feared to make a sound.

But the instant he raised his hands, the place vanished.

He had been battling with the last of the Godbeast’s will. The will had taken a final stance on not disappearing and had resisted all his efforts to finally convert it into energy.

Luckily, the will lost focus for a second, and that was all it took for him to completely overpower it.

Phase two of the ascension was shattering and rebuilding. And while that was as painful as the word ’pain’ could apply, it took not much time.

When Leon opened his eyes, his aura had changed. The auditorium was clearer, sharper, and the sounds more defined.

He was breathing very hard, but he was standing!

He ran mana through his pathways, and when it ran the full course, he finally relaxed.

Success!

Seconds later, the healing staff were already on him, and the last thing he remembered was being whisked away on a stretcher as his consciousness slowly faded away.

---

The final assembly was held that night, so the candidates could leave once morning came.

They would later find out the entire process took a little over five days, contrary to the three they had been told.

Out of the entire number of prospects that had tried ascending, there were sixty-seven whopping successes. A few others were still undergoing theirs, and they showed signs of success too!

Unfortunately, there were ten critical failures and they suffered intense damage to their cores, and there was one who was currently battling a mental illness as the Godbeast’s will overpowered theirs. A few lucky ones had their cores intact and unchanged. Very few.

Even as Headmaster Malcius gazed down at the visibly happy candidates, he felt their joy a bit contagious.

The auditorium, unlike earlier, felt different. Compared to the day the interview had started, the voices sounded happier, filled with euphoria.

"They’ll be here all night if you don’t speak to them, old man."

Malcius laughed. "Truly, Claire. Shall we, then?"

Alexis rolled her shoulders experimentally, brows furrowed.

"Still feels damn strange, this stage," she murmured to Miriselle and Isabella. The trio had successfully passed.

"Grandmaster! Feels unbelievable."

"Truly—"

The noise died down as soon as the Headmaster appeared on the podium. He waited a bit, allowing the quiet to form completely.

"A few hours ago," he began, "this assembly stood... as prospective students, candidates."

His gaze swept across the hall, the happiness visible in it.

"Now, you stand as Grandmasters."

He allowed the weight to settle in. Naturally, the sense of pride and achievement popped up. Postures changed.

"You all gathered here are what I would describe with just a word—Prodigies. A round of applause for yourselves, children, for you have tried a tedious task and succeeded."

"At the first try. It wasn’t an easy feat, not by any means."

"You will disperse tomorrow morning," Malcius continued after the applause had ended. "Between now and the start of the term, allow your cores to settle. Do not pursue aggressive refinement. And do NOT attempt to manifest your Domains. That will be taught here when you resume."

"The Academy will resume instruction in about a month’s time. Class, dormitory assignments, and elemental placements will be communicated through your respective families."

He paused.

"Once more, congratulations. Have a wonderful night’s rest."

"Brats, lights out is by 12 midnight," the female professor snarled. "If you don’t wanna forfeit your newly gotten admission."

After that, the Headmaster-professor duo vanished.

The formal moment had passed. Conversations now returned—heartier and easier. Even rivals couldn’t help but acknowledge each other. That was what Grandmaster does.

Isabella held the box in her hand, a confused look in her hazel eyes.

"So... he left?"

"And his reason for doing so was?" Miriselle could not quite bring herself to understand Mikael’s thought processes. Thanks to the ascension trial, they had not been able to discuss the matter.

Leon smiled weakly. "None. All he told me was to pass this box, unopened, to Ms. Limnor, as well as pass on his gratitude."

Outside the hall, at the courtyard, a few hundred carriages stood proudly under the moonlight, the banners of the families they represented dancing in the soft breeze. Most had been there for two days!

The sheer number of present carriages still made the prospects marvel at the size of the Silver Arcane Academy.

Alexis yawned.

"There’s no use in dwelling on what is in the past. It is supposed that we go our separate ways, away from Mikael. I tire and wish to retire to the dorms. Till the morning, then."

And with that, she left the group.

Seconds later, the two ladies were awestruck.

"Alexis used formal language!?"

"Goodnight, Leon," Isabella chirped. "Miri? Shall we?"

"Ah, yes. Goodnight, Leon."

"Goodnight, all!"

* * * *

Carriages began rolling out as soon as the sun rose high enough.

Outside, at the gates, each carriage was joined by its escorts as they travelled down the small hill on which the academy was situated.

"It is an honor to welcome you, Your Imperial Highness," a lady greeted as she ushered the golden-haired boy into a rather extravagant carriage. Its banner bore a golden rising sun with a sword at its center.

"How was the interview, Your Highness?" the lady asked as they settled and the carriage set off. At the front and behind, rows of knights served as escorts, their golden armor resplendent in the rising sun.

"I remember telling you that the escort was overkill, Elizabette," Leon groaned.

"My apologies. But Her Imperial Majesty the Queen will not have it any other way, or I risk my head," she smiled.

Leon scoffed. "Like that could ever happen. Anyways, it is good to see you too. What went down with whom during the time I was away?"

"Ah, yes..."

---

Message as to the newly ascended Grandmasters had already reached their families before the prodigies even got home. So as Isabella’s carriage pulled up in the family’s courtyard, the sound of applause and cheers erupted, which grew louder as she alighted.

Duke Alan and the Duchess, Selena, were all smiles as their daughter alighted; the pride could not be hidden.

It was no easy feat to have a Grandmaster at such a young age, in addition to the already established powerhouses of the family.