"Sunglasses?" Max stuttered, repeating the way the girl had pointed at him, as if genuinely confused whether she was actually talking to him.
"I didn't know people came with such weird fashion in Soladors," she said, arms crossing firmly over her chest, her golden hair catching the candle lights like a halo. Her voice carried the sharpness of authority, despite her age. "Breaking the uniform code already? I think you should work on your manners, young boy."
Max shifted awkwardly under her strict glare, feeling weird being called young boy by someone who looked about his age maybe even younger.
Jack, meanwhile, just grinned lazily, completely unfazed, like he was used to getting yelled at daily.
The girl's eyes snapped to him. "And you too, boy. Remove that headband. You look like you used to rob people on the streets. That's another violation of the school uniform."
"Hey, hey, sorry, ma'am," Max blurted out quickly, desperate not to get in trouble on the first day. "We were just nervous and... didn't really know much about the rules."
But Jack... Jack wasn't going to let it slide.
"Relax, Princess," Jack said smoothly. "Didn't realize whispering was illegal now. And if you're so worried, stay away. No one asked for your thoughts."
The girl narrowed her eyes, clearly not impressed. Her posture straightened even more, if that was even possible.
Max jumped in fast, trying to defuse the bomb. "Uh, sorry, sorry... We'll keep it down. We're just... new, you know? Trying to catch up."
"Everyone here is new," the girl repeated, voice dripping with judgment. She tilted her head slightly, almost as if pitying them. "Mannerless."
Jack let out a snort. "Yeah, well, excuse us for not being born with a stick up our ass."
Max elbowed him hard. "Dude," he hissed under his breath, "she's a girl! You can't talk to them like that!"
Jack just shrugged, as casual as ever.
The golden-haired girl leaned a little closer, a thin, mocking smile playing on her lips. "Big mouths usually get shut quickly around here," she said coolly. "You might want to remember that."
Jack raised an eyebrow, smirking, absolutely unfazed. "And girls with sharp tongues usually end up biting themselves," he fired back.
For a moment, they just stared at each other, silent sparks flying in the air like an invisible battlefield.
Finally, she broke the silence with a sharp flick of her hair. "Mannerless goons," she muttered. Then her gaze snapped back to Max. "And you, Sunglasses don't stay with this boy. You still have some shred of manners left. Apologize properly and stay in order. It'll be best for your future."
Without waiting for a reply, she turned her head, focusing on the sorting ceremony happening up front, where Professor Bianca was beginning to call out names.
Max sighed heavily and buried his face in his hands.
"You just made us an enemy on day one," he whispered urgently to Jack.
Jack just shrugged like it was no big deal. "Nah. We didn't even do anything. Some people just want to be bossy."
Max peeked over his hands to glance at the girl. Her arms were crossed, her chin tilted high, like she was personally guarding the entire school's sense of decency.
"She's definitely going to Orderhall," Jack muttered. "I don't even think Professor needs to call her up to the book. Her face is already screaming bossy."
Max: "Really? You think so?"
"Yeah, pretty sure."
Max leaned back, thinking. There were three houses:
Orderhall, for order and discipline,
Silvertongue, for truth and diplomacy,
Stormforge, for freedom and strength.
"So... what house do you think you'll be in?" Max asked, genuinely curious.
Before Jack could answer, a mocking voice floated over from the side.
"He's for the streets," the golden-haired girl quipped without even looking at them.
Jack bristled immediately. "You mad woman, don't you have manners yourself? Eavesdropping on someone else's conversation!"
The girl turned just slightly, flashing a cold smile. "Didn't I say stay silent?" she said sweetly. "But clearly, you both don't know how."
Jack opened his mouth to retort, but Max quickly grabbed his sleeve, shaking his head desperately. Not today. Not now.
The sorting had already begun, and the last thing they needed was to get thrown out before even making it to the first class.
"Arghh, don't bite my hand, man!" Max almost screamed, but somehow managed to keep his voice down.
