A tall figure stepped onto the raised platform at the front of the field. The moment he appeared, silence swept across the crowd.
It was Principal Aldric.
There was something commanding about him—his every step was calm and purposeful, as if each one had weight. His long coat, a deep shade of navy blue, trailed behind him like a shadow.
Silver embroidery shimmered faintly on the cuffs whenever he moved his hands, catching the sunlight in brief flashes.
His hair, tied neatly behind his head, was streaked with gray—marking both his age and the years of experience he carried.
His face was lined, not just with age, but with the marks of battles fought and lessons learned.
He looked like someone who had seen real war… and lived through it.
When he reached the center of the platform, he paused. His eyes slowly scanned the massive gathering of students—first years, second years, and third years.
