The a.s.sembly began in a regular fashion. Chairman Liu welcomed the new students and ran through some school announcements. Afterwards he called up the new scholars to the front of the stage."Could this year"s Emperor"s Scholars please come to the front."
Davide and Yao Daiyu sheepishly stood up and moved towards the front. It had to be intimidating for them, standing in front of such a ma.s.sive crowd of their peers.
It was a little nerve racking for me, but not terribly so. I took the front centre of the stage and stood proudly in front of the crowd.
Chairman Liu walked up to Davide and placed a hand on his shoulder.
"Davide Marticelli, qi force 153, affinity 91%,"
He moved on to Yao Daiyu,
"Yao Daiyu, qi force 162, affinity 92%,"
Finally, he came to me,
"Oscar Schwartz, qi force 286, affinity 100%."
An excited murmur spread throughout the crowd, but Chairman Liu continued through it.
"As you know, these scholars have incredible const.i.tutions. Let them be exemplars of strength among you."
He raised his voice, instantly stopping any chatting.
"But remember, innate ability means nothing without hard work. We shall continue our long-standing tradition,"
"During this term, you should all focus on building your strength. Next term, if any first-year entrant is to defeat one of these three in authorised combat, they too shall become a scholar."
Excited chatter surged again, and my heart started pounding. Chairman Liu had just painted a target on our backs. This was an exciting way to keep prodigies motivated, and I welcomed the challenge.
Within the chatter, Chairman Liu spoke some quiet words to us,
"You may return to your seats."
We sat back down, and Chairman Liu called out,
"Oremus!"
Most students stood to attention, and the confused first years followed their lead. I could see their eyes darting between each other, trying to understand what was happening.
With an almighty roar, the scholars chanted a strange phrase. I didn"t know what language it was, but it was filled with pa.s.sion.
The scholars finished the phrase, and the rest of the school responded in perfect unison. Somehow, the 20 odd scholars created more noise than the hundreds of other students.
For a minute or so, the school roared in this call and response pattern. It didn"t seem like a prayer to me, more like a battle cry. The mysterious words set my blood boiling.
The Chairman called out some final strange words,
"Ire licet!"
With that, he walked down the centre aisle, followed closely by the scholars. Most of the kids looked straight ahead in complete silence, with only the odd first year sending a glance our way.
We filed down the stairs into Little Yard and back into College. The moment the scholars walked through the door all sense of decorum disappeared.
I met up with Davide and Yao Daiyu.
"What was all that?" I asked.
"I don"t know big bro it was so weird."
One of the older scholars came up to us, putting his hands on me and Davide"s shoulders.
"You just got your first taste of what it means to be an Emperor"s Scholar."
I turned around to look at him. He was tall, with unnaturally chiselled features for a kid.
"I"m Chen Tai, but you can call me Tai, elder brother or whatever you want. I"m the head scholar, so if you"ve got any questions you don"t want to bother Dong with, ask me."
"Nice to meet you Tai," I started, "what was with that chanting?"
"It"s the school prayers. Pretty scary isn"t it?"
I nodded in slight agreement.
"I"ll introduce you to all the other scholars tonight and let you know how things work around here. But you"ve got something else important ahead,"
He nodded in Dong"s direction, then walked upstairs.
"Alright you three, it"s time for you to get your mentors!" Dong called out.
He led us back to the door, then paused before opening it.
"Remember to keep your chin up whenever you"re around the other students. You"ve got to have scholar"s pride!"
I picked myself up a little and followed him out the door. We walked back up to Hall, and I could feel hundreds of stares p.r.i.c.kling my back.
Hall was almost empty, with just a few people in plain clothes packing away the chairs. We pa.s.sed through and into where the hospital bay was before.
The bay had been completely converted into a magisterial meeting room. Chairman Liu sat at the end of the room, with two parallel rows of teachers kneeling at low desks either side of him.
"Welcome to the mentorship selection committee. Please remain standing over there."
Dong bowed to Chairman Liu, then took an empty seat along the rows.
"Any one of my esteemed colleagues here could be your mentor. Yao Daiyu, could you please take a step forward."
Yao Daiyu nervously shuffled forward and bowed deeply to the Chairman.
"Yin Xue, could you please describe Miss Yao"s condition."
A grizzled man with a scruffy beard to Chairman Liu"s immediate right nodded, then started speaking.
"With pleasure Chairman. Yao Daiyu, qi force 162, affinity 92%, Crystalline Qi const.i.tution."
A few of the teachers hummed in interest and whispered to their neighbours. Yin Xue continued regardless, dropping his dignified affectation.
"A lot of ya should know just how powerful this const.i.tution is. Qi crystallises all over "er body, making "er a top-notch body cultivator no matter what she does."
