I was still basking in the afterglow of my perfectly delivered speech, the one that had left half the crowd in existential crisis and the other half wondering if I'd just declared them peasants, when a loud, deliberate ahem echoed from the side of the stage.

The sound was followed by the heavy, deliberate footsteps of doom itself.

Enter Instructor Vale.

The man looked like he'd lost a war with a razor. Bald as a polished sphere, muscles packed into a suit that probably used to be black before it got tired of his shouting, and a glare sharp enough to shave steel.

He stopped beside me, arms crossed, veins on his forehead already visible.

"Mr. Nekros," he said slowly, in that deadly calm tone that only people on the verge of a breakdown use. "That was… quite a speech."

I smiled innocently. "Thank you, Instructor Vale. I do try to—"

"—it will be remembered," he interrupted flatly. "For centuries, I'm sure."

He turned from me to the crowd of first-years sitting below, nearly a thousand of them, all looking equal parts traumatized and starstruck.

"Students!" Vale boomed, voice echoing through the auditorium. "Wasn't that a wonderful speech from our Apex?"

A few nervous claps went off like hesitant gunfire. Someone coughed. Someone else whispered, 'Was it really?'

Vale smiled the kind of smile that promised unpaid laps later. "Good, good. Truly inspiring words about humility, teamwork, and… whatever else that was."

I gave a gracious bow.

His eye twitched.

"Now," he continued, tone snapping back to military precision, "let's move on to something productive. I'll be calling the Top Ten First-Year Students to the stage. Line up in the order of your ranking."

He raised a hand, voice carrying across the massive hall.

"Number Two — Nora von Velkaris!"

A soft hum rippled through the students as the first name was called. Nora stepped out from the rows with the poise of someone born in the spotlight white hair tied in a low braid that shimmered under the lights, and icy blue eyes that looked like they could freeze oceans. She carried herself with a quiet confidence, back straight, expression unreadable.

I gave her a half-smile as she walked up. She ignored me like I didn't exist. Tragic.

"Number Three — Annalise Astraeus!"

Brown hair, tied neatly, eyes bright blue and sharp as her temper. She strode forward with all the grace and annoyance of someone who'd already endured too much of me for one week.

"Number Four — Liam Luceris!"

Silver hair, violet eyes, and the kind of face you'd see painted on propaganda posters for the 'youth of tomorrow.' He had that calm, protagonist energy, which was ironic, considering how thoroughly I'd stolen his spotlight, and I was going to make the poor bastard's life miserable.

hahaha. Ahem

Yeah, let's ignore that and continue.

"Number Five — Xavier Evernight!"

The blond menace himself, golden hair and crimson eyes that gleamed with laidback arrogance. He gave me a lazy wave as he passed, muttering something about "sharing stage time with the ego of the century."

"Number Six — Kent Takeahint!"

Grey hair, grey eyes, and the personality of wet cardboard. He looked perpetually exhausted, probably because of his name. I wonder what was going on in the heads of his parents.

"Number Seven — Narcissus Cantus!"

Black hair, green eyes, posture immaculate. His expression screamed I practice my smirk in the mirror, and he definitely did.

"Number Eight — Lillith Luxuria!"

The entire hall fell silent for half a second.

Lillith had violet hair, matching eyes, and a uniform that was… modified, to put it politely. Her shirt was unbuttoned just enough to make Vale's soul leave his body, and her skirt was shorter than what academy regulations, or gravity, should have allowed.

Vale froze mid-sentence. "Miss Luxuria…"

"Yes, Instructor~?" she purred, smiling sweetly.

He twitched. "...Never mind. Move along."

"Number Nine — Page Dea!"

Black hair, red eyes, a large stature for a girl but an aura that said she'd stab someone for breathing too loud. Her steps were sharp, deliberate.

"And finally, Number Ten — Alistair Atramentum!"

Black hair, black eyes, sharp jawline, blacker soul. The kind of guy who looked like he read poetry to corpses and didn't find that weird.

Each one joined the line, standing in perfect rank or close enough, in Lillith's case.

Vale turned back toward the audience. "These are your top ten first-years - the strongest, smartest, and most promising of your generation."

I clapped lightly, just to annoy him.

His head snapped toward me like a turret.

"...And of course," Vale added through gritted teeth, "their Apex, Sebastian Nekros."

I waved to the cheering crowd, my cape flicking dramatically behind me.

Sacha, perched on my shoulder, yawned. "Papa is showing off again."

I grinned. "Always, Sacha. Always."

Vale's vein throbbed so hard I could hear it.

Vale looked down the line of ten students, all standing at various levels of smugness, disinterest, or in Lillith's case, blatant disregard for buttons, and sighed.

You could feel his soul leaving his body.

"Alright," he said finally, rubbing his temples. "Now that we've gathered our so-called 'top ten,' it's time to go over your privileges."

He paused. Everyone leaned forward slightly, curious.

Then he smirked.

"I won't tell you."

A confused silence fell.

Annalise blinked. "...Wait, what?"

Vale shrugged. "You heard me. There are special perks for being in the top ten, but I'm not going to tell you what they are."

"Why not?" Xavier drawled, smirking.

"Because I don't want to," Vale said flatly.

Someone in the audience snorted.

Vale continued, expression deadpan, "If you're competent enough, you'll find out eventually. If not, well at least you'll die curious."

That earned a few nervous laughs.

He clasped his hands behind his back, voice booming again. "Now, before I leave this stage and pretend none of you exist for the rest of the day, your classes start tomorrow at 7 a.m. sharp. I expect every one of you to be there. Awake. Dressed. Possibly conscious."

His eyes flicked toward Lillith for just a second.

"Your schedules," he continued, "have already been sent to your rooms. If you don't know where your room is…" He let the silence stretch painfully long before finishing, "...quit. The Academy doesn't need idiots who can't even find where they live."

A few students shifted awkwardly, as if reconsidering their life choices.

Vale sighed again, louder this time, the kind of sigh that said I'm too old for this, and these kids are going to give me ulcers.

"Dismissed," he said curtly, waving a hand. "Get off the stage before I change my mind about letting you attend."

I gave a friendly salute. "Yes, sir! Always a pleasure to be emotionally uplifted by your enthusiasm."

Vale's eye twitched. "One more word, Nekros, and I'll enroll you in remedial humility training."

I grinned. "That sounds like something I'd fail gloriously at."

He pinched the bridge of his nose, muttered something that sounded a lot like 'I miss the war,' and stormed off the stage.

Sacha leaned closer, whispering in my ear. "Papa made him angry again."

I smirked. "That's what I call a productive morning. Sacha, you should try it sometime."

A/N: the last names of the characters are Latin words, if u translate them, you can find clues related to their powers and affinities ❤️❤️

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