Those chosen for victory should be prepared for defeat.

  ——————————————————————————————————————————

  The day passed on with no issue, and the students here went on with their usual lives like normal, chattering, hanging out, taking scenic routes on the school campus, or even doing the usual teenage habit of gossiping. Even in the new age, people just still love to talk behind each other’s backs, as if that attitude never left us.

  It’s currently dismissal time, and on any usual school day, we’d finish off with some reminders and announcements, pack up our stuff, and head home, maybe do some club activities if they’re available for that day. However, that was not the case, and damn near everyone knows why at this point.

  The time has come for the Selection Ceremony.

  As soon as the last class ended, the students were told to head to the auditorium for the ceremony to start, and boy did they move. Crowds of students from both the Primary and Secondary Courses started to flood the halls, the atmosphere being a little bit cramped, but reeking of excitement, nervousness, or some other emotion in between.

  I, of course, being the inconspicuous one, just went along with the crowd, making sure to not step on someone’s shoes, as that is annoying for the person stepping, and the person being stepped on (The shoe, not themselves. Just, no.).

  Eventually, the crowd I was in reached the large space of the auditorium. The walls and ceilings were made out of quality material, probably marble or something else, donned with ornate designs and floating runes of magic. Large dark blue banners trimmed with gold are displayed, giving this room the feeling of glory, a very ancient, yet still-persistent one. Faint particles of mana are seen here, and sure damn make this room prettier and “noble” in a sense.

  It didn’t take long for the auditorium to become flooded with people. The students alone take up about 90% of the space from what I can tell. However, being cramped with strangers isn’t the main thing here. Rather, it’s what’s on the elevated stage that is attracting the attention.

  On that stage, important people of the school staff stand, their eyes scanning over the large crowd of students in the auditorium. Especially the headmaster, Lewis Osborne-Bright, the headmaster of the school, a thirty-something-looking adult with silver hair and golden eyes that tell of wisdom. He's the officiator and the one personally choosing the students of this school, the Arcsworn, to become participants in the Grand Front.

  Actually, from what I know, our school is probably one of the only schools to have the headmaster personally choose their competitors, as opposed to some other schools relying on some kind of data or the potential/achievements of the students. It probably has to do with the school's motto of “From smallest lights shall glory shine” or something.

  At the very center of the stage is some kind of pedestal, which houses a large translucent orb of some kind. The center of the orb pulsates with the power of magic, accompanying the mass of mana particles within.

  That is what's called a “Magic Resonance Locator”, a device used for ceremonies like this, and it uses the understanding of magical frequencies and the user's input to locate the targeted person, who is accompanied by the mana around them glowing blue as a sign of their selection.

  As the auditorium was filled with chatters, murmurs, and whispers of students, the person standing next to the headmaster, probably the vice headmaster, clapped their hands together. However, it wasn't an ordinary clap; her hands had the faintest glow of magic as the sound resonated across the whole room. A sound augmentation spell, from the looks of it.

  Hearing the signal, all students promptly stopped chattering as she walked up to the speaking lectern in the front center.

  “Good afternoon, students. We gathered here today for a momentous day.”

  Her voice boomed throughout the whole area, amplified by the microphone on the lectern. Her voice signaled authority, commanding the attention to her speech, but still somehow soft in a way that allowed those not accustomed to authority like that to get a little comfortable with her.

  She paused for a while before she spoke again on the mike.

  “Today marks the tenth year of waiting. A time where those chosen by us will walk a path of glory, one that allows their name to be engraved in the world of magic.”

  She smiled a little before she continued.

  “On behalf of all of this academy's staff, I welcome all to the Selection Ceremony!”

  As soon as that was said, the room resonated with claps and cheers from all students in this room, including me, getting a little too loud for some ordinary shmuck to handle.

  Remember that this is Aionios, one of the largest magic schools globally, so you kind of have to expect that.

  The vice-headmaster raised a close hand, a signal everyone here got, and immediately stopped the applause.

  “Before we begin, let us hear the words of the headmaster of Aionios Academy, Professor Lewis Osborne-Bright!”

  Another applause came, this time softer as the vice-headmaster stepped down from the lectern, giving way for Professor Lewis. As he stepped up, he coughed a little before beginning his speech.

  “It is a good day, students of the future. Today is the day where the ones chosen for destined victory shall be known, to be hailed as competitors under our name for the coming Grand Front.”

  He spoke, with an air of regalia, authority, and wisdom making his voice a little more impactful than it has any right to be. From my little interactions with him, he sure damn deserves to hold that air. A nigh legendary Arcsworn who has experience and a desire to teach the new generation? Yep, headmaster material, alright.

