The mayor had faced a total defeat and there was no way he could make a comeback. He fell back on his seat and let out a deep sigh. His wife next to him shivered slightly and she clenched her small fists. She shut her eyes tight and took a deep breath before she was back to normal.
The ceremony was not over yet and there were other important feats that were to take place including the crowning of Lady Sera. Lyren had taken away the spotlight and the crowning did not have the anticipation it carried anymore. Sera and Kaelen had their eyes fixated on Lyren all the time and They wore different expressions.
Kaelen was a bit serious but looking at Sera, there was mischief in her eyes. Lyren did not look towards them and he was still in bowing position. He straightened himself and made eye contact with the headmaster for a brief moment before his eyes turned to Claire.
Her expression had gone from embarrassment to shock to fear then shock again and now she was out of expressions. She just looked at him carrying a complicated gaze but there was no mistaking that she had good intentions and she was genuinely happy that he had succeeded. She averted her gaze and looked elsewhere.
Lyren was left with nowhere else to look and he turned towards the two standing on the platform with him. Kaelen knew that it was not his place to speak anyway and his eyes turned to Sera. She smiled beneath her veil and took a step forward and stood before Lyren who tightened his grip on his companion, the sword.
"As the number one disciple of this academy, it is in my place to welcome the first SSS talent into our academy. You are welcome and I have only one more announcement to make today. My Azure Faction is going to accept a new member today…"
Sera was cut off because mummers broke out especially in the new arrivals section. They all turned to look at the two girls who had gotten the A talent. Everyone knew just how difficult it was to join the Azure Faction as it only took geniuses. Maya especially had anticipation building up in her chest.
Alvin wore an ugly look because he knew that there was no way that he could join that faction. He had already lost face to the kid but he still was the mayor's son and also, he had an A+ talent. He was second and no one else was beating him to that. He glanced at Maya because she was accepted to a faction already.
"Hush… my new member is non other than the person who has promised that they are going to join my faction and even taken an oath…"
Eyes turned to Maya and she turned red. She had not made such an oath and being the center of attention, every second kept catching her off guard. Lyren was having a bad feeling because of so much delays. Why was she purposefully building tension? He could smell mischief in the air.
"Our new member is non other than Lyren over here. He has made an oath to join our faction two times and he says that he is a man of his word, right?" She asked and gave Lyren a deep look.
"Of course… of course. Just who do you think I am and what is the big deal? It's just a faction in the first place and it won't hurt. I am joining the Azure Faction. Yes yes…" Lyren said and there was silence.
He felt gazes on him and when he looked at Kaelen, he could see mischief written all over his face. It was like he was stopping himself from laughing out loud. Lyren looked around and there were very many amused expressions looking at him than the shocked one. Wasn't the Azure faction not the faction of geniuses? That was the best starting place after all.
"Are you sure that this is what you want?" Kaelen asked and Lyren was surprised. Who wouldn't want to join the best faction in the academy?
"I have never been so sure in my life," Lyren replied and Kaelen raised his hands in defeat and took a step back. Lyren did not forget that this guy was someone he was going to get revenge from in no time. Now he was trying to act nice in public. That was not going to make him forget anything.
Maya turned an even deeper shade of red because she was not chosen. All eyes were averted from her immediately and now she was fighting the inner turmoil of having her hopes raised only to be dropped significantly.
Alvin had his jaws on the ground because never in his wildest dream would he even dream of joining the Azure faction. He thought that Lyren was shameless and now he was re-examining that thought again. To think that Lyren would actually not go for the number one student and the spotlight but also the number one faction. He was defeated once again but he knew that Lyren was not going to handle the Azure Faction anyways. Only charismatic guys like him could survive.
Many people especially those who knew Lyren from the expedition shook their heads. Lyren had actually been chosen to join the number one faction. Just talk about lack. A very bad luck. They could only pray for him.
Those who were seated next to Sera had shocked expression because there was no way she was being for real but since they were not the leaders, they were not going to complain and also, Lyren was a SSS talent. Who wouldn't want such talent to join them?
Sera looked around and no one spilled the beans. She smiled and then looked towards the new arrivals. She looked at the one girl who was playing with her fingers and mumbling inaudible words. Her face was a bright shade of red and her hair was a mess.
"Maya Alphonse, you are going to be accepted as the second member of our faction. You have the talent to join the Azure Faction," Sera said and Maya almost jumped from her seat and looked up quickly at Sera before she stood up and bowed.
"I sincerely thank Lady Sera. I will do my best," she said so fast that not many registered her words. She sat down quickly and she hid her face in her palms when she felt gazes especially from the seniors turn to her. This was going to be her worst day of her life. All that attention she had gotten and now she was the only other person joining the Azure Faction. Who did not want to? Even Lyren had joined.
Sera had turned this into a selection contest and Kaelen looked at Alvin who was also staring back with expectant eyes.
"I will be taking Julian to join my faction," Kaelen said and the mayor's son was dumbstruck. Had he just been ignored? Was he not an A+ talent? Why had he not been chosen? He looked around for Julian who stood up from the middle of the crowd.
"I apologize senior Kaelen but I will be choosing to Join my older brother, Senior James," Julian said and all eyes turned to James who was had a smug look on his face. That young brother of his had finally spoken out.
Kaelen was not the only one that was surprised but even James's gang was shocked. Who could have thought that the underdog was going to be their leader's brother? Now this was becoming interesting.
"Alvin and Len, will you two join my faction?" He asked and the two were quick to agree. The selection went on as all those that stood out were chosen by the big factions while others chose weaker factions. The three on the platform left and Lyren was left without a seat and stranded in the middle.
Sera took him by the hand took him to sit at one of the seas next to her as a member of her faction stood up and left. It was then that it dawned to them all that he was seriously joining the Azure Faction.