Chapter 17: Factions
This was the moment when the floor was given to the one the academy considered its jewel: Liam Dawnflare.
He slowly ascended the stage, accompanied by two members of his faction. His silver hair fell over his shoulders in impeccable waves, his very pale green eyes fixed on the room with no apparent emotion. He wore a pure white outfit, embroidered with golden threads, and a cape matching his family crest. Cold, haughty, confident—like all elves. His voice rose into the air, calm, assured, articulate.
But Daemon wasn’t listening. His attention had already drifted elsewhere.
Instead, he observed the faction leaders, scattered throughout the audience or standing near the screens.
Liam Dawnflare, heir to the elven kingdom, dominated his faction, "Arrow." It was the most noble of the factions, composed almost exclusively of elves or very powerful half-elf bloodlines. Their domain was pure magic and intellectual elitism. Their recruitment level was extremely selective.
To his right stood Leonard von Arcadia, imperial prince of Arcadia. His faction, named Dominus, rivaled Liam’s in power. Unlike his rival, Leonard wore a martial appearance: black uniform, golden pauldrons, reinforced gloves. He had blond hair and hard, piercing blue eyes. His troops formed the tactical elite of the academy: swordsmen, strategists, martial arts masters. He stood tall, straight, discussing in a low voice with his right-hand man.
Arthur Aurora, on the other hand, remained apart. Seated in the center, surrounded by a small circle of loyalists, he wore the colors of the Holy Cathedral. The faction he led was known as Lumina. Considered the "child of prophecy," he possessed a calm, almost ascetic charm. His blond hair was short, his eyes a matte gold. His gaze seemed to fix on something beyond the moment. He never participated in the academy’s internal conflicts, but his power was undeniable. He was allied with Leonard, and his paladins maintained order in the neutral zones of the campus.
A little further away, leaning against a column, stood Setsuna Hizashi, a tanned-skinned alfuman with fierce features. She belonged to the Wolf race, marked by yellow eyes and visible fangs when she smiled. Daughter of a former S-rank adventurer and disciple of Henrik Folker, she led the Moon Guard faction. Her faction consisted of individuals with strong lineages, very united. She maintained a special relationship with Eden Folker, and in each of his returns, he was always part of the Moon Guard.
Two other figures also drew attention: Jaedan River and Isra MoonShade of the Crimson faction.