Chapter 82: The Reward Ceremony
The afternoon sun cast long shadows across Valhalla Academy.
Combat class had ended.
Students slowly dispersed across the campus, still discussing Noah’s demonstration.
"...Did you see how he controlled the fight?"
"He barely attacked."
"Professor Ingrid actually smiled."
"I’ve never seen that before."
Noah ignored the whispers.
He walked back toward the dormitory with Squad Seven.
Eric stretched his arms.
"I’m starving."
Luna rolled her eyes.
"You’ve been starving since breakfast."
"I have a fast metabolism."
"You have a fast mouth."
Sophia covered her laugh.
Damien simply kept walking.
For the first time since returning from Eldermere...
Everything felt normal.
Almost.
That evening...
The dormitory grew quiet.
Moonlight spilled through Noah’s window.
His roommates had already gone to sleep.
Outside...
The academy bells marked the late hour.
Dong...
Dong...
Noah sat alone at his desk.
Before him rested two objects.
The Bell of Returning.
And...
The Sixth King’s journal.
He stared at the weathered leather cover.
Lucien’s words returned.
"Read it... when you’re alone."
The Keeper’s words followed.
"Answers are destinations."
Noah exhaled slowly.
"...One page."
He wasn’t ready for more.
He opened the journal.
The ancient pages were surprisingly well preserved.
The handwriting was elegant.
Deliberate.
Each stroke carried quiet confidence.
The first sentence was exactly as he remembered.
If you found this... history has failed.
Below it...
Another paragraph began.
My name is no longer important.
If the world still remembers my title... then that is already more than I deserve.
If it remembers neither... then perhaps our sacrifice was not in vain.
Noah continued reading.
You have inherited a key.
Others will tell you it opens a door.
They are wrong.
It is a promise.
The room became strangely quiet.
Even the wind outside seemed to stop.
He read one final paragraph.
If you seek this journal because you desire power...
Close it now.
You will find only disappointment.
If you seek answers...
Know this before you continue.
The first lie I ever believed...
...was that monsters are born.
Noah slowly closed the journal.
He didn’t turn another page.
"...Monsters are born..."
He repeated quietly.
"What does that mean?"
The rusted key beneath his shirt remained silent.
For once...
Even Ragnar offered no answer.
A knock interrupted the silence.
Knock. Knock.
"Leader?"
It was Eric.
"You awake?"
Noah slipped the journal back into his desk drawer.
"Come in."
Eric stepped inside carrying two steaming mugs.
"I couldn’t sleep."
He handed one to Noah.
"Figured you’d still be awake."
Noah accepted it.
"Thanks."
For several minutes...
Neither spoke.
They simply drank warm tea while looking out the window.
Finally...
Eric broke the silence.
"You know..."
"I wasn’t sure about you."
Noah looked at him.
"What do you mean?"
"When Professor Ingrid made you our leader."
Eric laughed awkwardly.
"I thought..."
"...’Great. Another quiet genius who’s going to get us killed.’"
Noah couldn’t help but smile.
"And now?"
Eric looked toward the moon.
"Now..."
"I’d follow you anywhere."
Silence returned.
Not uncomfortable.
Comfortable.
The kind shared between people who had survived something together.
Outside the dormitory...
Someone stood beneath the old oak tree.
Laura Esteria.
She quietly looked toward Noah’s lit window.
In her hand...
She held an old silver pendant engraved with a crest no one else in the academy had ever seen.
For a brief moment...
The pendant emitted the faintest silver glow.
Laura’s violet eyes narrowed.
"...So it’s begun."
She closed her hand around the pendant.
Then silently disappeared into the night.
Far beyond Valhalla Academy...
Lucien stood before a roaring fireplace.
A masked member of the Circle of Ash knelt before him.
"My Lord."
"The tournament invitations..."
"...have begun reaching every academy."
Lucien stared into the flames.
"Good."
He smiled faintly.
"Let them gather."
The masked figure hesitated.
"And the Key Bearer?"
Lucien’s smile didn’t fade.
"Leave him be."
"For now..."
"...he still has one more volume to finish."
Morning arrived with clear skies over Valhalla Academy.
Students from every year gathered in the Grand Assembly Hall.
It wasn’t often the Headmaster called a full academy meeting.
When he did...
Everyone attended.
