Everyone looked at the pods which appeared in the stadium and knew this was last competiton.
Kaelen stepped toward his assigned pod. The machine hummed, it designed to interact with a student's fibers.
Jax from House Ventus looked at Kaelen with arrogance the person selected by there house is specially suited for hallucinations. He is also a history enthusiat.
Kaelen did not show any emotions. He didn't need.
In the space of his mind, he reached back to his study with his home AI.
For the past years, he had covered all the history of the Core as cartoon series.
Everyone enterd there pods and the competition begin.
They were transported to past events as different roles some where captain, some commander and some colonel.
There was no break. The system immediately shifted Kaelen into the scenario.
He was presented with a chaotic conditions where he has to lead his team in historic events.
With the high performance mind inherited from his mother's lineage, he became an absolute beast in the simulator. His management and commanding skills were over the top.
Everyone witnessed on the screen how he easily gave commands to complete the mission with least casualities possible.
When the competiton end as the students emerged from their pods and the stadium lights were brightened again.
Mina ran up to Kaelen, her eyes bright with excitement.
"You did it, Kael! You were a monster in there!"
Kaelen looked up at the sun, his black eyes calm.
The final tallying of the Year-End competition begin.
As the competition concluded, the Automated Scoring System (ASS) compiled the results into a final, house-wide ranking.
The results weren't just based on who crossed the not only based on final result but also individual performance of everyone participating also.
House Ignis secured the top spot through a combination of excellent performance by kaelen's group.
House Ventus took a strong lead initially. But there house struggled to compete with Kaelen's performance in the pods.
House Terra was nearly also overall performed well but final results of all competitions were not in there favour.
House Aqua remained at the bottom of the active leaderboard.
While they showed potential in the Alchemy, they lacked the aggressive point gathering of the other houses.
After competition Kaelen walked back toward the Hive Suites, the new rankings glowing on every terminal he passed.
He had achieved what the seniors wanted.
But Teacher Vane's words from the Observation Spire echoed in his mind.
"Scoring in the competition is good. But real life is not competition there will be real sacrifice. Can you really do what you did in the competiton."
"Also the Council was watching your performance closely, and they were thoroughly impressed by your mecha units commanding capabilities."
"But more importantly, I received a secure transmission from the Core."
"Your grandmother watched the entire event. She told me to tell you that she is incredibly proud of the man you are becoming."
"She sees the Veyron legacy living on through your every move."
Inside the House Ignis Hive Suites, the air was filled with sound of celebratory nutrient nectar drinking and the crackle of overcharged energy fibers.
Seniors, who had looked like walking dead only hours ago, were now hoisting the first years onto their shoulders, their dark auras replaced by happiness.
Music with deep, rhythmic bass notes were ringing all around.
Leo was at the center of a cheering circle, demonstrating a one hand stand with a piece of heavy furniture.
Mina laughed as she dodged a flurry of celebratory nectar thrown by her classmates.
When Kaelen finally walked through the doors, a sudden, respectful hush rippled through the crowd before it converted into thunderous roar of "Veyron! Veyron!"
Even the most competitive upperclassmen stepped aside to offer a nod of genuine respect.
Competition usually happen around the last days of first year and students usually went home after this.
Shuttles from all over Core were landing, bringing families to celebrate the first major milestone of their children's lives.
Kaelen and Mina stood near the main gates as the crowds began to pour through the gates.
Kaelen's parents arrived first, their high level realm presence causing a slight ripple in the surrounding air.
fHis mother, Lyra, was smiling broadly, her warmth radiating outward like a soft glow.
His father, Alrin Veyron, walked with a steady, quiet confidence that demanded immediate respect.
Alrin was a man of few words, his presence as solid as a mountain, with a deep black mana aura.
Coming from the other side of the plaza was Mina's family.
Her mother, Elara, moved with a grace that matched her shimmering threads perfectly.
Beside her was her husband, a tall, sharp-eyed man who looked exactly like a grown up version of Mina's energetic spirit.
"Kaelen!" Lyra called out, but she stopped short when she saw the couple approaching from the opposite wing.
"Elara? And... is that truly you two?" Lyra asked, her eyes widening in genuine shock.
Mina's father let out a booming laugh that seemed to shake the very tiles of the entryway.
He stepped forward and gave Alrin a firm, rib cracking handshake. The kind shared only by old brothers in arms.
"Alrin, you old stone-face!" he grinned, his voice echoing off.
"I haven't seen you since we were pulling triple shifts at the galaxy outposts during the Void Breach."
"And Lyra, you haven't aged a single day since our graduation ceremony."
Alrin's usually stern face broke into a rare, genuine smile as he gripped his old friend's shoulder.
"It's been far too long. To think, after all these years, our children ended up in the same House."
"We used to joke about this when we were just childs sitting in these very halls."
"In the Core, the magic fiber has a way of pulling friends back together." Lyra said, embracing Elara warmly.
Alrin looked down at Mina, his sharp eyes softening as he inspected her glowing silver aura.
"So, this is the silver-threaded girl Kaelen's been mentioning in his transmissions."
"She has her father's magic fiber. But beauty of her mother."
Mina beamed, her energy sparking with excitement. "Kaelen says you're the best mecha pilot he has ever seen, Mr. Veyron."
Alrin ruffled Kaelen's hair, his hand feeling heavy, warm, and reassuringly powerful.
"He exaggerates, as usual. But he's learning well. I hear you two will lift the Trophy today."
Mina said "Yes uncle we will get the trophy. So lets go inside." Everyone followed them to the Great Hall.
The ceremony in the Great Hall was short, dignified, and charged with an energy.
Headmaster Vane took the stage as the students of House Ignis gathered at the front in their pristine red uniforms.
"House Ignis, step forward and take the trophy." Vane commanded, his voice vibrating through their very bones.
Kaelen, Mina, Leo, and Sora placed their hands on the cold surface of the Ignis Trophy.
The red glass phoenix flared brilliantly, pulsing with their mana input.
"For your victory," Vane announced, "each student of House Ignis is awarded the special energy bands which help in regulating fibers and help in increasing realm."
Staff members stepped forward and snapped the sleek, charcoal-gray wristbands onto the students' arms.
"Use them well. Next year the Academy curriculum will become more hard."
As the ceremony wrapped up, the families walked out toward the lush, climate controlled Academy gardens.
The parents walked ahead, catching up on years of missed stories and shared battles.
Kaelen and Mina followed behind, the bands feeling very comfortable on their wrists.
"Did you hear what the Headmaster said?" Mina whispered, looking at her new silver glowing band.
"My dad said that next year will be focused on intense Martial Arts practice."
"It does" Kaelen said, feeling the band pulsing with power against his skin.
"Our fibesr are getting strong for our current body. We're reaching the limit."
"If we don't strengthen our bones and muscles, the next realm will cause more damage then good."
As they were discussing there further curriculum alrin looked back at the two children, watching the red and the silver fibers humming in harmony.
"What are you thinking." Lyra whispered to Alrin.
"They look good together" Alrin replied, his eyes moving to the massive training fields in the distance.
He saw the heavy weights and high-gravity rooms being prepared for the grueling second year of the academy.
The first year was over. Everyone was ready to enjoy there holiday before entering in the academy again for next year.