"All may now rise for the Hunters' Anthem."
Alex Lispentine's voice rang out throughout the massive hall that was filled with Hunters from all around the world.
It was the same room as they had prepared yesterday; however, now atop each of the ten balconies rested the top brass of each branch of the guild.
Each of the eight Mashals had a booth of their own, while the two remaining ones were occupied respectively by the president and the advanced challengers, such as Aaron.
He was located in the booth directly opposite the guildmaster, allowing him to stare straight at his long, golden facade that covered his body.
The blond boy himself sat in a large golden throne draped in crimson fabric, which provided a comfortable seat.
His head was reclined against the headrest specifically installed at his height, while his hands were outstretched along the sides of the throne.
Directly beside him on the right was Alaric in a silver throne, while Akari sat on his left in a bronze version.
Raphael was nowhere to be found, while Ezra had left the spectator booth to get some food from the stalls outside the building.
Their wooden chairs were left empty, the top three challengers being the only ones to remain in their instructed positions.
There was a grand total of one thousand challengers selected to receive a rank in this edition of the examination—the remainder of those who had attempted to join were declined before even starting or killed in the process.
Looking down at the rows upon rows of fresh members, Aaron quickly placed together the order for how they were all organized.
At the front, facing forward, stood the three challengers whom he had met in the hall the day before, nervousness evident across their faces.
As per the dress code of their rank, they wore thick black suits along with a black tie, a style meant to honor the fallen.
There was, of course, the green-haired girl who had verbally questioned the blond boy's skills, and behind her, there were the two boys.
One had short black curls, while the other had thin, wispy strands of long white hair that drooped down below his shoulders.
Turning his gaze away from the front three, he came upon the eighteen lieutenants who each wore a decorative white suit.
He could not focus on any of them for particularly long, however, since they continuously moved around, finding a spot where they would not be blocked by any scaffolding that lined the front border.
They want to catch the eye of one of them…
Tilting his eyes upward onto some of the balconies, he watched various higher ranks such as Admirals, Commodores, and even Marshals nod their heads as they inspected the prospects.
It was a common practice to do a short-term apprenticeship after the exam, creating the need to stand out among the rest and secure a highly skilled mentor for the upcoming period of learning.
Therefore, while the Colonels might've already attained a spot for merely being at that level, the lieutenants had to fight for any scraps left over.
Aaron himself took a glance at a few of the promising rookies, trying to differentiate the weak and the strong, helping himself with a quick tap to his temples.
As he closed his eyes and then reopened them, he nearly vomited instantly, a mess of bright light equal to the sun exploding into his vision.
T-Too much mana…
Quickly slapping his temple again to make the light vanish, he watched as the world shifted back to normal.
Alaric had given him a slight side-eye yet said nothing regarding his strange behaviour, likely still thinking of the less-than-pleasant events from their last meeting.
Shaking his head, the turquoise-eyed boy returned his focus to the challengers below, noticing the crowds behind the lieutenants.
Four hundred Officers, then five hundred or so Rookie Hunters behind them. They'll likely cap out at the highest a lieutenant…
His estimate was based on the general statistics of the Guild, which said that less than one percent of all beginning Rookie Hunters made it to Lieutenant and an even slimmer amount to Colonel.
There were no known cases in which someone who had ranked at the lowest level had risen to the top, the closest in that regard being the Swordsman of the South, who began as a Lieutenant and ended as a Marshal.
I guess talent is a big piece of it… Cam started as a Marshal, but she shouldn't be anyone's reference when it comes to career development…
Glancing towards Lispentine's booth, he saw the great Camilla Buckley leaning back in her own platinum throne, her hair tied back in a tight bun.
Her attire was her usual white shirt buckled to her waist; however, at her hip, she for once brandished the diamond badge that she had always hidden before.
One day I'll have one of those. It's only a matter of time.
Smiling, he heard the anthem of the Hunters' Guild finally ending after what felt like an eternity, and everyone in the audience sat back down in their chairs.
"Welcome to the fifty-eighth biennial Hunters' Exam ceremony!"
Alex Lispentine spread his arms out wide, applause flooding the chamber like thousands of hammers crashing against metal.
