All the second-years soon gathered at the Grand Terrace, one of the academy’s ceremonial locations.
The Grand Terrace was the highest point in the academy. It looked like a god’s helicopter pad, surrounded by the rooftops of the other victorian buildings.
It was spacious enough to hold all 150 students, who had divided themselves into twos, fours, and even sixes. Every party had its own reason for choosing that number. Some wanted the leaderboard multiplier, while others cared more about surviving the Trials.
After all, many students knew the title of Dux was out of their reach, leaving it to inevitables like Rake Cooper and Scarlett Trump.
In that case, it was hard to tell which party was the strongest because the top students had scattered themselves across different teams.
Rake Cooper’s party was one of the first to catch everyone’s attention because of Toby and Tabitha.
Most students thought the two of them were too weak to keep up, but Rake didn’t need their strength. He needed the multiplier. He and Borg alone equaled twenty average students.
Next was the group consisting of Lucy, Derek Cole, Ayn Nightjoy, and Mizuki.
Matthew’s party also stood out. His teammates were Taymond, Shiera, and Bryden, who many students had started calling a traitor for joining a Rubverton party.
Luke’s team attracted attention too. Scarlett was a Mythic summoner, while Vivian and Raven were both Elder summoners.
He was the black sheep, but being the black sheep had never meant being the weakest.
After defeating Ryan Razael, no one had dared to challenge or trouble him again, but Luke still heard whispers about himself in the crowd. He always did his best to ignore the gossip. Today, he locked eyes with the very boy he had disgraced.
Ryan.
Ryan had managed a party of six for the Trials. The old Ryan Razael would have chosen a party of four or even a duo to maximise his benefits.
But since Luke plundered his supplies, a team of six was his safest option.
"Keep staring, idiot," Luke thought. "If you want your supplies back, you’re welcome to challenge me again."
**THE INDUCTION SHALL NOW BEGIN...!**
Luke scanned the crowd as the Vice Principal walked onto the Grand Terrace.
There was no sign of Adrian and his group, meaning the suspension was really in effect. This brought satisfaction to Luke, and to many other students who suffered under Adrian’s tyranny.
Slowly, the noise died down as the Vice Principal ascended the podium with Camilia assisting with papers.
"Students! This is where your journey begins... and where it will end."
"Know the difference between a Summoner and a Hunter. A square is a rectangle, but a rectangle is not a square.
The same applies here.
The Confederacy has put systems in place that separate your ordinary neighbor from the Hunter who clears the dungeon that opens on your street."
"Are you worthy of that responsibility... or will you fall back into mediocrity?"
"For these Trials, you will be judged on four things: Fieldcraft, Judgment, Expedience, and Autonomy. These, along with your overall performance, will determine your worth as future Hunters of our great planet!"
A giant hologram appeared in the sky. It was the leaderboard. All the points so far shown were earned from the challenges thrown around this past week.
#1 Borg – 14 pts
#2 Sheba – 6 pts
#3 Matthew – 5 pts
Borg grinned from ear to ear while other students frowned.
Why wouldn’t he be 1st when he had the most challenges?
Borg crushed so many students to the point he agreed to let them owe him favors just so he wouldn’t take what he forced them to wager in the first place.
"You will each receive a manual explaining the point system," the Vice Principal continued. "Points can be earned in many ways, from slaying monsters and clearing gates to helping civilians, and more."
"You may also spend your own points to obtain hints about hidden zones and secret rewards. But remember—it is a gamble. Spend wisely."
"Your manuals also contain every rule you are expected to follow. However, I will repeat the most important ones."
"No killing fellow students under any circumstances."
"You are only authorized to engage Beta-grade threats during the Trials. Entering higher-level zones is at your own risk."
"Do not harm civilians or damage public infrastructure."
"And finally... a curfew of 9 PM will be enforced every night. Failure to obey these rules will result in severe punishment."
The Vice Principal’s words echoed through the clouds, followed by silence.
The students were now realizing they were getting some form of independence for the first time. And that was fuel for competitive spirits.
The academy knew how things would go if left unchecked. This is why measures had been put in place to make sure the students didn’t step outside the line in their pursuit of being the best.
One of these measures involved law enforcement: the Bureau.
With the Bureau’s presence, the students would remember that they are not above the law. If they committed a crime during the Trial, they could still be punished.
The academy also had no choice but to involve the Confederacy.
The Confederacy was the spring at the mountaintop, while the academy was just a stream catching its overflow. The Confederacy had the technology and resources that made the joint term possible.
"Please, a round of applause, students, for the Superintendent of the Confederacy and the Warden of the Bureau!" the Vice Principal announced as he stepped away from the podium to welcome the guests.
"Warden?" Luke’s heart skipped a beat as applause spread through the crowd.
Thump. Thump. Someone’s boots?
The sound echoed as Silas Bill, the Warden, walked to the edge of the Grand Terrace, followed by a lady ⅓ his size.
Luke swallowed, his mind running through every reason he could think of for why Warden Silas was here. He stopped himself from overthinking it. The academy was under the Confederacy’s authority, and the Bureau worked hand in hand with them. Silas’s presence wasn’t irrational. It was just a little unexpected.
The man was so tall and wide that the podium looked like a toy in front of him. He was the first to speak because he had fewer things to say compared to the Superintendent.
Yet, he took his time combing through the crowd like a proud father.
He had dealt with many hunters who graduated from Montclair and Rubverton. Now, he wondered who his new favorites would end up being in three years’ time when this batch graduated.
"Congratulations to every one of you for reaching this milestone. This term gives you a lot of freedom, but you must use it wisely."
"You will cooperate with my Bureau at all times. Not sometimes. At all times."
"Do not damage public infrastructure or put civilians in harm’s way. If any of you decides to become a troublemaker out there, my Bureau will bring you to justice immediately."
"And if you try to escape..." Silas said, searching for Luke’s eyes in the crowd. "...my Bureau will find you."
Luke’s soul took a nosedive to his feet. His body froze, and his breath tangled in his throat as Silas’s gaze dug a tunnel through him
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