CHAPTER 565: WELCOME ANNOUNCEMENT (2)

Thion allowed his gaze to drift slowly across the hall, sweeping over rows upon rows of students without ever narrowing in on a single face. Yet somehow, each person felt seen, as if his attention rested briefly on them alone. The last traces of his voice echoed faintly against the vaulted ceiling before dissolving into a stillness that carried its own gravity.

"I must say, you all aren’t looking bad at all," he continued, drawing in a measured breath before letting his words settle into the room. His tone carried the same firm authority he was known for, but beneath it lay a quiet softness, a subtle warmth that had not always been there. "You look healthy, capable—much like you did half a year ago. Perhaps even sharper now."

No one dared to respond. The silence that followed was not born of discomfort but of shared experience, a mutual understanding that needed no voice. Several students shifted in their seats, instinctively straightening as though compelled to appear stronger under his gaze. Others lowered their heads slightly, trying to mask the fatigue that still clung to them like a shadow refusing to loosen its grip. The air held an unspoken truth: every person in that hall had felt the weight of the past months in some way.

Thion softened his stance, refusing to let the moment turn rigid. "I won’t pretend the break was a planned one. Or that it was restful for many of you." His voice dipped slightly, taking on the weight of memory. "The Green Calamity reached into every corner of Amthar... every border, every village, every household, every academy. Even with the lockdowns in place, too many of you felt its shadow one way or another. Some of you stepped forward when you had no obligation to do so. Some of you carried others even when you could barely stand."

A faint rustle stirred through the hall—small, subtle, but unmistakably real. It was the sound of students remembering, of acknowledging the heaviness they still carried.

"But you’ve returned to these walls," he continued, his tone quiet but gaining strength with each word. "Despite fear. Despite loss. Despite months marked by uncertainty that leaves wounds most people will never see." He swept a slow look across them again, letting the truth settle. "And still, here you are. Ready to learn again. Ready to grow. Ready to continue becoming the guardians this world will one day call upon."

His expression softened, the hard lines around his golden eyes easing in a way that felt almost paternal. "So let me say this plainly... welcome back. Not just to the academy, but to the rhythm of your own lives. Welcome back to your friends, your mentors, and the version of yourselves you’re still fighting to rebuild."

He straightened, allowing the warmth in his tone to melt smoothly into the authority he carried with natural ease. "This year doesn’t erase what happened. But it is yours to reclaim. And together, we will make sure you rise from it stronger than before."

Applause spread through the hall, at first a wave and then a swell, coming not only from the students but also from the academy’s authoritative figures seated behind him. It was gratitude, relief, and hope all woven into one long, echoing sound.

As the applause faded, Thion took a steadying breath and cleared his throat softly, recentering the room’s focus. "Thank you," he said, the smile in his voice subtle but present. "Now, without further delay, I would like to welcome Mystica Moonstone to take the stage from here. Please give her your attention."

He turned and gestured toward Mystica, who rose from her seat with an effortless grace. Her gown shimmered subtly beneath the dimmed lighting, the deep nightshade fabric catching at the edges as she moved. Her long, dark hair fell in a smooth cascade down her back, swaying with each elegant step she took toward the pulpit. Her violet eyes held their usual calm confidence, sharp but warm, assessing the hall with familiarity.

Reaching the pulpit, she offered Thion a respectful nod. He returned it before stepping aside and descending from the stage, leaving the hall’s anticipation to fall squarely on her shoulders.

Standing before the pulpit, Mystica took a moment to adjust her stance, flipping her hair back lightly with a practiced motion. Her smirk—smooth, teasing, and perfectly controlled—appeared as naturally as a breath.

"Thank you, Headmaster Thion, for the opportunity," she began, her voice clear and rich, carrying easily through the hall. Her eyes drifted across the sea of students, studying them with a knowing expression. When her gaze found Liam seated among the crowd, she paused for the briefest heartbeat. He sat detached as always, uninterested in the attention around him. Her smirk curled just a touch more at the sight.

"Like the headmaster said," she continued, smoothly returning to the hall at large, "it is a lovely sight to have you all gathered here once again after everything that has happened." Her tone settled into something lighter, though still layered with purpose. "Now, since the headmaster has given you all the proper welcome, I’m here to explain how things are going to proceed from this point onward."

