Chapter 201: Second Year
As Asher concluded his speech, the silence enveloping the hall did not break. Instead, it seemed to stretch even further, pressing down on everyone present, as though the weight of his words had sealed the air itself. They did not cheer, nor clap, nor even whisper. They only stared at him, their gazes carrying a mixture of surprise, respect, and reflection.
When it had been announced that the Tenth Sun would be given the opportunity to address them, many had seen it as a chance to glimpse his true nature, to catch a fragment of the personality that hid behind the title and the whispers that surrounded his name.
Some among them had expected arrogance. Some had believed he would use the moment to boast of his superiority, to assert his dominance over them, to look down from the stage and cement his place as the unrivaled first. Others had thought he might even throw out subtle insults aimed at the remaining members of the top ten, setting the tone for rivalry and division.
But the Tenth Sun had done none of these things. Instead, he had chosen a different path.
His words had not been about pride, but about resilience. He had not spoken of himself as an untouchable genius, but as someone who had clawed his way up from failure and disgrace.
He had chosen to speak about them, about the students gathered before him, and in doing so, he had offered them a mirror. He had shown them that perseverance was still possible.
Those who had been panicking only moments before, weighed down by the threat of expulsion if they failed to progress, now found themselves strangely calmed. The heavy sense of dread was lifted, if only slightly, replaced with a fragile but real sense of reassurance. His words had been refreshing, like cool water after an exhausting march.
To many of them, the logic was simple: If the Tenth Sun could rise from failure to stand here as the first ranker, then surely they could do the same. After all, most of them had awakened on their very first attempt, whereas he had succeeded only on his third. If he could achieve this much with a late start, then perhaps they too stood a chance. Perhaps...
And yet, despite the subtle shift in the atmosphere, no one applauded. No one rose to their feet to cheer. The silence remained, heavy and contemplative. But Asher himself had expected no ovation.
He turned his head slightly toward Cindralis, who regarded him with an approving nod. Without hesitation, he stepped away from the podium, his steps steady, his expression calm.
’At the end of the day, I just couldn’t give a speech like one of those arrogant young masters,’ Asher sighed inwardly as he descended the stage. ’That’s not me.’
Though his speech had been about clawing one’s way upward, about refusing to surrender, Asher himself doubted that the majority of the students before him could truly accomplish such feats. In his mind, perhaps only those destined for greatness, or those who stumbled upon rare opportunities, could achieve the kind of progress he spoke of.
As for using himself as an example, he knew the truth too well. None of them had a system. None of them possessed the Absolute Physique. None of them carried his absurd talent. His words, though powerful, were not a blueprint they could easily follow.
Cindralis, having completed her part, gave one last nod in Berion’s direction before turning away. With a mere twist of her wrist, a portal bloomed into existence before her, swirling with rippling energy. Without sparing the students a backward glance, she stepped into the portal and vanished, leaving behind only the weight of her presence and the lingering awe of every gaze that had followed her.
The silence broke when Berion walked back to the podium. Clearing his throat lightly, he spoke with a composed tone.
"Now that both the Principal and the top ranker have spoken, let us conclude this event." He snapped his fingers, and a shimmering portal opened beside him. From within it, two figures emerged, stepping forward with measured grace.
Their movements were calm, their presence restrained, yet there was no mistaking the aura of strength that surrounded them. They stood tall, their backs straight, embodying discipline and quiet confidence.
"These are the Rank One and Rank Two students of Star Academy’s second-year class," Berion announced. "Thalric Wargrave and Stephanie Ravencroft. They will inform you of the basic rules of the Academy, and they will also guide you on your initial tour. And of course, classes begin tomorrow."
With his statement complete, another portal swirled into existence before him. Without further words, Berion stepped into it and disappeared, leaving the two hundred first-year students alone with the second-years.
The atmosphere shifted as eyes darted toward Thalric and Stephanie. The younger students’ gazes were sharp, curious, even nervous. Without any words, the two seniors descended from the stage with an air of effortless composure.
When they reached the center of the hall, Stephanie moved first. With a wave of her hand, a large basket materialized from her space ring, dropping onto the floor with a soft thud. Then, her voice rang out, sharp and commanding, resonating across the chamber.
"Place everything you have into this basket, aside from the clothes on your back and a single weapon that is no more than one grade higher than your Life Rank." Her words carried power, echoing clearly into every corner of the hall.
The students hesitated. A few shifted uncomfortably, unsure if she truly meant everything. But soon enough, one by one, they began moving forward. Each student reached into their belongings and dropped various items into the basket, blades, armor, herbs, coins, and artifacts of varying quality.
Not all moved, however. A few students remained in their seats, empty-handed. Their families had already warned them ahead of time that nothing beyond clothes and a single weapon would be permitted inside the Academy. For them, this rule was no surprise.
Asher remained seated, unbothered. Though he possessed items beyond his clothes, they were not stored in a space ring like the others. Instead, they were hidden safely within his system inventory. No one could take them from him, and so he sat quietly, watching the proceedings unfold.
At the same time, he turned his attention back to the ring Cindralis had bestowed upon him. He held it lightly in his palm, examining its faint glow.
’How exactly does it work?’ he thought. Though she had not given instructions, he suspected the mechanism was so simple it required none.
’To teleport somewhere, you must first have been there,’ he reasoned silently. ’It seems I’ll need to visit locations within the Academy before I can travel freely between them. If I attempt to teleport to a place and it fails, that will mean I do not have access to it.’
In his mind, the mechanism of the ring already aligned themselves neatly, as though his thoughts had instantly mapped its logic. He had not yet used it once, but already, he knew how it must function.
Nearby, William’s eyes drifted to the ring as well.
As the son of a baron, William could not help the envy that twisted in his chest. A teleportation ring was something beyond his reach, far beyond what his family could ever hope to afford. Compared to commoners, his family’s wealth made them rich indeed. But compared to figures like Asher Wargrave, William was painfully aware of his limitations. In truth, he was poor.
While Asher studied the ring and William stared with quiet longing, another figure moved. Ryaen rose to his feet, striding forward toward the basket Stephanie had conjured.
And then, Asher felt it.
A gaze.
The sensation prickled against his skin, slowly, he lifted his eyes from the ring, his purple irises narrowing as they sought out the source.
There, standing with calm poise, was a figure watching him calmly. The eyes were steady, neither hostile nor affectionate, simply apathetic.
Thalric Wargrave, the Ninth Sun.