The velvet curtains were drawn back and the vanguard stepped forward one by one.

"They’re coming out!" someone shrieked in the crowd.

"Led by their Vanguard Commander, the Class Group-S Elemental Mage... " the booming voice of the royal announcer echoed across the massive square. "Vernon Heavenblum!"

Vernon strode onto the platform, his cape billowed dramatically as the crowd erupted into a deafening cheer.

"From Class Group-A!" the announcer continued. "Storm Mage Kaleb Vance, Grand Dragoon Valeria Bloodgood, Beast Tamer Evander Nightcross, and Rune Carver Silas Mercer!"

"From Class Group-B! Shadowmancer Nereus Grimlake, Beast Weaver Lyris Sterling, Ice Mage Darian Vale, Vulcan Mage Eden Dangrave, Vanguard Knight Jaxen Ironhold, Phantom Assassin Seradine Locke, Nullifier Gideon Blackwood, and Arcanist Maevia Sol!"

"From Class Group-C! Wind Mage Cassian Roa, Moon Knight Torin Halberd, Beast Tamer Rilla Daunt, and Mind Mage Finnea Starling!"

The students filed onto the grand marble stage, forming a pristine line behind the King. Rather than their formal Academy uniforms, the administration had made a brilliant PR choice: the Vanguard wore the exact armor they had fought in.

The metal was polished, but the deep gouges, the scorch marks from Gloom rot, and the cracked leather straps were left entirely visible. It made them look like absolute war heroes.

"And finally, Class Group-D!" the announcer continued. "Heavenly Knight Renan Falconhart! Fire Mage Frieda Castleloft! Arcanist Amira Vineheart! And... Architect Lancet Leogardt!"

Down in the cordoned-off student section, Kasto looked kike he was going to climb over the hard-light barricade.

"There he is! There he is!" Kasto screamed, pointing wildly. "Lancet! Wooooo!"

Anita was jumping up and down, waving both hands frantically in the air. "Look at his armor! He looks so cool! Oh my gosh, he’s actually up there with the King!"

Even Luke, who usually maintained an aura of complete apathy, stood up slightly straighter, a proud smirk tugged at the corner of his lips as he watched their roommate stand on the highest stage in the Kingdom.

Closer to the platform, seated in the VIP administrative section, the true powerhouses of Awakener Supreme watched the ceremony unfold.

Dean Ordenance hands resting on his cane, his expression guarded. Beside him were the other high-ranking administrators, their faces set in expressions of serious, calculating approval.

But Headmistress Danistasia Ardental was different.

The Ice Witch sat elegantly in her dark, gothic gown, her chin resting gracefully on her pale, talon-like fingers. As Lancet stepped out to join the line, her glowing blue eyes tracked his every movement.

On her lips were a deeply intrigued smile like she was fascinated or menacingly intrigued.

Dean Ordenance caught the look out of the corner of his eye. His jaw tightened imperceptibly, fully aware of how dangerous her interest could be.

"Also recognizing the Instructor who trained the vanguard!" the King’s voice boomed again, taking over from the announcer. "Professor Wolfgar Windviper!"

Wolfgar stepped out from the wings, his arms crossed over his massive chest, nodding curtly to the Sovereign before taking his place at the edge of the Vanguard.

"Look upon them, citizens of Aethelgard!" the King declared to the crowd, spreading his arms. "You see before you not merely students, but the iron shield of our Kingdom! When the shadows of the Second World reached for our throats, when Gloom opened its jaws to swallow Hebthej, these twenty-one Awakeners did not break!"

"They faced down not one, but two Demon Heads!" Romsgard roared, striking the podium with a fist. The sound echoed like a cannon blast. "They marched into a Gloom Domain that would have shattered many, and they emerged victorious! They bled for this soil! They bled for your neighbors and your families! And for that, Aethelgard owes them a debt that can never truly be repaid!"

From his spot in the Vanguard line, Lancet watched the King. There was this thrumming in his heart that was likely caused by the King’s words.

Lancet had read about this exact trait in the light novel. King Romsgard had this innate charisma to speak courage, patriotism and pride into the heart of people. But reading words on a screen was nothing like standing ten feet away from it.

Every word the King spoke landed with an echo. It wasn’t a spell or a Skill; just the power of speech and conviction that the king had cultivated over time. Now, everything he spoke, it forced every single person to listen and believe.

The crowd erupted when Romsgard was done, screaming their lungs out, swept up entirely by the King’s aura.