"What ya don"t know is just how painful that is. These crystals aren"t like the soul. They"re real things, and they stab "er whole body whenever she moves a muscle."
"What"s insane about this little girl, is she spent the first eight years of "er life without any medicine. Nuthin. She just toughed out the pain and kept doing "er thing."
The teachers all started nodding in Yao Daiyu"s direction out of respect.
"So, she"s not only got one of the best const.i.tutions, she"s a fighter!"
Chairman Liu raised his hand slightly, and all the teachers turned to him.
"Raise your hands if you wish to be Yao Daiyu"s mentor."
Nearly every hand in the room rose in unison. Only one burly woman sat back, arms folded.
"I had suspected as much. Well then, I shall voice my own opinion. I believe Yang Heng is most suited to be her mentor."
A graceful looking man with flowing black hair bowed in Chairman Liu"s direction.
"Many thanks, Chairman."
Chairman Liu nodded gently.
"I believe that your only disciple has moved to the Great School this year, no?"
Yang Heng nodded.
"I would request that Yao Daiyu be your sole disciple, so that you may provide her with the best teaching. Are you willing?"
"I am, Chairman."
"Very good. Are there any objections?"
The teachers didn"t seem happy, but none of them dared to object.
"Then it is so. Yao Daiyu, your mentor shall be Yang Heng. Please step back."
With another deep bow, Yao Daiyu retreated.
"Davide Marticelli, could you please take a step forward."
Davide hopped forward excitedly.
"Yin Xue, if you will."
"Thank you, Chairman. Davide Marticelli, qi force 153, affinity 91%, Golden Web const.i.tution. A lot of ya won"t know this one. This kid"s qi is completely fused with his nerves."
Some of the teachers nodded in appreciation.
"Some of ya probably think "that"s just the Lightning Reflex Technique!" But yer wrong. That technique can"t get ya close to this kid"s body."
Another excited murmur built up among the teachers.
"Just a bit of practice and he"s gonna have Master Grade reflexes. He"ll be a natural at whatever martial art you throw at him."
Chairman Liu waved his hand again.
"Raise your hands if you wish to be Davide Marticelli"s mentor."
A smattering of hands went up, including the burly woman.
"Freja Bjorndottir, it"s been many years since you"ve desired a disciple. Would you care to explain why you wish to mentor this boy?"
Freja gave a cheeky smile, then leaned back and crossed her arms.
"He"s just my type, isn"t he?"
Some teachers shook their heads in shame, others coughed and cleared their throats.
"Miss Bjorndottir, would you care to elaborate?"
"Well, if I had to give a real reason," she leaned forward and placed her elbows on the low desk, "he"s the perfect successor for my Mind-Body unison technique."
Chairman Liu nodded in agreement.
"Given that you are the only teacher left with no current disciples, I am inclined to a.s.sign you as his mentor. Are there any objections?"
Wu raised his hand, and the chairman nodded in his direction.
"With all due respect, Chairman, how can you let Freja take away such a martial talent?"
Freja snarled at him.
"She"s just a blacksmith!" Wu cried out.
Freja slammed her hands down on the desk.
"Watch yourself Wu Lei! I"ll beat you senseless any day of the week!"
"Chairman do you see this? How is she fit to teach?!"
Chairman Liu raised his hand, stopping both of them.
"There is no need to antagonise each other. Freja, you are in a school. Mind your manners. And Lei, Freja may be a blacksmith now, but you should know just how strong she is."
Chairman Liu directed his gaze at Davide.
"It is rare that I do this, but I would like to ask for your opinion, Davide Marticellli. Would you take Freja Bjorndottir as your mentor?"
Davide stayed silent for a second, then looked at Freja.
"Miss, are you strong?" his voice was quivering, but defiant.
Freja seemed a bit taken aback, but a smile spread across her face and she leaned towards him.
"The strongest!" she exclaimed, "Well, besides the chairman."
"Then can Mr Chairman teach me?"
It was Chairman Liu"s turn to be taken aback. A chuckle escaped his mouth. Then another. Then a large belly laugh, unbecoming of his frail figure.
Smiles and small breaths of laughter spread across the teachers, and Chairman Liu wiped a tear from his eye.
"I"m sorry child, but I am unable to take in a disciple. However, I can guarantee Freja Bjorndottir"s strength."
Davide looked a little disappointed, but he resolved himself. "Then I want Miss Bee… Miss Freja."
Freja seemed to be struggling to stop herself from jumping up from her seat and hugging him.
"Then, Davide Marticelli, your mentor shall be Freja Bjorndottir."
Wu clucked his tongue angrily, but the other teachers seemed happy with the decision.
"Now, Oscar Schwartz, please step forward."