Not long after, Harmony and Sugarpetal stood side by side on the ceremonial field before the Sanctum of Echoes. A sea of female students stretched wide, murmurs weaving through the crowd like a restless tide. New faces, returning students, all gathered. Then a name broke through the hum, "Evergarden!!"
Eluera's eyes widened in surprise. She hadn't expected such a massive turnout. Catherine blinked, disbelief flickering across her face, "This many people... for just one band? You're kidding me."
Evelyn gave a small, knowing smile, "It's Evergarden. Of course it's packed."
Fluffy clutched her sleeves beside Eluera, her voice barely a whisper, "Do you think they'll actually play?" Cherry's eyes shimmered with awe, "They're so elegant… I want to be like that someday."
Harmony and Sugarpetal leaned in closer, breaths held tight as the crowd suddenly hushed.
.
.
.
A lone figure appeared on stage—tall, poised.
Long white hair trailed behind her like a shimmering veil. Her heterochromatic eyes—one black, one white—held the entire field in a powerful, silent grip. Her noble uniform flowed like starlight in the breeze.
She said nothing. Her presence alone silenced the whole crowd. Then, her voice broke through crystalline and clear, "Welcome to Aria Luna Academy."
The students straightened, as if lifted by the sheer strength of her words.
"Many of you know me as the leader of the prodigy band, Evergarden. But to honor the fresh arrivals, allow me to reintroduce myself."
"I am Celestia Evergarden."
A wave of awe rippled through the crowd. Some blushed, some froze, caught between admiration and disbelief.
"I see so many eyes shining with dreams. You wish to carve your voices into this academy of women, don't you?" Her tone softened, almost tender.
"How... sweet."
Whispers fluttered uneasily through the crowd, "Where's the rest of Evergarden?"
"She's alone?"
Celestia tilted her head, a smirk playing on her lips, "My sisters are not required. For this performance... my presence alone is enough."
She closed her eyes, and then—she sang. No instruments, just her voice; her vocals rose and unfolded, shimmering like stardust across the field, slipping into the soul of every listener.
And then—silence.
.
.
.
After a brief moment of stillness, the crowd of students exploded in cheers and applause, a roar of disbelief and wonder shaking the morning air. Some screamed; others clutched their chests. A few were even tearing up.
"I wish I had recorded that!" one girl cried, half-laughing and half-sobbing.
"That was, like, fifteen seconds?" another added.
"Fifteen seconds? That was all it took?!" another one shouted.
Cherry had both hands pressed over her mouth, eyes sparkling with awe.
Fluffy spun in place with joy, squealing, "Did you hear that?!"
More murmurs echoed among the crowd of girls.
"Did she really sing… under fifteen seconds?!" one of them whispered.
"But it was enough to make me tear up..." another replied, eyes glistening.
Yet no one dared to complain. Because even in that brief moment—Celestia's voice had struck something too deep to define.
Evelyn clutched the edge of her sleeve, heart fluttering. Catherine exhaled as if she'd forgotten to breathe. Eluera simply stared, shaken to her core.
Celestia opened her eyes once more, gaze cool and unreadable.
"Welcome to the path," she said quietly.
"Do try to keep up."
And with that, she stepped off the stage—leaving behind a silence heavier than applause. Eluera stood motionless amid the roaring cheers, her yellow eyes locked on the now-empty stage where Celestia had just stood.
"Am I wrong... for choosing this path?"