Dungeon of Pride, Laplace

"Now you know the history of the Solarion Empire and about its founder. Can anyone tell me what are the grandest sights and the most important places in the Solarion Empire? Where do you think heroes are born?"…

"The capital and the Royal Palace?" A girl spoke tentatively.

"The Knight Headquarters!" a boy followed after, confident in his reply. "And what about the heroes?"…

"Umm… aren't they chosen by destiny? My father said that all heroes carry great fates with them" another student answered.

"You all are not wrong, the capital of our empire, Solaria, is a sight to behold. And at its heart, the grand Royal Palace stands, a symbol of our power and our peace. The Knight Headquarters, the very heart of our military might. It's where the bravest and strongest knights of the empire train and rise to defend our borders"

"But, there is one place more iconic, more grand than all. The most revered sight in all of Solarion or perhaps the entire mainland, where the heroes are born. Do any of you know what that is?"

At teacher Verdia's question, the students exchanged curious glances until one finally raised their hand.

"Is it the tall tower whose summit cannot be seen?"…

"Exactly! The Tower of Babel, also known as the Adventurer's Headquarters. A colossal structure, a beacon that can be seen from miles away. It stands as the true symbol of the Solarion Empire's strength and courage. For it is within those walls that the greatest adventurers are born"

"Heroes, mercenaries, explorers—all are tested and tempered there. It is a place where dreams of glory become reality. One day, perhaps some of you will stand atop that great tower, gazing out over the empire, knowing that you, too, are a hero of the Solarion Empire".

The students gasped in awe, their eyes shining brightly. All of them dreamed about becoming a hero, accomplishing a feat like the great Solarion and having their names written in history.

"Now this is the most important. Let us study about the Tower of Babel and how it came to be"

Verdia was just about to start a new topic for the class when the bell signalling the end of the class rang.

HUBUB… the class erupted into the usual chatter.

"We'll save the story of the Tower of Babel for another day," she said with a smile, watching as her students eagerly packed up their things, their earlier dreams of heroism forgotten in favor of the excitement of free time.

With that, the class was dismissed. In the hallway, other teachers greeted her as she walked past, discussing their own lessons or the latest academy events.

After a few brief exchanges, she made her way to the grand staircase. Her destination was a place everyone in the academy knew—the principal's chamber. Located at the centre of the fourth floor of the academy.

Knock Knock… Verdia knocked on the oak door, the brass nameplate above it gleamed in the soft light: Headmaster Itherion.

"Enter" A deep voice spoke out from within the room.

"Please excuse me" Saying so, Verdia opened the door and entered.

The principal's chamber was as grand as one might expect for the leader of the most prestigious academy in the Solarion Empire. Large windows bathed the room in golden light, casting a warm glow on the heavy wooden furniture and the towering shelves of ancient tomes that lined the walls.

A faint scent of old parchment and polished leather lingered in the air, giving the room a faint atmosphere of knowledge and wisdom as if one had arrived in front of a library.

There seated Behind the imposing mahogany desk was a man in his forties, his presence as commanding as any seasoned general on the battlefield. His hair, once raven black, was now streaked with white—a testament to the many years he lived.

He had sharp features, a well trimmed beard and a handsome face. However, if one had to point out the most distinctive feature of this man, it would be no doubt his piercing blue eyes.

Those aquamarine eyes that seemed so sharp and yet was clouded by the vicissitude of time. The contrasting features of the eyes of the man gave him a unique and enigmatic aura.

Dressed in formal yet practical attire, he exuded the aura of a man who could effortlessly transition from leading soldiers on a battlefield to commanding the respect of students and scholars alike.

His broad shoulders and muscular frame still carried the strength of his youth, though the wisdom and experience in his gaze revealed his many years of leadership. This was Principal Itherion— a powerful ranker, a hero of the Solarion Empire, now a guiding force in molding its future leaders.

"Ah, Your Holiness," Itherion said, rising slightly from his chair, his tone filled with deep respect. "Please, come in."

He gestured to the chair in front of his desk, his blue eyes softening as he spoke to Verdia.

"You don't need to address me as such Itherion. In terms of seniority, you are much older than me. And besides, a True Hero like you who has performed great merits for this entire world, need not bow his head so easily"

Verdia spoke smiling helplessly at Itherion's humble attitude.

"Haha, your holiness praises me too much" From their conversation it was clear that it was not the first time they were having a talk like that.

That said, even though Itherion blew away Verdia's words lightly, the latter had no intentions of backing out after all, the man in front of her truly deserved her respect.

The current identity of Itherion, was a powerful ranker, a hero of the Solarion Empire and the headmaster of the prestigious Solarion Academy. However, that was only an alias to deceive the public. The real identity of Itherion that only a few people in this entire world knew was Vincent Solarion.

The first emperor of the Solarion empire, the very same hero of the legends that the children of Solarion Empire grew up dreaming of.

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