Chapter 10 - Siiren Academy (II)
"Tsk, I'm so sleepy," someone complained. "Why did they have to set the welcoming ceremony so early?"
"They didn't even let us rest or give us rooms yet," another freshman chimed in. "We were just directed here all of a sudden."
"I heard the welcoming ceremony decides how you get viewed by others," a third student said, their voice filled with excitement. "In short, it's a chance to create a name for yourself!"
The other freshmen, including Liam and Akira, gathered together, discussing the ceremony in hushed tones. While some, like Liam, remained silent and observant, others, like Akira, were more talkative. A few students were too shy to contribute to the conversation.
Suddenly, the speaker echoed through the hall, "Wiiiiing!" The room fell silent as everyone turned to face the stage. The murmurs of conversation slowly died down, replaced by an air of anticipation.
"Hello, freshmen," a portly man boomed, his face plastered with a professional smile. His eyes swept across the room, taking in every student present.
"You are all welcome to Siiren Academy, a dream destination for most, but not for you. You stand before me today because we've identified each and every one of you as having the potential to become the next greatest hunter. And it's our job to groom you into such figures."
Hearing this, most people tensed, feeling a heavy pressure on their chest. They felt as though they were being put on a pedestal, and if they failed, they would disappoint not only themselves but their country.
"You are all the pride of our country, and we will do our utmost best in grooming you into fine hunters, just as we have been doing over the years," the man said with a voice of seriousness, his gaze sweeping across all the students present.
The room fell silent for a moment before erupting into applause. The students burst into cheers, feeling inspired by his words to prove themselves worthy of being at Siiren Academy.
"That being said, it's about time we went through with the main welcome ceremony, is it not?" the man suddenly said, causing all the students to stare in confusion.
Before anyone could react, the floor where they stood shimmered in a brilliant golden light.
"Welcome, freshmen," a voice echoed throughout the forest, resonating through the trees and rustling leaves. "You have all been transported here via transportation magic, a technique that will become familiar to you during your time at the Academy. The reason being to give you a glimpse of what to expect in the Academy and to provide you with an opportunity to establish a foundation for yourselves, to stand on comfortably."
The voice's words hung in the air, and the students, still suppressing their shock and confusion, listened intently to the message being relayed. The sudden transition from the auditorium to the forest had left many of them disoriented, but the voice's calm and authoritative tone helped to reassure them.
As they looked around, the students took in their surroundings, trying to get their bearings. The forest was dense and vibrant, with towering trees that blocked out most of the sunlight.
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"You will be hunted by your upperclassmen, who will try to take you down for Academy tokens," the voice continued. "So, you are to survive as best as you can until the time limit. Depending on your survival time, you will be given tokens. However, if you defeat your upperclassmen, you'll earn a generous amount of tokens."
Listening to these words, some students' eyes shone with excitement and interest, while others shivered at the thought of battling experienced students of the Academy.
'So that's why they weren't present at the auditorium...' Liam mumbled inwardly, as he listened on. He had been surprised to not find any of the upperclassmen available, but it turned out they were busy preparing to hunt them.
"Good luck, and try your best to survive~" The voice echoed, leaving the students in peculiar states. Everyone quickly summoned their inventories to equip the equipment they had bought in preparation.
Akira, now clad in a sleek body suit that hugged her curves, held a miniature wand at the ready. "Well, what do we do now?" she questioned, her eyes scanning their surroundings.
Liam, still wearing his casual clothes, shrugged nonchalantly. "I don't know," he replied, his confidence unwavering. He was certain in his ability to endure attacks from opponents, at least from the Academy's current level.
"We should try to hide, as per the voice's instructions," Akira suggested, but Liam quickly shook his head.
"Do you really think they want us to just hide out until the time limit is over?" Liam questioned, his eyes narrowing in skepticism. "Would such a prestigious Academy refer to such students as the top students?"
Liam walked forward, his strides slow and deliberate, as Akira watched him with a mixture of curiosity and concern. The trees seemed to loom over them, casting long, ominous shadows on the ground.
"He gave us a hint," Liam explained, turning to face Akira. "This is the moment we're supposed to take up and make a ground for ourselves. Since we're being streamed worldwide, it makes more sense that strong guilds will be watching out for young talents to invest in... Do you want to pass up on all of that?" Liam asked, his eyes gleaming with determination.
Akira gulped, shaking her head, and Liam smiled, his demeanor returning to its usual cool state. "Good, then we move," Liam said, pocketing his hands as he walked forward, Akira following closely behind him.
'I got too excited there...' Liam thought inwardly, a hint of a smile playing on his lips.