The hall buzzed with conversation.
"What do you think this is about?"
"I heard an instructor completed an S-Class mission."
"No..."
"I heard it’s about Squad Seven."
Eric leaned toward Noah.
"I hate when people stare."
Luna glanced around.
"You’ve been smiling since we walked in."
"I can do both."
The massive doors at the front of the hall opened.
BOOM...
Every student immediately stood.
Headmaster Alaric entered.
Professor Astrid walked to his right.
Professor Ingrid to his left.
Behind them came dozens of instructors.
Alaric raised one hand.
The hall fell silent.
"Students..."
"Several weeks ago..."
"I assigned an escort mission to one of our first-year squads."
He paused.
"The mission exceeded its original scope."
"It demanded courage..."
"...judgment..."
"...and leadership."
Many students already knew who he was referring to.
"Squad Seven."
Professor Ingrid spoke.
"Front."
Noah.
Eric.
Sophia.
Luna.
Damien.
The five walked through hundreds of watching students.
Some first-years clapped quietly.
Soon...
The applause spread through the hall.
Then the second-years joined.
Finally...
Even the third-years applauded.
Eric whispered,
"...This is embarrassing."
Luna smiled.
"You’ll survive."
The applause faded.
Alaric looked at the five students.
"You fulfilled your duty."
"You protected civilians."
"You returned together."
He smiled.
"No academy could ask for more."
One by one...
The instructors stepped forward.
Each handed a small silver medal to a member of Squad Seven.
Upon the medal...
The academy crest shimmered.
Around it...
Seven tiny stars had been engraved.
Astrid spoke.
"The Star of Service."
"It is awarded only to students who complete a mission that brings honor to Valhalla Academy."
The hall erupted into murmurs.
A second-year whispered,
"...First-years?"
Another student nodded.
"They actually earned one."
Professor Ingrid continued.
"Along with this..."
"Each member of Squad Seven..."
"...will receive ten thousand academy merit points."
Eric almost dropped his medal.
"...Ten thousand?"
Damien adjusted his glasses.
"...That’s enough to access the advanced library."
Sophia smiled brightly.
"We can finally buy better equipment."
Luna simply nodded.
"Worth it."
Finally...
Alaric looked toward Noah.
"Blackwood."
Noah stepped forward.
"You have already received the Mission Merit Ring."
"However..."
"...there is one more reward."
An instructor carried forward a long wooden case.
It was old.
Far older than the others.
Alaric opened it.
Inside rested...
A simple black scabbard.
No sword.
Only the scabbard.
Confused whispers spread across the hall.
Alaric lifted it carefully.
"This..."
"...is called Nightveil."
Professor Astrid explained.
"It is not a weapon."
"It is a relic."
"When worn..."
"...it suppresses the aura of its owner’s weapon."
Professor Ingrid smiled faintly.
"For someone who carries unusual power..."
"...it will help keep unnecessary attention away."
Only Noah understood the true meaning.
Nightveil wasn’t a reward.
It was protection.
He accepted the black scabbard with both hands.
"Thank you."
High among the watching students...
Laura Esteria observed quietly.
She looked at the black scabbard.
Then at Noah.
A nearly invisible smile appeared.
"...A wise choice."
She murmured.
On the opposite side of the hall...
Cain Draven folded his arms.
His silver eyes remained fixed on Noah.
Not with jealousy.
With anticipation.
After the ceremony...
Students crowded around Squad Seven.
Questions came from every direction.
"What happened in Eldermere?"
"Did you fight monsters?"
"Is the rumor true?"
"How strong was the mission?"
Professor Ingrid stepped forward.
"Enough."
"They’re dismissed."
The crowd reluctantly backed away.
As Squad Seven left the Grand Assembly Hall...
A courier rushed through the academy gates.
His horse was covered in dust.
He carried a long silver case sealed with the crests of multiple kingdoms.
Without stopping...
He rode directly toward the Headmaster’s Tower.
Professor Astrid noticed him immediately.
"So..."
She whispered.
"They’ve arrived."
Alaric looked toward the tower windows.
His golden eyes narrowed.
"The invitations..."
He said quietly.
"...are earlier than usual."
Far inside the silver case...
Beneath layers of enchanted seals...
Rested a single parchment bearing the crests of every Great Academy on the continent.
It remained unopened.
Waiting.