Chương 85: Chapter Eighty-Four: Graduation

The day of graduation arrived, and once again, the stands in the academy grounds were filled with pairs of horns. Only this time, it wasn't for the spectacle of competition. It was for the joint celebration between the students, instructors, and families as the Eastern Navy gained a new cohort of skilled officers. While the civilians filled the stands, Serena, along with the rest of the academy's staff, stood with impeccable posture on a raised platform.

Above them, positioned so everyone in the arena had a clear view, was an enormous painting. It was a polyptych – a multi-panelled art piece. This particular one contained five panels, each one containing a depiction of the Empress in one of her many forms. It didn't matter which form she took, the portraits of the Empress exuded dignity and nobility to anyone looking. Serena found that the painting itself inspired the need to straighten her back a little more.

She found it difficult not to stare and analyse each panel. Whether it was the Empress's depiction as a native of the Western Terra Firma, with dark honey skin, golden eyes, and swept-back horns, or whether it was the depiction of the Empress as a Southern Arakian - with dark skin, yellow eyes, and angular horns - the beauty and elegance of each portrait left Serena feeling awestruck.

That said, the longer Serena looked, the more she found an unsettling similarity between the remaining three portraits and people she knew. The Cerulean form the Empress took when she was representing Centralis - her native ethnicity - was shockingly similar to Amelia's appearance. Serena had, of course, known about the similarity for a long time, but seeing such a large painting so close reminded her of just how similar they were.

The Empress's image possessed bright golden hair that seemed to radiate light, coupled with a face that looked like it could switch between a refined or a playful expression at the drop of a hat. Other than Amelia's lack of horns, the only real difference was the colour of the eyes. The Empress possessed sapphire blue eyes, which didn't look so dissimilar to Amelia's own before becoming crimson after the Asclepius embodiment. Then there was the Empress's Samino form. This was the same ethnicity as Serena.

Despite a part of her mind chastising her for the thought, she couldn't help but see a reflection of herself in the portrait. They both possessed the same striking crimson eyes, coupled with the elegant horns so distinctive of Samino nobility. Seven hells, while the Empress's expression was serious, a younger version of her would resemble Lani! Finally, there was the Empress's representation of the Northern Terra Firma: fair skin, straight horns, and purple eyes that seemed to be looking right at Serena.

It was strange; despite knowing it was a painting, she couldn't help but feel like Katalin of Driss was looking at her. The similarity in the facial structure was uncanny. Then again, Katalin was a known beauty, and the Empress always took an appearance that was conventionally attractive to the area. Serena appreciated her aesthete distraction. Her commodore examination was scheduled just after the ceremony, at which point she would be in front of Greatlord Oshiro and his colleagues.

She didn't know what she'd be asked, and her brain would have imploded from all the stress-inducing studying she'd been squeezing into every spare minute if it weren't for Amelia's magic. Nevertheless, as the time drew closer, Serena resigned herself to either outcome. After all, the worst thing that could happen would be that she failed and that she would have to retake it the following year. Although- Her thoughts were interrupted by a deep, resonant tone that washed over the crowd, silencing their chatter.

Serena turned her head to see Grandmaster Shun pulling back a mighty ironwood bachi, a massive tool used to strike the bronze daiko, a colossal drum used in the academy's graduation ceremony. The grandmaster hit the daiko once more, silencing the last remnants of the chattering families and formally starting the graduation ceremony. As the final note's whispers vanished on the winter breeze, the graduating cadets marched into the arena.

Serena had been so busy with her own schedule that she hadn't had any opportunities to witness the graduation practice sessions. However, seeing the students march in perfect lockstep, she knew that practice hadn't gone to waste. Each class of students circled the area once, perfectly responding to the marching officer's cries of "Turn!" and "About face!" as if they were a single organism. With a final command to turn and halt, each class of students came to a stop in front of Serena and the other academy staff.

Moving as one, the students saluted them with steadfast resolve. Then, with the grandmaster filling the air with one more deep note from the daiko, the students saluted the polyptych, their faces changing slightly to betray their inner admiration. After a minute of silent reflection, the sound of a single pair of footsteps made itself known. Along with that sound, a momentous presence caused the hairs on the back of Serena's neck to rise.

