Every year, tens of thousands of people from myriad races went to the Immortal Academy for knowledge, power, or even political benefits. After all, the Academy had enough prestige to even attract royalties, even for the likes of Luceran.
"Five years is actually over." Said Luceran to Kellen.
"Well… for the likes of us who are always busy, five years is kind of short." Kellen replied silently to Luceran.
Before the prince had the time to respond, the sound of the trumpet stopped. Suddenly, all the students could feel a majestic, scholarly aura filling the entire hall; then, without everyone knowing, an old man with white hair and a beard and a blue robe with many white patterns materialized from thin air on the stage with dark purplish lights. The whole crowd focused on the old man. Out of nowhere, a one-and-a-half-meter rod materialized in the old man's hand. The rod was made of ancient-looking wood, probably oak. There were many rune carvings on the body of the rod. On the top of the rod, there was a dark purplish crystal the size of an adult male knuckle. He gently tapped the rod on the floor, as if using the rod to support him standing.
"Graduates, welcome!" Said the old man calmly. What was weird was that the whole crowd could hear what he said, despite some being far from the stage.
"Teacher!" Exclaimed Kellen silently. He looked excited when he looked at the old man.
"Calm down, Kellen. You looked like you rarely see the principal, despite meeting him almost every day for the last couple of years." Luceran sneered.
"You don't understand. This time, it is completely different." How could it not? That day was the graduation day, and Kellen was crowned as one of the Immortal Successors, or the best top five graduates from the Immortal Academy. The Immortal Successors of this generation! As for Luceran? Despite not being in the top 5, he was still in the top 10. Although the title for the top 6th to 10th graduates was not as grand as the Immortal Successor, it was still amazing. The 6th to the 10th were called the Immortal Seeds. Though it sounded amazing and grand, it was not a satisfying achievement for Luceran, for his background was gigantic, especially as he was the 2nd prince of the Kyros Divine Empire, the strongest Empire in Promordia!
"Tch, whatever." Replied Luceran mockingly to Kellen. Luceran and Kellen then continued and looked at the principal.
"5 years have passed. For some of you, that might be a long time; others think that is short, but I assure you that this is only the beginning. You have struggled for 5 years, attending the classes, doing field trips to different realms, or touring the other part of Primordia for the last 5 years, all for helping you broaden your horizon and expand your knowledge to help you achieve your dreams. I have attended countless graduation ceremonies; god knows how many genius and amazing graduates I have seen. I hope that you remain humble and always do your best out there." Stated the principal during the opening speech.
The ceremonies went on as usual. An hour later came the time that Kellen had been waiting for, and that was the crowning of the top 10 graduates, the Immortal Seeds and Successors!
"For the students that I will call next, please come to the stage to receive your medal!" Exclaimed the principal loudly.
"The top 10th graduate, Jarred! Come to the stage!" The crowd applauded loudly as they saw a long-haired Black man with black eyes looking bored and unmotivated.
"I have never seen him happy, you know?" Said Luceran to Kellen while whispering to his ears.
"For the second prince of the strongest Empire in Primordia, you know better than me as to why he always looks like that, right? With your wide range of spies, you should know what happened to his hometown." Replied Kellen.
Jarred walked slowly with a gentle pace to the stage. He bowed to the crowd of his peers, to the mentors and teachers sitting at the front of the hall, and then to the principal before receiving the medal.
"There will always be a rainbow after the storm. What will come will come, young man!" The principal said to him silently while the crowd was still applauding.
"Thank you, principal." Stated Jarred with a heavy heart while forcing his smile. He exited the stage and returned to the crowd.
"Next, Chaelen Thalvanyr! Come to the stage!" The principal continued calling names.
"Oh? He is actually ranked 9th? Wasn't he the 7th? A year ago?" Asked Kellen.
"Were you in a cave for the past year? Didn't you hear that he had to ask for a leave for 6 months because he was asked to the Thousand Island region by his father, king Nerion Thalvanyr, for an important task?" Replied Luceran. "Because of that, he could not do many assignments and failed to attend many classes. That is why he fell to the 9th rank." He continued.
"Hmm… I see." Kellen said.
"The Crown Prince of Thalasserya, Chaelen Thalvanyr, receive your medal!" Exclaimed the principal.
The ocean blue-haired youth walked elegantly to the stage. He had shining light blue eyes and a handsome appearance. While walking along the way to the stage, the crowd applauded loudly for him. You could see girls screaming his name, "Prince Chaelen!" and a look of amazement or envy from the boys. While walking, the crown prince was looking left and right, nodding, smiling, and responding to some of the graduates that he knew. When he arrived on stage, he bowed to the graduates, to the mentors and tutors, and lastly to the principal.
"Send my warm greetings to His Majesty Nerion." Said the principal calmly after shaking hands with the youth and giving the medal.
"Royal father would be happy to hear your greetings, principal!" Chaelen replied with a smile on his face. He wore the medal that looked like a necklace around his neck, then proceeded to exit the stage. The eyes of the girls could not leave him while he was walking back to his place.
"Xoen Solaris! Come to the stage to receive the medal!" A calm youth with bright red hair walked slowly to the stage. His bright black eyes were sharp, and his face looked mature but still handsome. People with keen eyes could detect an air of pride from his face and from the way he walked. The youth walked with pride as the center of attention. How could he not be prideful? As he came from the rival Empire of Kyros, the Solaris Divine Empire!