Radiance - The Alight Archives Book #1

99. Honor and Magic

Much like Professor Marsh had informed them during their homeroom period, a mandatory assembly was announced and held in the Assembly Hall. The expansive room, with its high vaulted ceilings, comfortably accommodated all fifteen homeroom classes. The professors and additional staff members lined up neatly against the walls, their expressions a blend of professionalism and eagerness. All except for Professor Marsh; as usual, he looked like he didn't want to be in attendance.

Elaine could count on one hand the number of times they'd been summoned to this room, each occasion marked by the gravity of the announcements presented—important updates meant to keep them informed in their turbulent academic schedules. However, in light of the recent Serpent Fang Syndicate catastrophe, she understood the necessity of addressing it in their gathering. 

The remnants of that disaster were still imprinted in her mind, and Elaine sensed that they would gloss over the more sensitive aspects of the encounter, perhaps to protect morale or maintain the facade of control. A wise decision from a logical standpoint, but that wouldn't satisfy the academy's hunger for the truth, nor would it her's.

Much like all the other assemblies, Elaine stood in a single-file line with her class, positioned in front of the stage, nestled between Homeroom Classes 6 and 8, and behind Edgar, who was not particularly tall. This fortune allowed her a glimpse of the stage, but not without effort; she found herself standing on the tips of her toes, straining to catch every detail of the proceedings.

As always, the Student Council commanded the assembly's attention. Elaine's gaze settled on Micah, who stood with an air of authority, his arms pressed firmly against his sides. His expression was stern—eyes narrowed, jaw set. Next to him stood Shione. While she exuded a sense of seriousness, her posture was more relaxed, hinting at a calmness that suggested a different approach to leadership. Elaine hadn't interacted with Shione much, but her impression was that she possessed a laid-back personality. Given the solemn nature of this particular assembly's subject, it made Shione's attempts at maintaining composure seem more like a cloak. 

Standing at the pulpit was none other than the Student Council President, Nathan Brand. His distinctive, different-colored eyes—one a striking yellow and the other a deep purple—captured the gathered students, while his tousled brown hair framed a strong jawline. He led them all in unison as they recited the Glyph Academy pledge, their voices echoing in harmony.

With a gracious bow, Nathan concluded his address and seamlessly handed the reins of the service over to their headmaster, Orion Valerian. Orion returned Nathan's gesture with a firm handshake, and as Nathan stepped back, he rejoined the rest of the Student Council, forming a neat line beside an indifferent-looking Raze, who stood at the rear of the stage with arms crossed. 

"Oh, man. I've never seen Headmaster Valerian like this," Rayla whispered behind Elaine. "He's usually so charismatic and upbeat. Now, he looks like someone broke it to him that his dog just died."

"We shouldn't judge the guy too harshly," Edgar said, his pointed ears twitching at the sound of Rayla's small voice. "Out of everyone here, he probably took the biggest blow to his reputation. I mean, Serpent Fang infiltrated the academy under his watch. Can you imagine what the High Commission had to say about this blunder?"

As far as the magical world was concerned, power resided firmly in the hands of the Arcanum, or rather, the elite governing body known as the Sorcery High Commission. This council, comprised of eight formidable members, was renowned as some of the most potent Professional Sorcerers in the entire country. They were the architects of the laws that dictated the use of magic, vigilantly overseeing every sorcery-related activity throughout Incante.

Each member wielded not only immense magical abilities but also significant political influence, ensuring their dominion over the mystic arts remained unchallenged. And apparently...one of them was Minerva's father. As for Orion, she could only hold her breath and hope that the repercussions he faced would not be too punishing or dire.