She, along with everyone else on the platform, kept their eyes staring ahead, only feeling out with their perception. Greatlord Oshiro came striding into view. His black and gold admiral uniform, with its prominent epaulettes and decorative sashes, made him a striking figure that captured everyone's attention. No one, not even the chattiest of family members, dared to whisper. It wasn't until the greatlord shook the grandmaster's hand with a smile that the atmosphere warmed up.

Even so, through her peripheral vision, Serena could see some students start to sweat in their attempts to perfect their already perfect posture further. If Greatlord Oshiro weren't a few feet in front of her, she might have laughed. It wouldn't have been laughter out of cruelty or mockery, but a warm laughter that reminded Serena of her relentless determination throughout her academy years. Sometimes, it was strange to think that to some softhorns, she had a similar effect on them.

Greatlord Oshiro murmured with Grandmaster Shun, making polite conversation. Once they were done, the grandmaster stood back and turned to the students.

"Class of eight-forty-six!" he barked.

"Bow to your Greatlord!" The students obeyed, throwing themselves into deep bows with envious flexibility. They stayed like that until the grandmaster determined enough time had passed and ordered them to rise. Then, turning towards the academy staff, he gave the same order. Once Serena was told to rise, she saw the grandmaster perform his own bow. It was a deeper bow than he'd given his Lord Superior after the ochimusha incident. The grandmaster must have forgiven him, Serena thought.

Greatlord Oshiro then took over the proceedings. He took his position and, pointing to the painting of the Empress, shouted, "Face your Empress and kneel!" Almost everyone, Serena, Amelia, the rest of the staff, the students, and Greatlord Oshiro himself, knelt facing the polyptych. For Cascadian nobility and those in the military chain of command, kneeling wasn't optional. However, that legal requirement didn't extend to the civilians in the stands.

Cascadian law permitted them to remain seated or standing, whether out of laziness or protest. That said, the majority of family members made the effort to kneel.

"Sing to your Empress!" Greatlord Oshiro commanded. And so, they sang. There were no instruments other than their own voices, but two hundred voices singing in harmony created an awe-inspiring effect. In the symphony, she could hear the grandmaster's gruff voice, perfectly contrasted by Amelia's clear and delicate intonation. They sang the Anthem of the East, followed by the Anthem of Cascadia.

Both songs covered a heavily abridged version of the Empire's history, often swapping out historical events with poetic verses that used flowery language to communicate everything from the horrors of the Long Discordancy to the relief and delight of the Empress's communion with the unknown Third-Word. When the songs finished, they stood. Greatlord Oshiro called out the two names of the Academy's top performers that year. One was named from the magic department. It was Daichi Ishitani.

Another was named from the martial department. It was someone who'd actually failed Aiden's background check. Nevertheless, while they didn't pass the requirements to join Serena's crew, that hadn't stopped them from becoming the strongest warrior cadet. They were given the privilege of raising the Flag of Moons, a modified version of the Empire's flag. This flag, along with its depiction of a golden crown wreathed by two horns, included the five moons of Cascadia.

Daichi and the other student performed the duty with solemn, serious expressions. Their practiced movements soon had the flag flying high, softly flapping in the breeze. Once they'd returned to their positions, Grandmaster Shun took over again. He began listing notable awards and merits that the students and staff had achieved during that academic year.

It was mostly a list of the commendations that staff members had given out throughout the semesters, including the one Serena had recently written and submitted for Flakken Holm. Most commendations were read along with the justification written by the staff member who awarded them. The reasons were sometimes specific, detailing an event where a student showed outstanding potential.

"Melanie Mori," Grandmaster Shun declared.

"From Head Instructor Yamamoto. For carrying out her duty to the utmost during the fire." Serena saw Mel's parents nodding happily in the stands. It was strange seeing their happy expressions; Serena was used to seeing them through the photographs attached to Aiden's reports. Nevertheless, with their daughter's performance during the lowland fire and the recent tournament, they couldn't look more satisfied. A commendation by someone like Rysouke Yamamoto meant she'd never have trouble in or out of the military.

Looking down, Serena could see Mel's lips curl slightly in satisfaction.

"Melanie Mori," the grandmaster repeated.

"From Instructor Serena Halen. For outstanding growth and encompassing all the traits that make an excellent officer." Hells, it was the least Serena could do. The double commendation caused a few murmurs in the crowd. While not that rare, it meant a truly excellent student had appeared. Thank the Moons I got her to sign a contract first, Serena thought. More than a few military recruiters would be disappointed to find Serena had beaten them to the talent.

"Melanie Mori," the grandmaster announced for a third time, sending a ripple of surprise throughout the crowd.

