I heard my dad's voice as he shook me awake. “Alex, I know it's early buddy but you got to get up.”

“Ugh I don't want to”

“I know but you got the opening ceremony today.” His voice was softer than usual but in my morning fugue, I didn't notice it.

I rolled over and sat up. By the time I was awake, Dad had already left the room. He had set out my freshly ironed uniform and my mask on my dresser. As I put on my uniform I gazed at the mask. This was the first year I'd be wearing one. I couldn't wear one last year because I was not allowed. I recalled the lecture Professor Titleist gave us about the history of the mask.

“As the festival is only a month away, many of you have likely started to carve your masks. This is your first one which makes it particularly special. As most of you know, you cannot carve a proper mask, until this year. This is because the mask is inherently supposed to show you as a member of society. Before this year you could not contribute to it. This lack of contribution is not because of a lack of effort, far from it.”

“People your age who don't participate in the academy or educational fields will often become apprentices. This was more true when this tradition started, but it is still a common phenomenon. Life festivals held throughout the empire serve as a way for you young cultivators to meet Masters looking for such an apprentice.”

“The mask design was originally supposed to help Masters decide which Apprentice they wanted to select. The mask would showcase your family. To do so it would reflect your crest and any other important family marks, or symbols. Additionally, it would serve as a mark of cultivation. If you had awakened your mask would be more elaborate and the higher the stage the more detail would be put into it. The Complexity of The Masks would make it easier for Masters to select an apprentice.”

“However, over the 12,000-year tradition of the masks, the meanings behind the carvings have changed. As most people don't, apprentice anymore in the empire, it serves as a way to reflect upon one's cultivation and their family.

“Luckily for you, yours doesn't have to be super ornate. Those who haven't awakened only have to include any important family aspects. If you're lucky enough to have awakened it's not that big of a task. Your lack of cultivation will show in the ornateness of the Mask.”

“In the next few years when you gain your Affinity, The Mask carving process becomes a lot more difficult but that will be a discussion for another time.”

“A key part of the mask tradition is you must be the one to carve your mask. You can certainly rely on advice and guidance from more professional artisans, as well as family but you have to be the one to make the mask. This Independence beyond being tradition also serves a function.”

“As the year ends, you are supposed to reflect on your achievements this year and reflect them onto the mask. Many people also put their insights and wishes onto their masks. Beyond being a helpful way to contemplate one's cultivation. For those within the higher Realms, it keeps them connected to the greater population.”

After his last comment, the professor provided a mask.

“This was my first mask. If you were not already aware my family is from Krivale. This can be seen in the fact that the material that my mask is made out of is paper and canvas. Beyond the different styles of each province, The Masks they make are also constructed of different materials.”

The professor produced a second mask.

“This is my mask from last year, as you can see it is my family crest of a willow. It is made of wood like most of yours. Some other provinces also use Woods but they're more distinct. Masks from the Emery Isles use one of their two types of cherrywood, and of course, the Red Spiers use the wood they're so famous for.”

“But if it's not a distinct wood like the two examples I have given, the person is likely to be from the capital. Some families from the capital choose to use a specific type of wood, to represent the province that they originally hail from. Or they might use it to symbolize something entirely different.”

“The delineation in materials is also helpful when spotting visitors. The tradition has truly taken on a myriad of meanings and truly does deserve its own field of study.”

“Anyways Cadets make sure during the festival to try to figure out where someone is coming from, it can be a bit of a fun challenge”

I smiled at the memory, as I ran my small hands through the painstaking marks I had left on the Partawood mask. Its color was a muted amber red and had dark veins that striated through it in a circular pattern.

The masks used during the new year were different from a more standard mask. The masks had no holes cut out for eyes, mouth, or nose. The reason this was even possible was because of the engravements on the back. As I flipped the mask over to look at them I was still amazed by the Runework done on my mask. The runes were the only part of the masks the individuals didn't do themselves as it was far too complex.

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The first of the runes made the mask far harder and more sturdy. There was a pair of runes that provided they needed oxygen, as well as the ability to see. Finally, the last rune was completely separate. It was stretched around the perimeter of the mask and would seal it to my face. It was still easy to remove but it would stay on unless the wearer pushed a drop of Mana into it or applied a significant amount of force.

I flipped the mask over to look at the engraving that I had carved. The carvings showed my family crest a, shield with a wolf. Behind that Shield was a spear and a sword. To the bottom of the mask were small lines that reminiscently resembled flickering flames.

I put the mask onto my face and headed towards the Grand Arena. The Mask would have to stay on until after the opening ceremony concluded. It would also have to stay on my face whenever the sun sunk behind the horizon.

