The lavish grand hall was adorned with opulent tapestries.
Shimmering chandeliers made of real diamond hung from the ceiling, casting a warm and resplendent glow throughout.
Intricate carvings telling valorous stories of the cadets of the past were engraved with pure gold on the walls, paying homage to the academy's history.
The air was filled with a sense of anticipation.
Many esteemed guests and uniform-clad cadets crowded the hall, plates of snacks or glasses of wine in their hand as they socialized, their excitement was clearly visible.
A high stage stood in the front of the hall, flanked by two colossal banners painted with the academy's emblem.
The lectern draped with a rich velvet cloth was placed at the center of the stage.
The cadets who were going to receive their awards this evening were standing on the right side at the base of the stage, awaiting the commencement of the ceremony.
Of course, I was among them and I was very, very uncomfortable. I don't like formal clothing at all.
But guess what, since I had to attend a formal event, I had to dress accordingly. What a drag.
However, even I had to admit that I was looking quite attractive today in such formal clothing.
My neatly combed silver hair fell like a cascade of moonlight, a stark contrast to my bright red eyes that seemed to be ablaze.
My attire was a unique blend of tradition and modernity. A silver jacket elegantly draped over my shoulders, while I wore a crimson shirt beneath.
Along with silver pants, a black belt, many luxurious pieces of jewelry around my neck, hands, and clothes, and a sharp face that only added more to my allure, I looked like a noble out of a fantasy book.
Look, I know I could be a little narcissistic sometimes, but it wouldn't be wrong to say that I was the most handsome person in this hall.
People, especially ladies, were stealing glances at me from all over the grand hall.
Heh, yeah! Look at me, mortals! Look what true beauty is like!
"Kriek!"
Right, Sera was also with me. She was sitting atop my shoulder, chirping merrily from time to time. Her feathers were black and her firey aura was hidden. No one could that she was a Phoenix.
By now, she was the full length of my arm so having her sit on my shoulder was really tiring.
Anyway, standing to my right was the protagonist.
Nero, with his ebony hair combed to the side and raven-black eyes glistening with determination, was dressed in a tailored suit that exuded both sophistication and confidence.
The jet-black fabric of his suit embraced his form, contrasting sharply with his pale skin.
An elegant silver tie adorned his crisp white shirt. The aura he emanated was one of quiet strength, quite a contrast to the crybaby I remember from yesterday.
Standing to my left was Anastasia. Her flowing black hair fell down her back like a river of black silk.
She looked exotically splendid in an exquisite gown that shimmered like golden starlight.
Her crystal-like golden eyes held an air of mystery and allure, accentuated by the way they caught and reflected the light.
The gown's intricate design danced around her figure, giving her a sense of regality and grace. As she moved, the fabric seemed to shift and change, mirroring the enchantment that surrounded her.
Just behind me was Amelia.
Her dark hair framed her face as she emitted an aura of serenity in her flowing emerald gown that left her right leg exposed up to her knee.
Her forest-like green eyes utterly captivated the heart of anyone she looked at. The gown's verdant hue seemed to merge with her very essence. Her presence was calming, almost soothing.
On her right was Aster. The elven girl with cerulean hair emanated an ethereal charm in her simple yet captivating attire.
Her blue eyes held a sense of wonder. The gown she wore had delicate embroidery that represented the delicate intricacies of her elven heritage, while her radiant smile illuminated the room.
To Amelia's left was Grace. With her blonde hair framing her face like a halo, she stood out in her vibrant dress that complemented her fair complexion.
Her dark brown eyes sparkled with vitality, yet her alluringly sharp face remained stoic.
Hugh was standing at the very back. With his black hair falling over his forehead, he exuded an air of mystery in his impeccably tailored attire. His red eyes held a depth of unknown emotions, hinting at the secrets he carried.
The suit's dark hues and clean lines accentuated his enigmatic aura as if it was a reminder that appearances could be deceiving.
There should have been more cadets receiving awards. Well, to be precise, only Anastasia, Nero, and I are going to receive medals. The rest will receive honorary badges.
For instance, Ella, Elijah, William, and Chase weren't present here. The reason was that Ella was with her father who was still unconscious, while Elijah, William, and Chase couldn't attend the ceremony because they were not in a condition to leave their beds yet.
