Edwin Lunar Chapter 6: The Beginner Ceremony

Read chapter 6 of Edwin Lunar by MananTayal on NovelPedia.

The Beginner Ceremony The disturbance in Professor Humming's office was never mentioned again. At least not openly. By the time Edwin, Carl, and Iris left the central tower, the floating holograms across the academy were functioning normally once more. Students filled the pathways outside exactly as before while ships crossed the skies above Noroel in streams of silver light. Yet something had changed. Edwin could feel it. Professor Humming's expression during the system distortion remained trapped inside his thoughts. Concern. Not surprise. As if the Headmaster had feared something like that might happen eventually. "You're thinking too loudly again," Carl said while walking beside him. Edwin blinked. "That sentence doesn't even make sense." "It does if you know people well." Carl adjusted the oversized sleeves of his robe dramatically. "You have the face of someone questioning reality." "Maybe because reality changed yesterday." "Fair point." Iris walked beside them carrying her tablets as usual. "You should both focus on orientation instead." Carl groaned immediately. "Please don't remind me." "What's orientation?" Edwin asked. Carl stopped walking. "You seriously don't know?" "He arrived from the outer sectors yesterday," Iris answered before Edwin could speak. "Obviously he doesn't know." Carl placed a hand dramatically over his chest. "That means nobody warned him." "Warned me about what?" Instead of answering, Carl pointed ahead. The pathway opened into an enormous circular arena surrounded by towering silver walls. Thousands of students filled massive seating sections stretching high above the central platform. Floating screens hovered overhead displaying rankings, division symbols, and academy emblems. At the center of the arena burned a giant silver-blue flame. Edwin slowed slightly. "The Beginner Ceremony," Iris explained calmly. "All first-year students must participate." "Participate in what exactly?" Carl looked at him sympathetically. "Public ranking evaluations." Edwin stared. "Public?" "Very public." "You could've started with that part." The arena was already loud with conversation and excitement. Groups of students gathered together wearing matching robes while instructors moved across the lower levels organizing lines. Edwin noticed the different tie colors again. Grey. Silver. Blue. Crimson. And among them… A few students wearing completely black ties. Everyone nearby treated those students differently. With respect. Even fear. Edwin pointed toward them. "What rank are they?" Iris followed his gaze. "Special advanced students." Carl lowered his voice. "Most are children of Marshals or military commanders." One of the black-tied students glanced toward Edwin briefly. Then toward the ring. Their expression immediately sharpened. Edwin looked away. He was getting tired of people reacting to the ring without explaining why. A loud metallic tone suddenly echoed across the arena. Conversations stopped almost instantly. High above the arena, a massive holographic projection appeared. Professor Humming. "First-year students," the Headmaster's voice echoed powerfully across the arena. "Welcome to Lunar Dominion Academy." Thousands of students straightened immediately. "You have arrived from different cities, worlds, and bloodlines. Some of you were born into power. Others earned your place through hardship." Edwin noticed Humming's eyes shift briefly toward him. "But within these walls, only discipline determines your future." The giant silver-blue flame at the center of the arena suddenly expanded upward. Students murmured quietly in awe. "The Eternal Flame watches all who train here," Humming continued. "And today, it will witness your beginning." The hologram vanished. At once, instructors began calling students toward the central platform. "What exactly happens during the ceremony?" Edwin asked. Carl grimaced. "They evaluate combat instincts, intelligence, reflexes, and energy synchronization." Edwin blinked sl