"From myself. For defending the values of this academy in blood." Mel turned white as a nervous smile formed on her face. All the attention on her was proving to be too much. Practically every pair of eyes in the stands was looking at her. A third commendation! It was extremely rare for a student to earn three commendations. Normally, the grandmaster would refuse to formally accept the commendation, limiting a student's commendations to only two.

Exceptions were only made for cadets the grandmaster thought were the best of the best. Three commendations would mean Mel's name would be recorded on one of the plaques of honour in the academy's main thoroughfare. A plaque that also held Serena's name. The grandmaster's commendation caused more stir than most. The phrase defending the values of this academy in blood meant one thing: Mel had quite literally bled to protect the academy from an outside force.

It was undoubtedly for the ochimusha incident, where Mel had nearly died fighting an assassin who sought Amelia's life. She looked like she'd rather go through that again than continue to stand there with so much attention on her! The story has been stolen; if detected on Amazon, report the violation. Poor woman, Serena thought. Luckily for her, there wasn't a historic fourth commendation coming her way.

Instead, the grandmaster called a different name, detailing the remaining commendations before moving onto the fire itself. He discussed the event in a similar manner to how Greatlord Oshiro had during the award ceremony, listing all the academy's recipients of Bronze, Silver, and Golden Horns that they now wore pinned to their graduation uniforms. Then, Greatlord Oshiro took over once more, beginning his keynote speech.

It was a typical graduation speech, expertly delivered by the greatlord who had the cadets hanging on to his every word. As he spoke, Serena could almost see loyalty and resolve bubble within them. Their eyes, which had been relaxing throughout the ceremony, were once again hard and serious. The greatlord, through controlling his voice, further controlled his audience, bringing them to a rapturous finale.

"Today you stand!" he shouted, looking over the cadets.

"In a time of conflict, on the precipice of peace. Do not let the sweet smell of the future lull you into a false sense of security! Continue to hone your skills, and those of your subordinates! You must remain vigilant, for a brief respite in the war in the North means the vacuum of violence will be filled by others! Our Empire is titanic, and our enemies foreign and domestic! Cheer now! Cheer for the Empress and her Empire!" He raised his fist, calling for the cadets to act.

They didn't need any more encouragement and, within moments, Serena's thoughts were drowned out by the noise of passionate demons shouting out a mixture of cries and prayers. Greatlord Oshiro raised an open palm, keeping it there until silence once again blanketed the atmosphere. Then, he began the long process of individually commissioning each cadet into an official officer of the Imperial Navy. Each cadet needed to repeat the very same oath Serena had repeated years before.

"I swear by the five moons of Cascadia, the Six Heavens, and the Seven Hells; I will faithfully serve my Overlord and dedicate myself to the Overlord of Overlords, the Empress of Demonkind. In their name, I vow to sail with honour and might, through storm and skirmish, to bring glory to our realm and doom to our foes." Then they were presented with their officer's sword: a shining steel blade that was both a weapon and the symbol of their authority. Many students struggled not to smile.

It was, after all, the reward after two years of intense study and effort. For many of them, that effort extended back to when they were children, when they picked up a stick for the first time and playfully swung it, announcing to their parents that they would one day join the military and become someone of great import. Each cadet then saluted Greatlord Oshiro and the staff members before walking off the platform. Of all of Serena's picks for her elite team, Daichi and Hinako were the most composed.

Mel might have been, but the shock of three commendations hadn't yet worn off. She looked like the moment she was alone she would scream jubilant cries towards the sky. It was a very… Ameliafied look. Serena, of course, was returning every salute sent her way. After saluting so much, she was starting to feel like a golem, endlessly repeating the same task for their magical masters. Eventually, the final cadet was processed by Greatlord Oshiro.

He then invited a Sangoist monk onto the stage, who led the new officers through the tenets of Sangoism, requesting that they reflect on them now and forever.

"Strength through discipline."

"Journey before destination."

"Valour in adversity."

"Unity of body and spirit." The monk led them through a prayer before leaving. It was Grandmaster Shun's turn again. He took his position and, with a barked order, the marching officers carried out the penultimate act of the ceremony – the final march. The newly commissioned officers marched around the floor one last time before saluting the academy staff. And then, with one last smash of the daiko with the grandmaster's mighty baichi, the ceremony was declared over and the families were invited down off the stand.

