Taming My Vampire Servant - Chapter 169
Soon after, Principal Zwain Arthurdane stood at a small stage in front. He said in a loud voice, “Welcome, Masters and Servants! As the principal of Qawiun Academy, I would like to tell every graduate in this room that I am truly proud of all of you. Several had quit and could not take the hard lessons as the training classes became more advanced, but all of you managed to last and even finished the internships,” he raised the wine glass he was holding, “Congratulations!”
Everyone raised their glasses with a big smile. Some had wine, and some only had grape juice. They raised their glasses and clunk them together before drinking their respective beverages.
After his speech, Educator Heidi, who taught Defense Class, started to call the students one by one to receive an enchanted, graduation scroll. She was assisted by Educator Rosanna in handing out the blue scrolls with golden rods and red ribbons. These enchanted scrolls would glow once opened.
After everyone got their graduation scrolls, the Principal announced, “I will now announce the specialized class awards and the top three highest ranks for your batch.”
Educator Rosanna said, “For the close combat specialized class, I would like to congratulate… Miss Arcea Knightwing, for showing a unique defensive battle style that could reflect both hand-to-hand and long ranged attacks.”
“Oh my goddess!!!” Arcea couldn’t believe that she actually managed to make the strict Educator notice her combat skills. She walked forward, then received a nickel -plated trophy of a crow perched on a globe with its wings spread wide.
Educator Wallace spoke up next. “I would like to give this award to… Miss Anastasia Gaian, for showing great and powerful magic techniques on par with Royal Knights. She was able to cast the fastest of all the Magic class students. Please receive your trophy.”
Anastasia stood up from her seat and walked gracefully towards the stage. Most of the eyes were fixated on her again.
As the other specialized class awardees were called, they were also given the same trophies, wherein the nameplate and title were the only differences.
After awarding two more students after Anastasia, the Principal then announced, “Next, I am going to call forward the top students in every section. I will start with Blue Gem,” he read the scroll, “The topnotcher for the Blue Gem Section is…”
There was silence in the hall as they eagerly waited for the announcement.
“Mister Lucius Goldwine, please come here and receive your trophy. Congratulations!” the principal said, and everyone in Blue Gem gave a round of applause.
Lucius stood up from his seat, and smiled as he glanced at Ivory and Arcea. He slowly walked towards the stage and received a steel trophy smelted into two wing-like forms intersecting each other.
The announcement of section topnotchers continued. For the Green Crystal Section, Anastasia was called once again.
“For the Red Stone Section, congratulations… Mister Varamond Arthurdane!” the principal proudly said.
Everyone clapped their hands as the topnotchers were called onstage one by one.
“Ivory, it’s the Principal’s younger brother,” Arcea told her discreetly, “I heard he is aiming to be the next principal once Principal Arthurdane resigns.”
“What do you mean? Is he going to resign soon?” she asked curiously.
“I heard that the principal is looking for a lover so he can settle down and have his own family. They said that some people caught him frequenting Betania City’s pubs and taverns-”
“Ridiculous, how were you able to know all this stuff?” Ivory chuckled. Ever since they were first years, she always knew the juicy gossip!
Afterwards, Principal Arthurdane proceeded to announce, “Next up, I will be giving trophies to the top three highest rankings of the whole batch.”
Educator Alphonse and two other Educators brought three trophies onstage. The trophies had a design of a woman holding a torch and her wings spread wide. The third highest would get a bronze trophy, the second would get a silver trophy, and the highest ranked would get a gold trophy.
The principal continued his explanation, “The rankings were based on the written, oral, and practical scores submitted by the Educators for the whole three years… The third highest rank is… Mister Caspian Reagan! Congratulations!”
The pink-haired young man widened his eyes over the announcement. He was not sure how to react. As he stood up from his seat, he glanced at Arcea first before walking towards the stage.
“Congratulations, Caspian!” Arcea said as she clapped louder than the others. As she stared at him while he went onstage, she noticed Ivory smiling at her, “What, Ivory?”
“I thought you were enemies, why are you cheering for him?”
“We… We’re okay now.”
She nodded at her, still smiling widely, “I get it now.”
“What are you thinking of?”
“Nothing,” she laughed.
Principal Arthurdane then proceeded to the next awardee. “For the second highest ranking student… Mister Lucius Goldwine. Congratulations!”
Lucius stood up from his seat and received the silver trophy. The truth was, he was expecting to be able to have the first rank, but it seemed like he overestimated himself. He glanced at his sister and Arcea, who were clapping for his victory, and he waved at them.
“Next, the first in rank… Congratulations…” Principal Arthurdane cleared his throat, “Miss Anastasia Gaian!”
The young miss received an award once again, and Educator Rosanna was teary-eyed as she watched her only sister come up onstage. Until now, she couldn’t believe that her bedridden sister would receive major awards and become the strongest Master in their special batch. In the Educator’s mind, she knew she could only thank Goddess Destinia for such a blessing.
That was the last award given, and so, Principal Arthurdane asked for the food to be served. Slabs of smoked bacon and lamb were served, as well as vegetable salad and carrot soup. For dessert, they were given egg tarts and blueberry pies. Barrels of wines and fruit juices were displayed at the back side, and everyone’s free to refill their glasses.
Not only that, the graduates were also given a bowl of mashed potato which Ivory recognized as prepared by Lycus due to its unique flavor!
While eating, Ivory and her classmates conversed about what they want to do and where they would want to work after the Servant Competition, which would be held next week.
“I want to be a sculptor. Someday, I want my works to be recognized by the Royal Family.” one of them said.
“But aren’t you in the close combat specialization class? Don’t you want to fight?”
“Nah, after being in the academy for three years, I figured out I wasn’t a battle loving type of person. I will just waste my creativity swinging my axe. Besides, I am displeased everytime I see my cute tiger Beast Servant hurt,” the young woman gently patted her Servant, who was sitting beside her. The black cub, who’s a big tiger when in its active state, let out a purr. She then asked, “I’m done, who’s next to share?”
“Me! I want to work as a guard,” another young woman said. Beside her was her Scythe Spirit Servant who held a big, sharp scythe, and his whole body was covered with white bandages. She continued her ambition story, “I will get really strong, and maybe I will apply as a Town or City Guard Chief someday. I still want to work here in the Land of Olivea! How about you, Arcea?”
“I want to be…” Arcea glanced at Caspian, who was busy sipping red wine quietly at the side, “…the wife of that handsome guy who’s drinking wine-”
They checked on whom Arcea was looking at, then teased her, “Yiiii, looks like something happened during the internship!”
The young swordswoman turned beet red, “No, what are you all talking about!?” she quickly switched the spotlight to Ivory, “Oh, how about you, Ivory? What will you do after the competition?”
“I will apply as a knight, and maybe someday, I will be a Royal Knight.”
“Oh, that’s great!”
“I heard that when you win the Servant Competition, you don’t need to apply for the Royal Knight or the Educator position. It will be Principal Arthurdane who’s going to recommend the winner.”
Ivory sighed, “I am sure the competition will be tough.”
“You’re going to do well,” Arcea said, patting her friend’s back, “I am very happy that you graduated with me. Actually, when we first saw you, I thought you’re not going to last in the academy.”
Hearing this, she noticed the two female classmates slowly turning away.
Arcea quickly took a scroll on her velvet pouch bag. She showed them the contents, “Stop right there, you two. Your names and signatures are in this scroll. Aren’t you gonna pay up?”
“What do you mean, Arcea?” Ivory asked, looking at her first then at the two who could not look at them directly.
The two young women widened their eyes, shocked to see that the scroll from more than three years ago still existed!