"Today you will enter a world that does not care who you are. It will not bow to your talents, your bloodlines, or your reputation."
"Every action you take will be watched by billions. Represent this academy with strength, and if not strength, then cunning."
Listening to the speech, Vael couldn't help but let out a bored sigh. Standing in the middle of a giant courtyard, Vael was currently standing among the midst of five hundred or so students, all dressed in some sort of magical armors.
In the front of the courtyard, Aetherion Academy's headmaster Darien the relentless was giving a speech, his every word lighting a fire under the students. To their right, above one of the floating platforms, sat a dozen reporters and news station camera crews broadcasting the entire ceremony live.
Three days had passed in a blink of an eye. Vael, who had originally figured he would just sell the ring, had in the end decided to hold on to it, figuring he would need the defense artifact, considering he knew what was going to happen today. Furthurmore, he had also drained his bank account from 37,000-something to a measly 290 credits, buying a couple of high grade invisibility charms, some other necessary supplies and renting a small storage ring for the upcoming week.
"I trust all of you are familiar with the interdimensional video transmitters linked to your IDs. By channeling mana into them, you can activate a live broadcast at any time."
"And yes, I know you'll be tempted to turn them on the moment you land don't. Use them only when you're safe. This isn't a show for your fans. Not yet."
Now that was one advice Vael could agree with, as he threw the transmitter inside the deepest parts of his storage ring.
No one was going to see what he planned to do in Taurenth, atleast not yet anyway.
"Be advised, Taurenth is a B Tier world when it comes to size, which means upon entering the portal, you will be randomly teleported within a one-thousand-kilometer radius. You may find yourself alone, with allies, or neck-deep in hostiles. Adapt quickly. No one is coming to hold your hand."
"If you find yourselves in danger, hold out. Survive. Endure for at least seven days that's how long your sigil is calibrated to anchor you to Taurenth. After that, it will bring you back. Not before."
"You have one week. Use it well. Scout the land. Understand the enemy. And if you must die, make sure it's after you've learned something worth dying for."
"So go forth, my future conquerors!" he bellowed, as the giant portal behind him shimmered to life, the space in the courtyard began to bend as the spatial technology began opening a tunnel to Taurenth.
At the same time the band in the back began their performance.
THUM! THUM! THUM!
Loud drums began resounded in the surroundings as the Mages began performing a melody that made everyone's blood boil in determination.
At the same time a sense of excitement and nervousness swept through the crowd of students as they hesitated to move forward. This moment was something that most of them had been waiting for their entire lives, but now that it was in front of them.
Just then, the one standing in the front, Goddess Elowen, took a step forward with her head held high, and without an ounce of fear, she walked forward and stepped into the portal. Seeing her resolutness, several students behind her, too, followed her example, especially those like Zathiel following close behind.
One after another, groups of students began walking inside the portal. Soon it was Vael's turn, as he too unhesitatingly walked inside the portal.
The moment he stepped inside, a familiar darkness took over his body. All sensation, sight, smell, touch was cut off. He was currently traveling through the void, the boundary between worlds, when suddenly it all came back.
His vision soon returned, and he found himself lodged tightly inside a closet. From the narrow flaps on the top of the closet, he could see the outside, which seemed like a bedroom.
The inside of the closet was completely dark, except for the tiny flack at the top, not to mention his head felt like it was going to burst open with nausea.
Vael, however, couldn't help but smile.
Yes, it was exactly how it had been last time, now all he had to do was wait for a couple of seconds when-
Suddenly, a bunch of women dressed in maid garments walked inside the room, all of them chatting as they began to tidy up the room.
Although the universal translator was working to decipher their language, Vael didn't need it, considering he already knew their language.
"Did you see how radiant the princess looked today?"
"What else can you expect from one of the chosen great mages? I heard Master Rykiel himself is coming from the capital to oversee her training."
"Good looks, high status, and a great mage. The future of the kingdom is looking brighter and brighter."