Chapter 3 Royal Academy of Palore (Entrance Ceremony)

In the office sat 2 figures on opposite sofas facing one another. One of them, an elderly man dressed in a dark brown robe, a height of about 160cm, white greyish hair, began to pour tea into the hooded figures cup. After he finished pouring tea into both cups, he sat back down and silently sipped his tea. Minutes went by, the hooded figure remained still. The figure, was no doubt Link. The elderly man was the headmaster, he had at least wanted Link to speak first. But after waiting for at least half an hour, Link barely even moved.

The man coughed slightly to break the silence. “So… I was definitely surprised when Atos sent me a letter a few weeks ago. He’s not really a man who takes in students. Always a loner… especially after what happened with…” he realized he had been rambling on and stopped immediately. “Anyway, you’re here now, which is good. No need to take the entrance test. If Atos recommended you I’m sure you’ll do fine.” He stood up as he was speaking and gathered pieces of paper and a pen from the desk.

“I’ll just need to fill in some forms and you’re officially a student here. Your name? Link right?” Link nodded.

“Age?”

“15.” The headmaster scribbled it down.

“Specialization?” He asked the hooded boy. He peeked an eye up from his paper, he had guessed what his magic was when Atos had sent him a letter. He confirmed it when the incident at the school gate occurred.

“Darkness.” The headmaster spent a few more seconds looking at the figure, then scribbled on his paper.

“Good. Good. Rare power you have. We haven’t had a darkness magic student for a few decades now.” He said as he placed a medallion and a bag on the table. “This is the school’s medallion. Proof you’re a student here. Magicians are greatly respected and hold high prestige, please do maintain that standing.” Link nodded slightly. 

“And here is 100g, since you’re Atos’ student I doubt he had given you any money. Don’t tell anyone I gave it to you though.” He chuckled as he said so. “Here is your uniform. No ones worn this type of uniform in… well… ages. Theres a closet just back then, get changed.” Link nodded and stood up. He took the neatly folded uniform from his hands and went into the closet to change.

“The school’s uniforms are separated into the different types of magic. So water magic would be blue, air magic light blue and so on. You still attend the same classes generally though.” The headmaster spoke as Link got changed. “The school will provide you with accommodation. You can leave the premise only on weekends, unless you have permission.” Link finished and walked out of the closet to see the elder turn towards him with a shocked expression.

“Why are you still wearing your robe? Take it off!” The elder shouted as he palmed his forehead. Yes, Link had worn his uniform and then worn his robe over the top of it. He disliked how his hair and eyes drew much attention. But no choice he thought, and took off the robe and placed it into his bag. Once again the elder turned and was shocked.

Link was now dressed in a completely black uniform following his magic specialization. A black blazer over a black shirt with black trousers. Slight white trimmings were embedded in his uniform, it was a perfect fit. The boy, with numerous training with his teacher had developed a good fit body. He now stood 176cm in height and through his clothes, you could tell he was fit and adapted to work.

But what most shocked the elder was the contrast. The pure white hair and eyes. His hair dangled as a fringe which slightly covered his eyes, with the back of his hair just slightly above his shoulders. His face, as still and emotionless as a plank of wood, but the features of his face blended well. He was no doubt, a handsome fellow, the elder remarked. A couple of seconds later the elder shock himself out of his daze and walked up to Link.

“I haven’t seen anyone wearing this uniform since… god knows when.” He went close to Link and admired it. “Perfect.” He looked at the time and returned to Link. 

“You have a couple of hours before the entrance ceremony. I’ll get a teacher to take you around. How’s that sound?” He looked at Link, who nodded slightly again. 

Minutes later a knock was heard on the door. ‘How did he do that?’ Link thought. The elder smiled when he saw the minuscular change of expression in his face.

“There are much you don’t know. But you will in time.” He smiled a bright smile at Link. Who nodded in turn. ‘This kid does an awful lot of nodding’ he thought.

“Come in.” He spoke. The door opened as a lady walked in and close the door behind her.

“Hi headmaster. How can I help you?” She said as she bowed towards the headmaster. Her voice was bright and cheerful, anyone could tell from her voice she was a rather cheerful person.

The headmaster waved his hand. “No need for the formalities. Let me introduce you to this new student. Phoebe, meet Link.” He said as he stood and went to Link.

Link who had his back faced towards the new incomer all the time, turned towards her. She too clearly emitted a look of shock in her expression. The elder didn’t pay attention to her but rather focused on Link’s emotionless face. ‘Tsk… no fun.’ He thought. The newcomer in the room was a lady of 20 years old, she was a young genius in magic. She was already a 1stdegree magician, and also a substitute teacher at the academy. This young genius is also beautiful, gaining her as one of the most popular teachers and girl in school.

Her long light blue hair flowed down towards her shoulders, her height was around 170, just a little shorted than Link. She was still gaping at Link. ‘Such a pretty face...’ she thought to herself. But felt a flinch in her body as she saw his eyes. ‘So cold…’

“So.. I’d like you to show him around if you will. Until the ceremony in a little while.” The elder said as he returned to his desk. Only at this moment did she notice the clothes he was wearing.