It would take them at least three more days to be able to move freely and recover completely.
After waiting for a while, the event finally commenced.
A hushed silence enveloped the hall. A figure of a tall man with broad shoulders stepped forward, projecting an aura of dignity.
The man was one of the members of the Central Government. He donned a black suit, his shoulders adorned with several stars.
Upon reaching the lectern, he spoke into the mic, "I am Count Dekrauf. Today we gather here…"
His voice, resonant and commanding, echoed through the hall as he recounted the heroic tale about how we stopped two deadly bloodsucking abominations from breaking out into the streets of Silveserine City and massacring countless civilians.
The media reporters present here did well to note down every word that left the lips of Count Dekrauf.
All the cameras were focused on him, and even the lights in the grand hall seemed to shine brighter on him.
That level of presence was to be expected.
After all, Count Dekrauf was one of the twelve cardinal members of the Central Government. He was above the law, above everyone else.
It wouldn't be wrong to say that he was one of the twelve kings of the world– one of the twelve people who rule everything, even the military.
Only one person in this grand hall seemed indifferent to Count Dekrauf's presence. It was his own bastard son, Nero Dekrauf.
I looked over to steal a glance at Nero and him gritting his teeth. It looked as if he was barely holding himself back, his fists clenched and his face red.
It would be tough to see the murderer of his own mother, standing there right in front of him yet being powerless to do nothing.
However, I had nothing to worry about. Yes, Nero had a bad temperament but I knew that he could control it.
I think I've mentioned this before but in the novel, he barely ever lost his cool and leashed out. He used his rage to mostly drive himself toward his goal, using it as fuel.
Anyway, after Count Dekrauf was done speaking, several reporters stood up and asked several questions. He answered them all one by one before calling us out to present our awards.
At our cue, we stepped onto the stage one by one. Applause erupted from the crowd, a blend of thunderous claps and loud cheers.
I didn't get the chance to see the badges but the medal I received was a splendid masterpiece.
It was a shiny golden cross with intricate designs engraved on it, suspended from a red ribbon.
As each medal was placed around a recipient's neck and each badge was pinned on the cadet's shoulder, the crowd erupted into resounding applause once again.
After receiving my medal, I glanced back and saw Count Dekrauf presenting the final medal to Nero Dekrauf.
In a hushed, almost inaudible tone, Count murmured, "Who will protect you now?"
He tapped Nero's shoulder with a deadly cold look in his eyes, and I could swear I almost saw Nero shudder.
However, the protagonist soon clenched his teeth and shot a daggering glare at his biological father.
With indignation clearly present in his voice, Nero retorted, "One day, I will look you in the eyes and ask you the same question as you'll choke on your own blood."
Wow, talk about family drama–
"Kriek!"
My train of thought was disrupted when Sera attempted to peck at my neck with her sharp beak.
"Ouch! Sera! You'll slit my throat! Are you trying to kill me?"
"Kriek!"
"Ouch! Hey! Hey! Wait, give me my medal back!"
Before I could pry her off, she snatched my medal and soared upward toward the ceiling.
A soft, melodious giggle reached my ears as Amelia strolled over from my right. "Seems like she has a thing for shiny objects."
"Huh?!" I furrowed my brows before speaking in a low tone. "You do know she's not actually a crow, right?"
"Perhaps Phoenixes also have a liking for shiny things, who knows– Aah! Ouch! Oh! Sera, wait! No!"
Just as Amelia was speaking, Sera swooped down upon her, seized the badge from her shoulder, and took flight again.
Before I could step in to grab her, Sera hopped from one cadet to another, stealing their medals and badges.
Seeing all the rising commotion, I could only hold my head as Amelia gaped in shock.
Since Anastasia was dressed in a shiny golden gown, Sera actually tried to nab the entire thing! Thankfully, she couldn't tear the gown off…
But what happened next had me thinking about digging a hole in the ground and hiding in it.
Sera headed toward a certain father and son duo who were locked in a face-off, and she landed right on Count Dekrauf's face, trying to steal the stars on his shoulder!
Everyone in the grand hall covered their mouths as stifled gasps escaped their lips and all I could do was facepalm in sheer embarrassment.
Goddamnit, Sera!