On the other hand, the golden-haired girl stayed completely silent, her expression like ice.
Max quickly yanked his hand off Jack's mouth.
Sighing, he nudged him hard with his elbow. "Seriously, dude, stop provoking her," he muttered under his breath.
Jack only leaned back lazily onto one foot, crossing his arms casually like he had all the time in the world. Meanwhile, the girl clicked her tongue in clear irritation, her golden hair shimmering slightly under the candlelight.
Max decided it was probably smarter to try keeping the peace one last time.
He raised a hand awkwardly. "Alright, alright, we'll shut up. No more talking, pinky promise."
The girl raised an unimpressed eyebrow.
"Pinky promises are for children," she said flatly.
Jack leaned closer to Max and whispered, "She probably made a blood oath when she was five."
"What's that now?" Max almost asked out loud, but he caught himself, stiffening when he felt the girl's presence grow hotter beside them.
Thankfully, a voice saved him at the last second.
"Max Stormhart!" Professor Bianca's voice echoed sharply from the stage.
Max jolted upright.
Oh crap, my turn!
He stumbled forward through the rows of students, awkwardly dodging backpacks and long cloaks, while a few quiet chuckles echoed around the hall. As he passed by, Jack slapped him lightly on the back.
"Go get something good, donut," Jack whispered with a teasing grin.
Max shot him a death glare but kept moving, weaving through the crowd of students who instinctively parted to give him space.
Every step toward the raised platform felt heavier and suffocating. He could feel the intense gaze of the golden-haired girl boring into his back like a heated brand.
Great... just what I needed. Public humiliation and a brand new nemesis. Perfect first day energy.
As he reached the center of the vast room, he slowed, eyes lifting to the three tall pillars standing proudly before him. Each one was different: one gleamed pure white, another shimmered with a deep royal purple, and the last radiated a lush emerald green. Between them, resting atop a blackened pedestal, sat an ancient-looking book, its dark, weathered cover practically humming with age and power.
Max swallowed hard, feeling the weight of hundreds of eyes pinning him in place students, professors, even figures watching from balconies high above. Their combined attention made the air thick, almost unbearable.
Among them, he immediately recognized three Julius, Headmaster Fledrock, and, of course, Professor Lysira.
Julius stood there like a statue, his face a blank wall, offering nothing.
Headmaster Fledrock, towering and stern, gave Max a small nod, a brief but noticeable gesture of approval. And then there was Professor Lysira, whose eyes gleamed with curiosity and an almost mischievous anticipation, as if she were eager to see which of the three Houses Max would be claimed by.
She was Genuinely curious.
Feeling painfully self conscious, Max gave them a stiff, awkward nod in return. A murmur rippled through the students, even catching a few professors off guard.
Max grimaced internally. Fantastic. Now I'm the guy who bows to the entire staff. Could this get any worse?
Max nodded toward the professors awkwardly, standing stiffly in his uniform, his hands hanging awkwardly by his sides.
Around him, the quiet murmur of students started to ripple through the hall.
"Who is this kid?"
"Did you see that? Headmaster Fledrock nodded at him!"
"Is he someone important?"
"And why the sunglasses? Is that even allowed?"
Even a few professors exchanged subtle glances, their eyebrows raised ever so slightly.
Professor Bianca coughed lightly into her hand, cutting through the noise like a blade.
"Mr. Stormhart, please come up and start the procedure."
"Y-Yes, Professor!"
Max stepped forward, staring at the book.
Put your hand on the Book of Alignment, she'd said.
He reached out and pressed his right palm to its surface.
…
Nothing.
No sound. No glow. No warmth. Just the rough texture of ancient leather under his skin.
He blinked. Then blinked again.
Still nothing.
Up in the balcony, Headmaster Fledrock narrowed his eyes.
"Don't let it be what I'm thinking…" he muttered under his breath.
One minute passed. Then another.
The book remained dark and silent.
The hall stirred. Students began whispering. Even some professors leaned in, exchanging glances.