While most family members moved carefully, one large Ainese man barrelled his way through the crowd, picking up Ido and his sister Arin and embracing them tightly.

"D-dad! You're embarrassing us!" Arin cried.

"Oi, old man! Behave yourself!" Ido shouted, fighting to escape his father's grip. It wasn't until Serena approached them that the man finally released them.

"Mr Song, I presume?" Serena asked, holding out her hand.

"Aye, that's me. Who are yeh? Their instructor?" The hand that enveloped her own was massive and rough. If it weren't for her red aura, Serena might have felt intimidated by the Far Easterner's size. However, despite the size difference, he wasn't a warrior. Only a strong lowlander.

"Dad!" Arin whispered, not-so-subtly kicking him in the shins.

"That's Serena Halen. She's our captain! She's also a lord, so behave yourself!" The man's eyes widened.

"Is my daughter speaking true? Yeh a lord, straight and proper?"

"That's… right," Serena answered, trying to decipher the man's expression. She needn't have thought for long, as he suddenly broke into a wide grin and resumed hugging his children, lifting them off the ground and spinning them.

"I don't believe it! You two worms managed to impress a lord! This is amazing! Yeh gunna be the talk of the village back home!" After a minute, he settled down, turning to Serena and saying, "Pleasure to meet yeh, Lord Halen! I'm Nongbu Song, the father of these two nutcrackers!"

"... Nutcrackers?" Serena asked, tilting her head.

"Don't let 'em step a toe out of line, will yeh? If they start poking their horns into somewhere they shouldn't then give them a good smack, will yeh?" The twins' father leaned in, his loud voice only slightly quietening.

"They're my only children, so look after them, will yeh?"

"You have my word," Serena said.

"I–""Yeh hear that, children!?" Nongbu grabbed his children once more.

"Your father just got the word of a lord! I can't wait to tell everyone at home! I'm going to be the talk of the village! Haha!" Now I understand where the twins got their personalities from, Serena thought with a small smile. Thankfully, Amelia turned up. Her natural cheerfulness quickly became a vital bulwark against Nongbu Song's boisterous personality. Taking advantage of Amelia's heroic sacrifice, Serena escaped and soon found herself in front of another set of parents.

"Lord Halen, thank you for your generous commendation," a serious-looking man said with a polite bow. Next to him stood a woman dressed in a Manwese-style kimono, and next to her stood Mel, looking both proud and awkward.

"Melanie won't let you down," Mel's father continued.

"You have my word."

"I'm confident she'll meet all my expectations," Serena answered.

"Her actions during the fire were no less than heroic. I have no doubt you'll be celebrating her promotion before long."

"Ah…" the father mumbled.

"Your words are most kind, and for them to be spoken by someone as respectable as yourself! Please, should you ever find your way to Kenhoro, stop by our house at any time. Our door is always open for you."

"Thank you," Serena said. She continued small talk with Mel's parents for a few minutes while trying not to eavesdrop on Amelia's shenanigans with Nongbu Song. She did notice Mel's mother giving Amelia a side-eye, but whatever the woman's inner thoughts, she kept them from showing on her face. Neither Mel nor her parents brought up what happened in the Kenhoro Officer Academy, so Serena didn't either. Once they left, she only had a few seconds of respite before she found herself shaking another man's hand.

"Eisen Aikawa, at your service, Lord Halen," he said, his face open and cheerful.

"Hinako's father. Speaking of, she should be…" The man looked around, eventually spotting his daughter some way away. Serena saw Hinako with her mother, giving a young boy a hug. It was a hug Serena immediately recognised as the infamous Big Sister Hug. The little boy was laughing and reaching out with his small hands, trying to grab Hinako's horns.

"Over there," Eisen said sheepishly.

"Apologies, Lord Halen. Hinako loves her younger brother. Anyway… I just wanted to thank you from the bottom of my heart. I was delighted to hear you offered her a contract, and ecstatic when I heard Hinako accepted!"

"It's no problem," Serena answered.

"She deserved it."

"Ah, yes! Of course! What I mean is our Hinako always had her eyes set on the dangerous world of duelling! We always wanted her to take another path in life, but could never convince her!" The man's eyes sparkled with appreciation.

"So, thank you! For her to work under a captain of your calibre settles all our fears!"

"Hinako is a second-circle mage," Serena said pointedly.

