The doors opened again, and a figure stepped inside. Black hair, eyes the color of deep violets, a presence that immediately drew attention without a single word. She moved with a quiet confidence, each step measured, controlled, yet impossibly graceful. Her posture was straight, shoulders relaxed but firm, exuding authority without shouting it. Her gaze scanned the amphitheater with a calm, piercing intensity, as if assessing everything at once.
Violette: "Good morning, students of Ardenthal Academy."
Her voice was clear, commanding attention effortlessly.
Violette: "I am Violette. I will be guiding you through your training, your trials, and the awakening of your innate powers. What awaits each of you is not simple. You will be tested, alone, against challenges that will push you beyond what you think is possible."
She paused, letting the weight of her words sink in. Her eyes flicked subtly across the room, eventually settling briefly on Azrael at the very back. A small, deliberate smile curved her lips, and she gave a faint wave of her hand — a simple gesture that carried a quiet intensity, both acknowledgment and challenge.
Violette: "Some of you will fail. Some of you will succeed. Those who succeed will claim the power within you. Those who fail… will be lost. Remember this: every choice matters, every hesitation can be fatal. Do not underestimate yourselves. Do not underestimate your opponents."
Her tone was steady, measured, yet carried a force that made the silence in the room feel heavy. She held the room's attention effortlessly, her beauty, poise, and authority combining into something that was impossible to ignore.
Violette: "Prepare yourselves. The world beyond these walls is unforgiving. What you face here is only the beginning. Your courage, your strength, your will — everything will be tested."
Her gaze lingered a moment longer on Azrael before she stepped back, her presence still commanding, leaving an invisible weight in the air. The students, especially those who idolized her, now turned their eyes on him with subtle glances of confusion and annoyance.
As Violette stepped aside, the crowd's attention shifted again. A figure moved to the stage with an authority that made even the murmurs die down instantly. Elena Ardenthal, the director of Ardenthal Academy, grandmother to Selena and mother of the current king, carried herself with the weight of her lineage and the respect of centuries. Her presence was imposing; sharp, discerning eyes scanned the amphitheater, making every student feel the weight of her gaze.
Elena: "Welcome, students, to Ardenthal Academy."
Her voice was firm, commanding, yet carried a cold clarity.
Elena: "You are not here for titles, for praise, or for fame. You are here because the world is on the brink of collapse. The remnants of the old world's corruption are awakening. Seeds of malice, long thought sealed, are breaking free in multiple regions. Villages are vanishing. Patrols are being lost. Entire lands tremble under the shadows that creep across them."
Her eyes cut through the students like a blade.
Elena: "This academy exists to train warriors, not heroes. You will not be celebrated for the battles you win here; you will be forged to confront the evils most dare not face."
A hush fell across the room. Elena's words carried the weight of inevitability, and for the first time, the students could feel the stakes pressing down.
Elena: "For the next month, you will attend courses that teach you about the world's origins, the creatures that roam it, and the dangers that await beyond our borders. Attendance is your choice — your path is your own. At the end of this period, you will face the Trial of Awakening."
Her tone grew colder, sharper.
Elena: "Each student will be sent alone into a special chamber where a controlled Seed of Malice resides. Within, you will confront visions, nightmares, and challenges that reflect your deepest fears and strengths. Only those who endure will unlock their innate power… and their curse. Those who fail will be condemned to wander the Veil of Silence."
The room grew tense. Some students trembled, faces pale.
Elena: "The Veil of Silence is no myth. It is a realm where the souls of the fallen wander endlessly, without purpose, without hope, forever barred from returning. It is an abyss reserved for those who cannot face themselves."
Azrael, unmoved, leaned back slightly in his seat, his dark pupils unflinching.
Elena's voice softened just slightly, though the gravity remained:
Elena: "Take this seriously. Your training, your choices, your courage — everything here matters. Fail, and there is no second chance. Survive, and you may become the shields that hold this world together."
She paused, letting her words settle. Her eyes met Azrael's for a moment, sharp and assessing, before she looked past him.
Elena: "Now, students, rise. Your journey begins today. You are the future of Ardenthal."
The students, though still recovering from the weight of her speech, straightened and listened intently. Violette returned to the side of the stage, her violet eyes once again scanning the room, an unspoken challenge lingering between her gaze and Azrael's at the very back.
Azrael's mind, as always, remained cold.
"It would be annoying to fail now… or to mess up by missing all the lessons… and the Veil of Silence… I don't think it's a bluff. The pale faces of those pigs… it was real.
That was fear… real fear. So I just need to make myself as strong as possible.
Honestly, I have no desire to ask that Violette for help… I can already feel her mocking me until my death.
But… what is this curse thing anyway?"