Max felt sweat prick the back of his neck.
Jack's expression in the crowd had changed his cocky grin replaced with visible concern.
Even the golden-haired girl looked over now, a rare flicker of confusion in her perfect posture.
Still, the book did not respond.
Max stood there alone, under hundreds of eyes his hand pressed to a book that refused to judge him.
Why?
What did it mean?
This shouldn't be happening.
That was the unspoken thought floating around the entire sorting hall. Students stared wide-eyed, murmuring nervously, while professors exchanged uncertain glances.
The Book of Alignment sat still closed and unresponsive as Max Stormhart stood awkwardly before it, his hand pressed against its worn leather cover. No glow or magic just silence.
The golden-haired girl narrowed her eyes. Did the Book… reject him? Is he unworthy of all three houses? That had never happened before in the history of Soladors right?.
Suddenly
Hummmmmmmm
A deep, resonant hum echoed from the book. Students jolted upright, startled. Even the composed professors raised their eyebrows, surprised.
The book closed for the entire process was vibrating.
Clink. Clink. Clang.
The sound of rattling chains slithered through the hall like a phantom. Students glanced around nervously. Some stood on tiptoes to get a better view.
"What's that sound?" someone whispered.
Headmaster Fledrock sighed heavily, rubbing his temple.
"So… it's happening," he muttered under his breath. "Problematic. Tomorrow's headlines will be all about Soladors."
He didn't move, only watched in silence, though his eyes were sharp and calculating.
Several professors took a step forward, spells quietly charging in their palms but one glance at the Headmaster's calm posture stopped them cold. If he wasn't panicking, neither should they.
Even with their high level mastery of arcane arts, none of them could understand what was happening.
This had never occurred not in any of the countless ceremonies they'd attended.
Only one among them trembled in pure, unfiltered emotion.
A thin, square glassed professor of magical history and ancient legends clutched the railing of the balcony he stood on. His body was shaking. His lips parted as if to speak, but no words came. Goosebumps raced across his arms.
"No… no way," he whispered, almost to himself. "Is this truly…?"
"Professor Dalnorn, do you know what's happening?" one of his colleagues asked, stepping beside him.
But Dalnorn didn't hear. His entire being was fixated on the phenomenon below.
Down at the center of the ceremony, Max scratched his head awkwardly. His hand still lay on the book, but he was starting to feel ridiculous.
"…I guess no house wants me," he muttered to himself with a sigh, just as he began to pull his hand away.
Click. Crack.
RUMMMMMBLE.
The hall began to tremble. Students grabbed onto each other anything to keep their balance. A low roar like thunder building beneath the earth echoed beneath their feet.
Professor Bianca's eyes widened. She felt the sudden surge of magic gather directly under the ceremony's center. Her fingers twitched, preparing to cast a containment spell.
Shhooooom!
With a deafening crash, a new pillar erupted from the floor beside the other three white, green, and purple rising to match their height.
But this one..
It was royal sky-blue, etched with a shining silver sword emblem.
Silence fell for just a heartbeat.
Then
A scream full of joy and disbelief cut through the stillness.
"The… The Fourth House!" Professor Dalnorn's voice cracked from the balcony, as he shouted at the top of his lungs. "The Fourth House of Soladors has returned!"
Gasps erupted all around the hall. Students' mouths hung open. Professors turned, stunned.
"It wasn't a myth!" Dalnorn bellowed, shaking with excitement. "After 3,170 years it returns! The House of Stormhart!"
The blue pillar pulsed with power. Energy danced around it in soft arcs of lightning.
Professor Dalnorn slammed both hands on the balcony railing, his eyes wide and tearful. "The House… Of honr… it were real!"
Below, Max stood frozen, his hand now glowing softly as blue tendrils of energy flowed from the book into his palm.
Then, carved into the ancient stone floor, new glowing script formed beneath his feet:
Max Stormhart – Aligned to the Fourth House.
Swordhart.
---