"She'll be extremely safe wherever she goes." Hinako's second-circle wards were powerful enough to stop most long guns. Perhaps they would struggle with the enormous slugs Korvus tried to assassinate Amelia with, but it wouldn't be long until she was protected from even them. Even so, it was strange that this man viewed duelling as more dangerous than active duty. Hinako soon turned up with her little brother. Serena entertained them for a short period before leaving them to their own devices.

The moment she stepped away, a neatly dressed woman in a white and gold kimono appeared, wafting her face with a fan. Next to her, two teenagers stood with dignified expressions. Their faces were so familiar that Serena knew who the woman was before her newly commissioned officer son appeared to introduce them.

"Lord Halen, allow me the honour of introducing you to my mother, Lord Ishitani," Dachi said politely.

"Mother, may I introduce you to my instructor this semester and captain, Lord Halen?"

"Well done, Daichi," Lord Ishitani said with a nasal voice. Daichi's mother stepped forward, snapping her fan closed and handing it off to one of her sons.

"Lord Halen, it is an honour to make your acquaintance. I've heard so much about you and your father. Ah…" Daichi's mother sighed, looking around.

"It's a shame we can't meet in a more calm environment," she said, eyeing Amelia and the twins. It looked like Nongbu Song was trying to persuade Amelia to lift him up with one hand, betting her that a small human like her couldn't do it. She's going to do it, Serena thought. Better wrap this up quickly.

"I must give my thanks, Lord Halen," Daichi's mother intoned.

"For providing him with such a valuable opportunity. If there's anything House Ishitani can do for you, we're only an aethergram away. I wish-" She was interrupted by laughter and cheers as Amelia reached down and picked up the massive mountain of a man that was the twins' father.

"I wish they were more restrictive on what kinds of people they allowed into these events." The woman next to Serena sighed.

"I've heard how you've had to suffer travelling with a human, Lord Halen. Daichi assures me that…" A pair of eyebrows went skywards, "... arrangement is ending?" Serena flicked her eyes towards Daichi, who wore an unreadable expression.

"I've heard Lord-Prospect Thornheart is expected to require a long period of recuperation after her upcoming healing event," Serena said, deliberately avoiding the fact that any such 'recuperation' would be spent by Serena's side on the Vengeance.

"And you're welcome. Daichi is an excellent mage, and I look forward to furthering his career. You must be proud."

"Oh, I am," Daichi's mother said, her face twisting into a smile that made Serena want to slap her.

"May I introduce you to my other sons. This is-""Excuse me," Serena said.

"My Lord Superior is looking for me."

"Oh?" Daichi's mother's eyes widened when she saw Greatlord Oshiro looking at them from the raised platform.

"Oh! Of course. Don't let me keep the Greatlord waiting…" Serena climbed the stairs, approaching the greatlord.

"Greatlord," she intoned, bowing.

"Lord Halen," Greatlord Oshiro responded.

"Did you just use me as an excuse to escape the clutches of Lord Ishitani?"

"... Yes," Serena finally said. Greatlord Oshiro quietly snorted.

"I can't blame you for that. Stand by me, and watch these events unfold." Serena moved obediently to stand next to her Lord Superior.

"Events?" she asked.

"What do you- Oh." She saw what he was looking at. Nongbu, not satisfied with being lifted up by Amelia's magically-enhanced muscles, was now demanding that she repeat the feat while he was holding his son and daughter.

"There's always something refreshing about the lowland folk," Greatlord Oshiro quietly said.

"They're not brought up in such a strict environment. It produces the most interesting people. Have you ever wondered how you might have turned out if you were born where they were?"

"Yes," Serena said honestly. She turned slightly to see that the greatlord was looking at her with a raised eyebrow.

"A few months ago, when I saw the condition of the area where the fire originated… I wondered if I would have ever become a Speaker if I were born there."

"You wouldn't," Greatlord Oshiro said.

"Which raises the question: How many Speakers or skilled warriors are currently there right now, wasting their potential because they haven't been given the opportunity to demonstrate it?"

"There would be… some," Serena answered slowly.

"Give Noburu and Seonmi that chance, Lord Halen." Serena wrinkled her nose before quickly correcting her expression.

"I will, Greatlord," she replied.

"Good. Now then." He took a step forward.

"Let's interfere below. A few more minutes of this and Lord-Prospect Thornheart will be juggling that poor family." Serena thought he was joking until she heard what Nongbu was saying. Typical! she thought, rushing down the stairs. This is what you get when you put two idiots together for more than a few seconds!