"For our one hundred and sixteenth anniversary, we have, of course, brought in thousands of applicants from all over the nine seas to participate in our four testing locations."
Pressing a small button under his throne, he activated a device carefully installed by Cauron Thorn overnight.
The lights in the massive hall shut off, bringing raging confusion among the public guests who hadn't been briefed.
However, only a second later, above four of the balconies, a line of spotlights emerged, illuminating the people within them.
"For the test conducted in the Sea of Wishes and Sea of Ancients, I congratulate Admiral Marven Matthews for the two Colonels and seven lieutenants he has brought us this evening. Unfortunately, he couldn't be with us this evening, but please send your applause his way."
Changing the aim of his gaze, he waited until the claps ceased before speaking once again, towards another box.
"For our exam in the Sea of Souls and Sea of Songs, please welcome Commodore Felicia Sturmont. She has brought us one Colonel and eight Lieutenants tonight, so I offer my congratulations to her."
There was another break as the audience applauded the older woman who currently sat straight and firm in her throne.
"Next, for the exam proctored in the Sea of Curses and Sea of Chains, I welcome Commodore Andre Xackery, who, while only producing one Lieutenant, has brought us over two hundred new Officers."
Like the two times before, the crowd had its fun for a moment before all three of the spotlights dimmed, only the one above the guildmaster remaining.
"Now, our final exam location of the Sea of Dreams and Sea of Mystery, which has historically been notoriously underperforming in terms of recruit caliber, we have Marshal Camilla Buckley, otherwise known as the Marshal of Ancients."
While the other proctors had received heavy applause, there was nothing that could be compared to the explosion of energy that rocked the room as the brown-haired woman stood to accept her congratulations.
Thunderous noise echoed off the marble walls for nearly an entire minute, her cold gaze finding Aaron in the booth directly across from her.
Before she could mouth anything over to the boy, she was interrupted by Alex Lispentine, who finished his earlier comment.
"She has brought us four finalist challengers for this event while still chartering an apprentice and two hundred more Officers."
Another round of applause shot through the chamber; however, with a flick of his wrist, it was silenced without hesitation.
"Finally, I will offer thanks to our three finalists who have graced us with their attendance tonight at the other side of the room. All of you, the challengers who are being inducted tonight, please, pay close attention to your seniors in arms. They are the ones who should inspire you to fight without respite. Aaron Grimstall, Alaric von Steinfeste, and Akari Ayaka are all exemplary figures in this organization, and during their formal induction on November 10th."
As their names were called, the three stood and waved down towards the crowd, the praises they received far louder than they had expected.
The blond boy gritted his teeth as he felt countless powerful gazes attempting to wriggle into his mind, each one blocked by a steel-like barrier that protected his consciousness.
Covering his pain with a smile, he waited for the spotlight to vanish, and as it did, he sat back down, sighing loudly.
Alex Lispentine was on the mic again, the finalizing of the ceremony beginning at once.
"Challengers. Today is a momentous occasion for each and every one of you. You entered this room as mere rookies, but you will leave as Hunters. For the one hundred and fifty years this organization has run, we have always prided ourselves on our members, and this has not ever changed. We are the past, and you are the future. Guide us into the next age alongside your comrades and never forget the oath you have taken."
He took a step forward, his entire face illuminated in golden light shining down from above.
"No matter what atrocities occur in this world sunken beneath the waves, there will always be those who fight to keep those without power safe. You are here for a chance. A chance to make this world great once more and continue its prosperity forever. Now, I shall ask you all one final question before we begin our festivities."
Raising his right hand high into the air, he touched his thumb to his middle finger while pointing his index finger outward.
Smiling, he snapped them together, flicking his index as sparks of white radiance emerged over the chamber.
High in the rafters, dark clouds began to form, their heavy mass dripping with a certain powdery substance that was frigid to the touch.
At the other end of the room, Aaron reached outward, feeling the cold snowflake touch his palm and melt instantly.
"HUNTERS!"
Lispentines' voice shook away the awe of the indoor snowstorm.
"WHAT IS YOUR MISSION?"
The room erupted in an answer, every single cadet promoted at that very moment, responding like one.
"TO PROTECT THIS WORLD FROM THOSE WHO WISH IT HARM!"