The hall drew quiet once more. Students leaned forward slightly in their seats, bracing themselves for the structure, changes, and challenges to be unveiled. Every gaze fixed on Mystica as she prepared to reveal what awaited them in the days to come.

Mystica let her eyes sweep the hall once more, ensuring every student felt the weight behind her presence before she spoke again, her voice calm but edged with authority. "Before I get to the specifics of what awaits you this year, there is something that must be made abundantly clear," she said, pausing to let the gravity of her words settle in. "This is to clear the air entirely and leave no room for unnecessary whispers, speculation, or ill-conceived assumptions."

A ripple of uncertainty passed through the students. Some tilted their heads in confusion, unsure where this was leading, while others, perceptive enough, exchanged quick glances, already sensing the direction Mystica was taking.

"I believe," she continued, her tone smooth yet pointed, "that nearly everyone here is already aware of the rumors spreading throughout all three Kingdoms of Amthar. The rumors about a dark mage... and, more strikingly, that this dark mage is none other than the biological son of the late Princess of the Solara Kingdom, Serah Magna."

A hush fell over the hall, punctuated only by the soft shuffling of restless feet and quiet gasps. Mystica’s words carried deliberate weight, each syllable landing with the force of inevitability. Then, as if to punctuate the announcement with unmistakable clarity, a spotlight descended from above, settling directly on Liam Hunter where he sat among his peers. Every eye in the hall followed the beam, drawing the entire room’s attention to him as though the air itself had shifted.

Liam flinched almost imperceptibly, the sudden illumination throwing him off balance. Inwardly, he muttered a string of curses, gritting his teeth as he silently berated Mystica for her theatrical display.

’Completely unnecessary,’ he thought bitterly. ’She could have said it without this ridiculous spotlight.’ His crimson eyes flicked around, burning with quiet irritation, yet outwardly he remained seated, rigid but controlled.

Mystica, on the other hand, was unbothered by his discomfort. A small, mischievous smirk tugged at the corner of her lips, as if she were savoring the moment just enough to tease without cruelty. "The rumors," she continued, her voice flowing effortlessly through the hushed hall, "are indeed facts. Liam Hunter here is the biological son of the late Princess Serah Magna of Solara." She let the declaration hang for a beat, allowing the students to absorb it fully. Mutters and low whispers rose around the room, the news cascading from mouth to mouth like wildfire.

Once she allowed that to settle, Mystica leaned slightly forward on the pulpit, her tone shifting to one of deliberate firmness.

"With that cleared, there is another matter of importance that every student must understand. While dark mages were historically classified as a curse, hunted and nearly driven to extinction by both the Crescent and Solara Kingdoms, I must make this academy—and by extension, the Tempest Kingdom—absolutely clear.

"Any prejudices rekindled over the past months due to rumors, any judgment, suspicion, or malice directed toward Liam Hunter, or any student in that matter, will not be tolerated. Crescentians, Solarians, or anyone else here must leave such thinking at the door, because under this roof, under my watch, such behavior will meet with immediate and unwavering disapproval."

A low chorus of groans and soft mutters rolled through the hall as her words sank in. Simultaneously, Liam felt the weight of dozens of gazes pinned on him once more, some curious, others calculating, yet he ignored them, sitting tall and calm despite the lingering irritation prickling at the edges of his composure.

Mystica’s violet eyes gleamed with controlled authority as she lifted her hands and clapped deliberately, drawing the students’ attention back to her without needing to raise her voice.

"I trust," she said, her lips curling into a smile that was both mesmerizing and subtly dangerous, "that you, my sweet little darlings, have taken my words to heart. I hope you understand exactly what is expected, and that you will act accordingly." For those with a keen eye, the expression she wore was unmistakable: the protective gaze of a maternal figure, daring anyone to overstep, to threaten what she had chosen to defend.

The murmurs died down, and the students returned to their seats, the weight of her presence ensuring silence. The spotlight on Liam faded, though he still felt a lingering irritation at having been singled out so dramatically. Even so, he kept his composure, letting his hands rest calmly on his lap while the hall absorbed the clarity Mystica had just delivered.

Satisfied that order had been restored, Mystica’s voice softened just enough to carry a renewed warmth through the room.

"Now that the necessary clarifications are made, we can proceed to the main purpose of my address today. There is much to discuss, and it is time you all understood not only the structure of the academy this year but the unique opportunities and challenges that await each of you. Let us move forward, with clarity, focus, and the intent to rise to every expectation placed before you."