The Grand Arena, like so many of the important structures in Nevermeyer was located within the great tree. That of course meant a long train ride In the darkness of mourning.

After wading through crowds of people and eventually finding my seat, I looked at the Emperor. Emperor Edward Bayronson Von Lightsean stood in the center of the Grand Arena. His mask sat upon his face. Before the Emperor was a sea of people. The Grand Arena was equipped with spatial expansion arrays. This mixed with its already massive physical size meant the crowd before him likely numbered in the hundreds of Millions.

The Sun was just about to crest the horizon. As the emperor began his speech He spoke through a crystal that broadcast his voice to the rest of the arena.

“People of the empire. I welcome you to the opening ceremonies of the New Year's celebration.” With his Proclamation loud cheers erupted from the stands. If not for the sound-dampaning arrays I would have likely lost my hearing.

“We've gathered here today to celebrate the beginning of the Life Festival. In 5 days a new year and thus a new chapter of the Empire's history will be written. But before that day comes let us rejoice.”

After his opening remarks the emperor started to talk about political fluff. It was certainly necessary and important I just didn't care. It was not like I would be impacted if I listened or not. Eventually, I tuned back in.

“Long live the empire.” With his final words, the first beam of light passed through the great trees leaves. As that light passed millions of voices cried out in the birth of the new Sun.

“Long live the emperor, long live the empire.”

Like everybody else when the sun's rays hit me I removed my mask. Although I was able to see perfectly well through the mask, it was still a heavy object resting on my face. I was unable to think about the mask further before the start of the premier match.

The premier match was a match between the premiere the top student in the senior class at the academy and a former alum that was selected by a panel of professors.

Two contestants this year were the premiere Helen Rutabaga and successful Guild leader Christian Smith. Helen was an Archer like Wren but unlike Wren, she had an uncommon sound Affinity. This uncommon Affinity mixed with her powerful bow skills made her a fearsome competitor. As Christian walked into the arena I tried to recall what I knew of him. He had graduated three years earlier and formed the Metal Legion Guild. He had the Metal Affinity befitting of his Guild's name, like Helen he was within the Sky Relm.

The two combatants stood across from one another as the enthusiastic announcer introduced them. The moment she had finished, the stage the two stood upon shifted. The arena's flat stone ground disappeared. Replaced with a strip of sand and lapping waves.

I had no idea how the transformation was accomplished. The arena much like any other sanctioned Battleground could change. It was randomly generated and no two stages were ever the same. Additionally, through some high-tier work, any combatant who would have died was instantly teleported to a medical facility to be treated. This of course meant the competitors could go all out.

The match began with Christian charging forward. Using his large Tower shield and short sword he was able to deflect Helen's arrows. Helen not willing to lose so easily backed up and continuously filed arrows toward the tank. Over the next 10 minutes, the two engaged in a masterful combat. Helen was constantly on the defensive retreating, striking when she could.

Christian however would not be taken down by mere arrows. Eventually either due to bad luck or fatigue Christian's left boot got sucked into the wet sand. Helen didn't waste the opportunity. She pulled back an arrow judging by its change in color she had imbued it with her sound affinity. Less than a fraction of a second after leaving her bow, the arrow let out a loud **boom**. Christian was unable to block the wave of sound. This resulted in both his eardrums and his eyes bursting from the energy.

Remarkably though Christian was able to deflect the arrow without even seeing. Christian remained standing for a few more minutes predicting where Helen would shoot the arrows but eventually, the wounds stacked up. With his slow reaction rate, Helen was easily able to shoot an arrow through his skull.

I stood up and cheered, after witnessing the fight I started to get excited. The premier match had awakened a fire within me and I wanted to fight. But more so I wanted to find Wren and go watch some more matches. But as I stood up I couldn't help but feel as if they were eyes peering into the back of my skull.

Dutchess Waters smiled from her booth in the Grand Arena. The opening ceremony was maybe not pleasant but it was interesting. There were only two reasons she came to the opening ceremony and by extension the capital. One was because she had to. As one of the few Dukes within the Empire, She was required to attend.

But the real reason or the reason she told herself was to scout for talent. Last year's premiere, Silver Tream the Blade dancer put on an excellent performance against his opponent. But like this year's Premier match, it was nothing special.

She still had some hope of finding someone. It had been more than two decades since she had located a talented youth. She didn't expect to find one after all she had already found two within this generation. But there was the odd chance there was somebody gifted.

She gave a glance over at the third years. She would see some of their matches later in the week but in the meantime, she felt underwhelmed. She hadn't heard much about Xander's brat. But hopefully, something interesting would happen, only time would tell.