  “The Grand Front is not just a competition, it is a showcase, a proving ground for those chosen on this very day. All of us at Aionios extend messages of hope to those who march on to the battlegrounds of the Grand Front, where your talents and prowess shall combine with teamwork and strategy to prevail in daunting battles against the other, competing academies.”

  I silently scoff to myself. Yeah, as if, dude.

  “Talents”, huh? Would you call practically average Enhancement Magic a talent? Course not, you'd select the ones who were promising young people, those who mastered their specialties like–I dunno–fires that raze forests, blizzards summoned in a blink, or some OP swordsman who mastered every arcane swordsmanship.

  Unauthorized usage: this narrative is on Amazon without the author's consent. Report any sightings.

  Also, if I did get chosen (Which is practically never), I'd probably not get along well with the others, seeing as most or all of them would be nobles, who if you remember, are snobby and arrogant most of the time. And I kind of have an agenda against those guys.

  The point is, I ain't making it, that's for sure.

  Okay, moping over I swear, back to speech.

  “However, for those who watch these chosen rises, do not despair at the thought of being left behind. Let yourself see them as shining lights, allow their actions to ignite a fire; a fire for the drive of self-success, to be inspired by their glory and hope for your future life as an Arcsworn!”

  …Hope, huh?

  I smiled a little at the headmaster's words. In my early teenage years, where I probably was the most cynical, I would dismiss his words of hope, influenced by the negative words of others as I tried to stray away from my old naive ideals.

  However, as a seventeen-year-old, who has matured since then…I kind of want to believe in his words.

  Sure, you already know I won't get chosen, but the thought of seeing them as inspiration for the personal drive for success just…somehow resonated in someone who's self-esteem is at the bottom.

  If those chosen for the Grand Front are heroes in their own right, being the future of magic's legacy after all, despite me not seeing myself or even relating to them for that matter…

  …Maybe, just maybe, I can hold on to that hope of success for myself, even just a little.

  Maybe I can find myself in them, and that would eventually be the catalyst for my success.

  Or it's just wishful thinking, I dunno anymore.

  “And even though you shall tumble and fall in the road ahead, do not falter at the thought of another failure. Failure is not a hindrance, it is a strength. Pick yourself up from failures, maybe faulty strategies or uncoordinated action, and learn from them. Press onward until you reach the end, where glory awaits.”

  “And with that, it is my greatest pleasure to begin this great day. Let the Selection Ceremony begin!”

  Another round of loud applause similar to that from the vice-headmaster's words, only this time, it was accompanied by louder cheers. I could have sworn I heard a “Let's go, Professor Bright!” faintly in the crowd.

  As he stepped down and stepped near the Locator, the vice-headmaster, which I will refer to now as “Professor Farlight” for the sake of my sanity in redundancy, steps up to the lectern.

  “The students chosen in this Ceremony will be considered as Arcsworn under this school for the Grand Front. The locator will show all of us who chose who will enter the competition.”

  As she said that, the headmaster–Professor Bright–placed his hand on the device on the pedestal, causing magic to flare up inside the large orb, akin to what you'd find in a plasma globe, only larger and more “magic” than science.

  Eventually, the orb expelled a pulsating wave of mana across the room, causing all of us to feel its power. The feeling was calm yet pressuring, as if feeling the waves of the ocean softly but steadily crash onto your body. Minus the feeling of wetness, that is.

  As soon as the wave dissipated, surprised exclaims were said. The first chosen showed themselves I can tell.

  “Please welcome onto the stage our chosen Arcsworn for the Grand Front.”

  She paused, taking a while to look at the crowd, scanning for the ones bathed in blue light.

  “Will Anderson. First-Year at Primary Course.”

  A round of applause came for the first person called onto the stage, who wore a smile on his face as he composed himself in his walk.

  “Lucia Fiorella. Second-Year at Primary Course.”

  The second person was called, who wore a serene smile as she walked up to the stage, waving at those who applauded her.

  “Alexander Bannings. Second-Year at Primary Course.”

  A man with dark orange hair and a muscular stature walked up to the stage with an excited smile as he happily waved to the crowd, like how a child did when he saw their parents in a competition. Kind of adorable when you think about it.

  “Bryson Fairchild. First Year at Secondary Course.”

  That caused some to gasp in shock but they applauded him nonetheless. Said person had an air of laid-backness but somehow a feeling of composed dignity. Think like your weird uncle who is somehow a god in Tekken. That kind of person.

  As the first four stood straight with varying levels of excitement, the headmaster started up the locator again, unleashing another wave of magic as more gasps of surprise were said.

