"Here come the top three graduates." A student said from the crowd.
"What honor and glory to get the award." Another student followed in.
"Next is supposed to be Haveth, right?" Kellen asked Luceran. He nods his head, responding to Kellen's question. They scanned the crowd and found Haveth standing beside a girl the same height as him. She looks cute with her ponytail. When he heard the principal's call, Haveth walked slowly with steady momentum to the stage. His stoic and refined features complement his scholarly appearance, though people know that he is no scholar. He walks slowly with his purple scabbard hanging on his waist despite wearing the graduation robe. His purplish hair and eyes shining sharply. All the students feel as if their eyes are pierced by a needle when they look at him slowly walking to the stage. He bowed deeply to the crowd, mentors, tutors, and then at the principal.
"How is the Sword Saint?" Asked the principal to the purple-haired youth while shaking his hands and handing him the medal.
"The saint said a year ago that he is preparing to break through into the celestial realm." Haveth answered politely while bowing his head to the principal, then proceeded to exit the stage.
"Good! Good! The human race will welcome a new Celestial Ascendant." The principal remarked happily.
"Next, Celine Sylvarien! Come to the stage!" A booming sound and loud applause can be heard. A long, light-green, silky-haired woman walks out of the crowd. Her bright golden eyes and milky white skin enthralled everyone, male and female. She is an elf princess of the Evergreen Kingdom. She walks gracefully to the stage, and an aura of peace and calm emanates from her, as if she is the ambassador of peace. As she stepped on the stage, the crowd gazes were still locked on her. She bowed gracefully to the crowd, tutors, and principal as usual.
"Princess, tell Elderwood that I will visit him a year later." The principal said to the princess warmly.
"I will, Holy Saint." While bowing deeply, showing her immense reverence and admiration to the principal.
"There is no need to be too polite. Princess, the journey is long for you. Walk with wisdom as you slowly grow your influence." The principal advised the princess.
"Thank you, Saint, for the advice. I will deeply engrave it in my heart." She then proceeded to exit the stage. The crowd eyes are still glued on her as she steps down from the stage and returns to her position.
"Buddy, it is your turn." Luceran nudged Kellen, who was beside him, and smiled lightly. Kellen smiled at Luceran and then prepared himself.
"Finally, the number one graduate of the Academy, Kellen! Come to the stage to receive your medal." The principal booming voice sounded across the entire hall. Everyone looked at Kellen with an envious gaze, including the nobles, except Luceran, who was looking at him with eyes of encouragement. Despite his average-looking features, he looks quite refined with his purplish eyes and brown hair. He walks with confidence and pride slowly to the stage. The whole crowd is looking at him, the number one prodigy of the academy. His eyes are glued to the figure at the end of the hall on the stage, his teacher, the principal of the Immortal Academy. His teacher looked at him with gentle eyes, showing his pride in his student that he has taught for the past 5 years. How can he not? Kellen is the only graduate among these 5000 students that is on the 3rd level of the mana and soul path. Even for the past hundred thousand years, he can be considered a prodigy among prodigies. The principal has had many personal students, and people like Kellen can be counted on one hand. He stepped on the stage and looked at the principal before turning his body and bowing at the whole crowd, including the tutors and mentors of the Academy.
"My student, this is only the beginning for your path. It will be a very long journey. I hope you can step further than I do." The principal warmly advises his personal student.
"I will never tarnish your name and the Academy's name. Thank you for everything, teacher!" Kellen bowed deeply to the principal, the weight of the moment settling on him. The principal's words, 'I hope you can step further than I do,' echoed in his mind. Turning, he walked calmly off the stage, his new medal, the symbol of the Immortal Successor, now resting around his neck. As he rejoined Luceran, the grand hall erupted into a final, thunderous applause, a mix of cheers and respectful silence.
The principal then raised his glowing rod high. The applause immediately died down, replaced by a profound silence that settled over all five thousand students.
"The time for instruction is over, graduates," the principal's voice boomed, full of pride and authority. "You are now masters of your own destinies. Go forth and make your mark on Primordia. May your paths be long, your purpose be true, and your legacy be immortal! The graduation ceremony of the Immortal Academy is now concluded!"
With a final, gentle tap of his rod on the stage, the principal's form dissolved into light particles, leaving the hall to the graduates. The students, now officially alumni, began to disperse. The formal, tense atmosphere of the ceremony broke apart, replaced by a lively, chaotic exodus. Luceran and Kellen walked toward the exit, the crowd of students around them buzzing with excitement and relief.
Once outside, they made their way back through the Garden of Arcana, the glowing trees and serene paths a familiar comfort one last time. They walked in silence for a few moments, the gravity of the past five years and the uncertainty of their futures hanging in the air.
"This is it, then," Luceran said softly, breaking the silence. "The end of my time in the Academy."
"Yet the beginning of everything else," Kellen replied, looking toward the majestic gates.
They reached a quiet corner where Nelez was already waiting for Luceran, his expression as impassive as ever. The three stopped, and Kellen and Luceran faced each other, their friendship having grown beyond the simple formality of their roles.
"Remember what you said about your dreams, Kellen?" Luceran said, his voice low. "Don't let the world change you."
"And you, Luceran," Kellen replied with a knowing smile. "Don't let your duty consume you."
They shared a firm handshake that spoke of a deep, mutual respect. Without another word, Luceran turned and walked toward the waiting carriage with Nelez. Kellen watched him go, then turned to face the academy, to where his room was. The grand gates stood behind him, a final testament to the five years he had spent there.
"Nelez, have you prepared the wyvern?" Asked Luceran as they walk to the left wing of the Academy, where they usually rein their animals.
"Of course, Your Highness. This way, please." He led the way to an open space where there was a 25 meter-tall dark grey wyvern wriggling his tail as if it has been waiting for them. When the wyvern saw the 'passengers' he roared at them, as if telling them to 'ride on and let's go'. The wyvern bows its head to let the prince step on it to ride the wyvern, while Nelez jumps with strong momentum and lands on the back of the wyvern.
"How long will it take to reach Ironmarch City from the Academy?" The prince asked his personal guard.
"It takes half a month even with Draka's speed, Your Highness." Replied Nelez.
"Sigh, why did my father have to assign me to a city that doesn't even have a teleportation circle?" The prince complained while sighing.
"Don't worry, Your Highness, His Majesty has prepared the resources to build a teleportation circle in Ironmarch City." Nelez answered to reassure Luceran.
"It will be a long journey." The prince sat on the drake as the drake rose high into the air and disappeared on the horizon.