"Are you okay?" Ask Diana who sits to Kayrus' left. "You seem pale."

"O-Oh, nothing, I'm fine. Don't worry about it." He tries to maintain his composure. "I'm just…a bit hungry, that's all."

"Ah, you must haven't had your breakfast, right? Here, I have some candy." She produces some wrapped chocolates from her pocket. It's a Redoran brand, Golden Morsel, the very same brand he used to buy for the kids back home whenever he had some money.

"Thank's, this is actually my favorite." He says, opening up the wrapper before putting the chocolate in his mouth.

His attention then returns to the man on stage, who is now delivering a speech about the importance of hard work and determination for students and beyond. But Kayrus cares not for his speech. No, what's on his mind is something else.

Kayrus reaches for the pocket inside his blazer, grabbing the item that has been in his pocket since yesterday, the pearl-white pocket watch given to him by that Archmagus. Why did he give Kayrus that watch, just another student for him? Does he know who Kayrus at the time, or perhaps even who he actually is? If so, what was his goal?

Suddenly, everyone claps their hands, signifying the end of the Principal’s speech. The Dourn Archmagus then raises his right hand, a signal for the crowd to quiet down.

"And now, as the Principal of this noble institution, I am proud to introduce to you a fine gentleman who will join our family as a new Professor of the Gao Collegiate. Although now that I think of it, most of you already know who this man is." He chuckles, followed by the audience out of respect. “I still remember when he was just a young lad like most of you here, eager to learn and become a better person for society and everyone. Now, without further ado, please welcome Archmagus Charleone Augustus.”

The audience immediately erupts into a frenzy of clapping and cheers as the man himself enters the stage in his Archmagus uniform, waving his hand to the crowd. With a smiling face, he walks up to the Principal and shakes his hand as friendly as a human could be. He then turns to the crowd, who finally calms down after a few more minutes.

“Ladies and Gentlemen,” he clears his throat, “It is a great honor to stand here before you all not only as an Archmagus, but also as a newly appointed Professor for the Gao Collegiate in this important and historical institution. I can promise you, I will bring great changes that rejuvenates our proud Collegiate. And for the students…” He gives a nice and warm smile, “We’re going to have so much fun doing it, that I can swear.”

Unsurprisingly, his speech meets a very warm reception, especially from the students who love what he said at the end. The hall is full with even louder claps and cheers than before, of which Charleone only replies with a wave of his hand and a wide smile, scanning the crowd who clearly adores him. Soon enough, his sight lands on one student who unmistakably has a very different feeling towards the new Archmagus, Kayrus.

The smile on Charleone's face then turns into that of a smug grin, the same kind of face he gave to Kayrus back when they met for the first time in the city's jail, taunting the young man by showing just how insignificant the former thief actually is compared to someone like him. Someone with money, power, strength, and adoration of the public. And this is an attempt by one such man to remind Kayrus of their positions in their deal.

“So that’s how you want to play it…” mutters Kayrus, though he finds it weird that instead of feeling upset, he feels…motivated, for some reason. Has something changed inside of me, he thinks to himself.

As Kayrus is having an existential thought, the Archmagus of Fire takes a bow and leaves the stage, giving the spotlight back to the Chief ID Marisa and the Principal.

“Now, to continue with the ceremony for the new School Year, we will now invite to the stage a new student to make a vow on behalf of all new students.”

Right after that, walking on the stage is a young girl slightly younger than Kayrus wearing the red armband of Gao. Her golden blonde hair is tied into a twintail that is separated at the back of her neck. Her posture is straight, almost formal, and every step she takes exudes pride and strength. It is like seeing a lioness being personified.

She takes the center stage, and as she stands proudfully she’s scanning every part of the audience with her hazel eyes, as if judging everyone with that stare of hers.

That girl then takes out a piece of paper from the inside of her blazer jacket and starts reading it with a loud and clear voice, as if she’s been prepping for this occasion for a while. "To all new students of Zennardi Magi Academia, please follow my lead."

“I, Helena Augustus, as the representative of new students of Zennardi Magi Academia, do hereby vowed:

To uphold the laws of the lands and Magus Society To do our best in the pursuit of knowledge and experience To help any request for help no matter the race, nation, and culture And to be loyal to each other’s company.

We swear to do in the utmost of our ability to follow this oath, and not let down the expectation that has been given to us.” she proclaims, followed by all other new students making that oath, Kayrus being no exception.

The audience claps their hands politely, to which the girl replies with a dignified bow. However, as she raises her head, Kayrus sees that the girl who he knows nothing about gives him a cold glare before stepping away from the stage.

Why the girl did that is a mystery to Kayrus, but he already has some suspicion for the reason. Helena Augustus, is she related to Charleone? Since the most likely answer is yes, then Kayrus has a hunch that the display of hostility from her might be related to Kayrus being named as Charleone's Apprentice. Just as his naming causes a lot of sensation, there's probably also a lot of people that hate it as well.

"He's dragging me into some family feud now, isn't he?" Kayrus sighs, rubbing his forehead. He can only resign himself to fate now. "I have to work extra hard now."

The ceremony then proceeded with the Chief ID explaining about some programs and changes the Faculty planned for this School Year, although Kayrus ignores it thinking them as too boring and formal, the first thing she talks about being a new channel for injuries complaints. The boring part of the ceremony continues until finally Marisa makes an announcement that piques Kayrus interest, although it’s less of an announcement and more of an order for all new students.

“In accordance with custom of this school, the new students are hereby ordered to their respective Collegiate classrooms. Please stand up and proceed to the exit door. The ID crew members and representatives of the Student Council will guide you to your location of destination.” says the ID in a clear and plain tone.

"So that's all of us, right?" Ask Kayrus as he and everyone in his group of Bea students get up from their seats. "Where should we go now?"

"Well, I don't really know, but follow the line of blues and we should be fine." Answer Ilias, pointing at the other blue armband wearing students that are also leaving their seats, their fellow new Bea students.

"Ah, our place? If they don't change it from my parents' time, then our classroom should be in the Bea Collegiate's Azure Sanctuary." Says. Diana from behind Kayrus.

"Azure Sanctuary? That sounds cool!" Say Yan.

"What kind of place is that? What kind of place is that?" The sister Yui follows suit.

"Well, I've only been told stories by my parents, so..."

"That only leaves us with one way to find out, seeing it for ourselves." Say Kayrus.

"Seeing is believing, or something like that, right?" Marcus interjects.

Kayrus nods his head as a response.

"Bea students, please follow us." Shout an older student, busy handling the other new students not to get lost. An ID standing beside him is also busy helping with an almost perennial smile on her face.

"Well, that's our cue, let's follow them." Kayrus subconsciously takes the charge of the group. He is, however, aware of how excited he actually is. Something that he can't hide with that big glee of his.

What Kayrus doesn't know at that moment, however, is how his life aboard that ship will be even more complicated from that point forward.