  “Hey, you think it's the nobles?”, a hushed whisper reached my attentive ear.

  “Dunno, but high chances, yeah.”

  …Of freaking course, they would be chosen dude. The status quo decided that in the first place.

  “Oscar Lichtschild. First-Year at Primary Course.”

  A couple of squeals accompanied the loud applause for the (supposed) pretty boy-looking noble. He had a face that was composed, and calm, but had a soft smile from the praises showered onto him as he walked onto the stage.

  I didn't react. I get he's famous at a young age and is pretty powerful magic-wise…but I don't care. Sorry weirdos–I mean, Oscar fangirls.

  “Astrid Hildebrand. First Year at Primary Course.”

  Another round of applause came for the woman with ashen silver hair tied up in a ponytail. She gives off this air of aloofness, and somehow, even from far away, I can tell her eyes show that of a hardened warrior. And I think the hushed comment I heard solidifies that.

  “Wait, isn't she the Silver Sword Princess!?”

  “Huh? Oh yeah, the student under the legendary swordswoman Bianca? Yeah, that's her, alright.”

  Huh, neat to know.

  But, as I looked at the lineup of people chosen one by one in the ceremony, I got this feeling of nervousness running down my spine.

  I shivered. How and why am I getting this feeling? I know won’t be chosen, but why am I getting this instinct that I might?

  I shrugged it off and tried to focus on the next round of people being called. However, no matter how hard I tried, the nervousness kept on kicking on. My vision got blurrier, and my heartbeat drowned out the sounds of applause as I tried to hide my labored breathing.

  Am I having an anxiety attack? And if so, over what? I couldn’t think, much less even say a word as I tried to hide myself among the crowd. Maybe it’s just me getting nervous in a crowded place, maybe I haven’t had much sleep, or maybe I just had so much to worry about. Despite all that, I felt another wave of magic, suddenly calming my breathing and heartbeat.

  Feeling myself relaxed, I exhaled in relief. Maybe after all this, I’ll grab a nice bite at the nearest cafe…

  …But as soon as I looked down on myself, my mind immediately hit the brakes. Why? Because I noticed myself glowing in a faint blue light.

  I was chosen.

  “Huh?”, I said out loud as the next words from Professor Farlight shook my entire world to its core.

  “Asher Blacklight. First-Year at Primary Course.”

  There were visible sounds of surprise as I felt nearly everyone’s eyes turn towards me, their gazes boring into my soul. As I looked around, I could feel the air of confusion around me as I tried to think of any possible situation that could be pointing to my selection being wrong. Perhaps they had the wrong person? Maybe they accidentally had my name in there–wait, no that can’t be right. The headmaster chooses personally. But why me?

  As my mind went into panic mode, I could faintly hear some murmurs from the crowd. From the tone of their voice, I could tell that most of them are nobles.

  “Asher Blacklight? Him?”

  “No way that kid got into the Grand Front. He’s average!”

  “Hmph, as if low-class trash like him deserve to be there among legends.”

  “Yeah, he just got lucky. He’ll drop out soon enough.”

  “Heh, what kind of magical talent does he have? I’m sure he can’t measure up to the true candidates of the Grand Front-”

  Before the murmurs grew louder, I heard Professor Farlight, with a stern expression on his face, clap the loudest she could. Due to using the sound amplification spell earlier, the second the sound rang out, everyone stopped chattering and I zipped my head to look at the vice headmaster with a “What the hell is going on look”.

  “Mister Blacklight? Aren’t you going to head up on stage?”

  “O-oh, right. Yeah.”, I hurriedly said as I ran through the crowd, eventually reaching the stairs of the elevated stage. As soon as I got up, the applause returned, albeit sounding…reluctant. That’s fair for someone like me, I guess.

  As I took my spot, standing before the large crowd of students, I could feel their gazes. Some looked curious, some were confused as much as I am, and most of them disdained at some average one like me standing with them. I could only sigh in mild frustration. Nobles, eh?

  Professor Farlight let out a throat-clearing sound before continuing to speak.

  “These fifteen destined ones are chosen by the headmaster as the Arcsworn representing us in the coming Fifty-First Grand Front. Give all of them a warm applause and good wishes for their next weeks!”

  The crowd then let out one final round of applause as all of us were signaled to take a bow. However, despite that, I could feel sweat just trickling down my forehead at the prospect of being chosen for the Grand Front, the feeling of resentment of my selection still fresh in my mind as I tried to think that this was all a dream. Unfortunately, it's not.

  Oh dear lord why did my life turn out this way?