Corin stood at the edge of the huge campus and let his gaze wander over the crowd.
The sight of the academy was overwhelming, a gigantic palace of white stone, decorated with gold and silver ornaments. The main building towered majestically into the sky, and the four wings that branched off from it could have passed for academies in their own right.
There was a lot going on.
Students in their finest attire streamed along the cobbled paths, some accompanied by servants, others in groups of peers who already knew each other. Conversation and laughter filled the air, mixed with the occasional clack of heels on marble and the muted rustle of fine fabrics.
Corin scrutinized the students more closely.
Although Viviana had said that ages could vary, most looked little older or younger than himself. He estimated that the range was between about 15 and 20 - a generation of future nobles, heirs and powerful figures.
He himself was 17. He didn't know his birthday, only the year.
His gaze slid on. It was obvious that the students moved according to certain structures. Groups had already formed, not by chance, but purposefully. Nobles stood among their peers, presumably members of the same family or associated houses. Some cast disparaging glances at others, some whispered, and still others ignored their surroundings completely.
Corin noticed that no one was alone. It was him.
He didn't let on that it bothered him.
He had never really had any friendships. The slums left no room for bonds, only for communities of convenience. Everyone was on their own, and trust was a weakness that was quickly punished.
But this was no longer the world he knew. This was a new opportunity.
He had no intention of joining one of the large groups or fitting into the existing structures. But he knew that he could not remain completely isolated. If he wanted to survive, or rather, endure, here, he had to be smart about it.
With a deep breath, he set himself in motion.
The main building of the academy was a masterpiece of architectural art, tall marble columns, ornate ceilings and a hall large enough to house an entire army. On the walls hung banners with the symbols of the Academy and the eleven constellations that represented the Paths.
Corin had found a spot in the back where he could get a good view of everything. The hall was filled with hundreds of students, but despite the crowd, there was a palpable tension in the air. Conversations were held quietly, some whispered about those present, others scrutinized their potential rivals.
Then it became quiet.
Not because someone asked for silence, but because a single person entered the hall.
Corin didn't need to know who he was to understand that this man was not being questioned by anyone.
The Headmaster.
He was huge, bigger than anyone else in the room. His body was riddled with muscles, but his movements didn't seem cumbersome, but controlled. His snow-white hair fell to his shoulders, while a short beard framed his striking, scarred face. But it was his eyes that overshadowed everything else. One could clearly feel their gaze even from the back.
Bright gray, sharp and penetrating, as if they could pierce the soul of anyone who met his gaze.
Corin had already met impressive personalities, Viviana with her playful yet unwavering dominance, the patriarch with his unyielding presence. But this man ...
He stood above them.
Without having spoken a word, he already had the entire room under his control.
Then he began to speak. His voice was deep, firm and filled the entire hall, as if he didn't need a single tool to be heard.
"Welcome."
A single word and it reverberated in everyone's minds.
"Old and new students, welcome back in the walls of the academy. You are all here to learn, grow and secure your place in this world. But remember one thing: this is not a battlefield. This is a neutral place of knowledge. Your families may be enemies, your ambitions may divide you, but within these walls, only one thing matters: skill."
He glanced around the crowd, and Corin was sure the man was memorizing every single person.
"There will be conflicts. That's in your nature. But those of you who are here should know that true strength lies not in wrestling down the first man you meet, but in choosing the right moment and the right method. This is a place of nobility and nobility means tact, strategy and dignity."
Corin sensed some around him moving uncomfortably. Apparently there were more than enough students who were already looking forward to open confrontations.
"Your time at this academy will shape you. Some of you will grow. Some of you will break. In the end, all that will matter is whether you are strong enough to keep your place. But that -" a brief smile twitched across his lips, but it wasn't reassuring, it was challenging, "- time will tell."
The speech ended with these words.
No superfluous talk, no false promises.
Just a reality that everyone here had to accept.
There was absolute silence for a moment.
Almost as a rehearsed reflex, the students bowed slightly, a respectful gesture. The Headmaster did not return the bow, he just nodded once, then turned and left the room as if he had nothing else to do.
Only when his presence faded did the murmuring slowly break out again.
Corin leaned back slightly. This was going to be ... interesting.