“Is.. is he?” she asked the headmaster who responded with a nod. Her expression turned to that of suspicion but quickly disappeared.

“Hi, I’m Phoebe, a teacher at this academy. Let me show you around then.” She said and beamed a loving smile at Link. Just as they were leaving a voice called out to Link.

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“Do come back and visit this lonely old man Link!” the headmaster said. Link turned and to the surprise of the headmaster, he said

“Yes headmaster, thank you.” And he turned and left the headmaster in a state of shock at his desk.

Phoebe hearing his voice, experienced a chill down her back, but somehow a certain warmth in it. She paid it no attention and continued leading Link down the corridor.

“Mostly everyone is now either doing the entrance test or watching it. That’s why it feels so empty.” She explained as they arrived at a massive gymnasium type space.

“This is the sparring ground. Highly fortified magic control so if you were to use magic inside it, it wouldn’t affect the outside.” Link nodded and continued to follow her.

She took her to numerous places, cafeteria, library, training room etc. Link could think of one thing to describe the academy, it was massive. They had everything in his opinion. Finally they arrived at his dormitory, it was a house. Phoebe opened the door and entered.

“You must have some connections if the headmaster has given you a house all to yourself. You don’t get one of these until you’re at least a 4thyear and a 1stdegree magician.” She threw the keys at Link and walked towards the door. She turned at the archway. “Entrance ceremony is in an hour in the courtyard. And don’t think you can make it through this academy with just connections.” She said in an obviously annoyed manner and left. Leaving Link alone in the house.

After much exploring, the house had 2 floors, 4 bedrooms, 3 toilets, a kitchen, a hall and a study. Bedrooms were on the second floor with 2 toilets. The rest was on the first floor. He quickly chose a room and unpacked what little things he had. He then went downstairs and sat in the hall right next to the front door. And he began to meditate. ‘Nothing else to do’ he mumbled to himself.

A short while later he looked on and slightly panicked. There was only 5 minutes till the ceremony, he quickly grabbed his keys and the blazer which he took off and ran out of the house after locking the door. As he was running towards the stadium in which the ceremony was held, there were hundreds of people filing into the stadium. He mixed into the crowd and entered.

The stadium was big, a stage was at the far front and a large amount of space was left in the middle in between the seats. Link quickly realized why. The seats were for parents and such, whereas the space was for students. A voice rang through the stadium,

“New students please follow your specialty and line up. Parents and friends please be seated at the back.” This phrase repeated itself numerous times across the stadium.

Link walked in front of the seats as he slowly took in the rows of new students standing in their class groups. Link could identify the obvious, each respectively in their own colour. Fire, water, air, earth void and light. These were the primary specializations of magic, some were special like lightning descending from fire.

Rows and rows of people dressed in their school uniform stood in the middle of the stadium corresponding to their magic. Finally, at the far right side of the stadium there was a entire column devoid of people. An elderly man sat in a chair at the front of where the column should have started. He beamed as he saw Link and waved. Link walked up to the elder he recognized, the headmaster.

“Finally, thought you had gotten lost of something.” The gestured and grabbed Link and placed him at the front of the column. Link looked around awkwardly. “I told you. You’re the only dark magician in the past few decades. Unfortunately you’re going to have to stand alone too for the ceremony.” To which he chuckled and left. Luckily enough, the stadium lighting was a dim light, and with Link’s black uniform, not many people recognized his existence. Except for a few in the stand of high standing who stared at him curiously. They were powerful magicians whose kids were attending the ceremony. But their eyes were now glued to Link.

Older students filed the upper decks of the stadium and teachers sat at the front right side of the stage. They numbered in the 30s. Finally, an elder walked to the middle of the stage, an elder Link knew well.

“Welcome ladies and gentleman, parents and teachers, old and new students. It is a privilege to be standing here…” He rambled on to which Link didn’t pay any attention. Link wasted no time at all, and closed his eyes to gather energy. The few whose attention was on Link realized what he was doing and some couldn’t help but laugh. He was training in the midst of the ceremony. A while had passed when the ceremony nearly came to the end.

“Now may I introduce to you the new students. To the left, we have the fire faculty!” to which light shone on all the members of the fire specialization students. Link shook awake as the light shone on them. Everyone in the stadium applauded. The headmaster continued in this manner with water, air, earth, light and void. Light had only around 10 students and void was the same. Light, void and darkness are attributed to the 3 most powerful magic. Hence only a few number of people had them. Darkness had, unfortunately for Link, even fewer.

After the headmaster had introduced the others, the looked at Link and began. “This year, we have a very special student. The kind of which we have not had for the past few decades in the magic world. Ladies and gentleman, darkness.” And a light shone on the entire column of which Link was standing in, only for everyones gaze to fall on the only person standing there. Link.

There was no applause like the others, everyone was still in shock. A magician was rare. Holding the 3 top powers were even rarer. And darkness was even rarer than that! That was the reason why for the past half century they had not produced a single darkness magician in this academy, one of the 3 major academies in the world. Everyone just stared blankly at Link, who looked at the front without any expression. The headmaster alone clapped happily on stage.