As Romsgard let the cheers wash over the square, a royal page dressed in white silk approached the platform, carrying a velvet cushion weighed down by medals forged from real, solid Aethelgard gold.

"His Majesty, King Romsgard, will now reward the vanguard with medals of recognition!" the speaker declared.

Everyone fell silent to watch.

Slowly, King Romsgard walked down the line. He paused before each student, speaking a quiet word of thanks as he pinned the heavy gold medal to their armor.

King Romsgard finally reached the end of the line and stepped in front of Lancet. Lancet felt a strong aura grip him, causing him to hold his breath. Up close, the King seemed suffocatingly powerful, and Lancet suddenly felt like he was standing at the edge of a hurricane.

Romsgard hung the medal over Lancet’s neck. Then, he placed his hand firmly on Lancet’s shoulder. Lancet looked at the king, caught off guard at first by the gesture.

But, in the king’s eyes, it seemed he was more thankful than anything. King Romsgard gave a firm squeeze, then turned and marched back to the podium.

"But their rewards do not end here!" the King announced, his voice booming once more. "A pat on the back and a necklace cannot possibly be enough for the sacrifices these younglings made for our kingdom!"

The crowd cheered in agreement.

"By royal decree, the treasury shall grant each student standing before you a total of one million Notes!"

The square gasped. Down in the student pens, jaws dropped.

"However," the King raised his hand, silencing the crowd. "For outstanding leadership and exceptional valor, the students Vernon Heavenblum, Renan Falconhart, Nereus Grimlake, Valeria Bloodgood, and Silas Mercer shall be granted two million Notes!"

More cheers erupted, but the King wasn’t finished.

"And finally," Romsgard’s voice hit a crescendo. "For slaying a record-breaking second Demon Head, saving countless lives in the process... Lancet Leogardt shall be awarded three million Notes!"

The student section absolutely lost its mind.

"Three million?!" Kasto grabbed his own hair, his eyes bugging out of his skull. "Jeez! Lancet is rich! He’s actually loaded!"

"We are getting treated to steak dinners for the rest of the year!" Anita shrieked.

"Furthermore!" the King powered through the roaring applause. "They will each be given a Royal Black Card. Signed by my own hand, this card grants them the right to purchase any weapon, armor, or artifact entirely for free from our most established Equipment Stores, anywhere within the borders of Aethelgard, for a full year!"

More collective woahs echoed across the plaza. Student Awakeners in the pens were tearing their hair out in jealousy.

"Our final gift is this," Romsgard smiled, a fierce, proud expression. "Their names have already been recognized by the Great Guilds as priority assets. This means that upon their graduation, these young heroes will not have to worry about fighting for a contract. They will quickly be signed to a Guild and recognized as Kingdom-employed defenders of the world!"

Whoa! The students were more shocked by this one.

In their section, Academy instructors murmured excitedly among themselves.

"Something like that... wouldn’t it cause an all-out war amongst the Great Guilds?" one teacher whispered, adjusting his glasses.

"Yes," another replied smoothly. "They’ll be fighting tooth and nail for who called dibs on who."

"Hmm. Obviously, the Pride Stone Guild will be the one to sign Vernon Heavenblum."

"But what of Lancet and Renan?" another instructor pointed out. "They are only First Years. There are still four years left before they graduate, and the Guilds are certainly going to fight for them now."

"Oh, without a doubt. Pride Stone and Humble Leaf will go to war over those two. I’m sure of it."

On the stage, King Romsgard threw his hands open, embracing the adoring masses.

"Citizens of Aethelgard!" he roared. "The Defenders of Hebthej, once again! Give them a round of applause and all your thanks! Without them, the wrath of Gloom would have taken a piece of our beloved land!"

The square exploded.

Tens of thousands of people screamed at the top of their lungs, clapping until their hands turned red. Confetti blasted into the air from magitech cannons, raining down over the ancient cobblestones.

"DEFENDERS OF HEBTHEJ! DEFENDERS OF HEBTHEJ! DEFENDERS OF HEBTHEJ!"

On the stage, Lancet was afraid he was going to fall.

The sound of the crowd chanting their title caused his heart to pound uncontrollably. He stared out at the massive sea of faces, the waving flags, the golden light of the morning sun catching the floating holograms.

It was all difficult to contain.

He had read about scenes like this in the novel. But standing here, seeing everyone praising and thanking him for fighting for them, it was a different kind of feeling.

A feeling of fulfillment.

Lancet swallowed hard. ’Why does it feel so damn good?!’