Chapter 618: The Grand First-Year Combat Festival Arc Ends

"As a mother, I’m very proud of the performance my children displayed in this Combat Festival."

The Queen looked at Charles Aethelmont, Stella Aethelmont, and even Tristin Aethelmont, who stood among the students waiting to receive their awards.

Charles felt a little embarrassed as he remembered how badly he had lost to Ravenor.

While Stella looked even more embarrassed. Although she tried to maintain her composure, the memory of her own performance still bothered her. There were many people watching the ceremony, and she could not help wondering what they thought of her result.

Tristin, however, was far from embarrassed.

His teeth ground against each other as his fist tightened at his side. The ranking had already irritated him, but remembering the person who had defeated him made his anger even worse.

This is so unforgivable.

He could still remember the circumstances of his defeat, and the thought alone was enough to make his expression darken.

I lost to that coward who ran for his useless life instead of facing that trash commoner.

His fingers curled more tightly, his nails pressing into his palm.

This is so unforgivable.

How could I lose to you?

Tristin turned his gaze toward Cyrus Burnwick, who was standing among the other First-Years.

Cyrus seemed to sense someone staring at him.

He scratched the back of his scarlet hair, looking rather unconcerned, but he did not bother turning around to discover who it was.

He had no particular interest in finding out.

Tristin’s glare remained on him for a while longer, yet Cyrus continued behaving as though nothing had happened.

The Queen, meanwhile, returned her attention to the gathered students.

"And as a Queen, I am really proud to see all the children of Britannia perform well."

She continued speaking with a pleasant smile on her face.

Her words carried through the arena, reaching the spectators seated in the stands as well as the important guests gathered in their designated sections. The Holographic Screens remained focused on her, allowing people watching the live broadcast throughout Britannia to see the ceremony clearly.

The Combat Festival had brought together students from noble and common backgrounds, and their performances had given the Kingdom plenty to discuss. Some had exceeded expectations, while others had revealed abilities that even experienced Alchemists had not anticipated.

The Queen had watched those battles alongside the other important guests. She had seen the students push themselves, reveal their strengths, and expose the areas in which they still needed to improve.

There was much to be proud of.

"That is why, apart from the normal award the Royal Board has prepared for the Top Ten students, I have my own award."

She looked at the students, a small smirk appearing on her face.

"Well, my award is only for two students, though, so please don’t be jealous, cuties."

She said it playfully, as if she were discussing something much less important than the awards being presented before the entire Kingdom.

Many of the people seated around her exchanged awkward glances. Even some of the spectators watching from the stands seemed unsure how to react to the Queen’s casual way of addressing the students.

A few smiled, while others simply continued watching.

The Queen did not appear bothered by their reactions.

"Maxwell."

She pointed toward him.

Maxwell immediately stepped forward and went down on one knee. He placed his right hand on his shoulder while keeping his other hand behind his back, maintaining the proper posture before the Queen.

His movements were steady, though the attention of the entire arena was now directed toward him.

"You who hold something precious in the heart of Britannia..."

The Queen paused.

It was not because she wanted to build suspense.

There was more she could say about Maxwell, but the details surrounding him and his Path remained unknown to many of Britannia’s citizens. Revealing everything now would not be wise, especially when there was still much to arrange behind the scenes.

Maxwell was the disciple of a man whose existence had been erased from public knowledge.

There were a great deal of things to do before she could finally allow the world to learn about him.

For now, she would give Maxwell a title that the people could understand, even if they did not yet know the full meaning behind it.

"I hereby bestow upon you this title..."

KZZRAK!

A sound echoed from behind the Queen.

The Head of the Strom Royal Alchemist Branch had begun his Alchemy execution. The sound was light, but it carried through the arena, drawing the attention of the spectators toward the space in front of the Queen.

The people could not see the Alchemy Circle forming before its ignition.

All they heard was the sound of the execution, followed by the appearance of Scarlet Flames in front of the Queen.

The flames moved through the air, gathering into characters that could be seen clearly from the stands. Their scarlet light reflected across the faces of the spectators nearest to the platform, while the Holographic Screens displayed the newly formed words for those watching from farther away.

The writing was simple.

The New Sun.

For a moment, people stared at the title before the conversations began.

"The New Sun?"

"That’s actually true. The golden flames match the Sun."

"The New Sun is a really nice title."

"But does that mean there was an old Sun?"

"Maybe she’s referring to him being like a second Sun beside the natural Sun."

The discussion spread through the stands as people tried to understand the meaning behind the name. Some connected it to Maxwell’s Golden Flames, while others wondered whether the title carried a meaning beyond the power he had displayed during the Combat Festival.

There were many questions, but the name itself was easy to remember.

Maxwell looked at the scarlet characters and smiled with satisfaction.

"Do you like the name?"

The Queen asked.

"Yes, Your Highness."

Maxwell raised his head to look at her, his smile remaining on his face.

He genuinely liked the name.

Yet, deep inside, he felt that he had not fully earned it.

The Sun stood above everything else in the natural world, spreading its light across the land. Maxwell had only taken the first steps toward reaching the heights he hoped to achieve.

He had not yet stood above everyone else.

He still had much to learn, and there were people stronger than him whom he had yet to surpass.

Even so, the feeling of receiving the title was enough to push those thoughts aside for the moment.

For now, Maxwell was happy.

He had gained the name his Master had once held.

The Sun.

But his was a new Sun.

A New Sun that represented the Old Sun, the one that had shone brightly and protected the people of Britannia.

Maxwell continued looking at the title for a little longer before the Queen raised her right hand slightly.

"That’s good. You may rise."

Maxwell stood back on his feet.

He returned to his place among the students, still carrying the satisfaction of receiving a title that meant more to him than most people in the arena could understand.

The Queen then turned her attention to another student.

"Ezra Ashenlocke."

Ezra immediately stepped forward and knelt on one knee. He placed his right hand on his chest and his left hand behind his back, following the same formal posture Maxwell had used.

His expression remained as plain as ever.

So, I’m receiving a title, huh?

Ezra had not expected this.

He had known that the Queen would be presenting special awards, but hearing his own name called so soon after Maxwell’s still caught him by surprise.

He remained in position, waiting for her to speak.

The Queen smiled softly as she looked at him. For a short while, she said nothing, allowing her gaze to rest on the young Gun Alchemist before her.

"Ezra Ashenlocke, the one who changed the whole ideology of the vehicle production industry of the Kingdom."

She began speaking lightly.

"I have honestly never seen a beautiful road filled with exquisite vehicles parked or moving around as I have since your creations became known."

Her smile grew a little as she recalled the changes that had taken place throughout Britannia.

"Britannia has never looked more beautiful than it does today, thanks to the blessing you have bestowed upon us."

She pointed her right index finger toward Ezra.

"Ezra Ashenlocke, you are a blessing indeed to this Kingdom."

The moment those words left her mouth, many people in the stands turned their attention toward the Queen.

The important guests seated in their designated sections also looked at her, and several of the high-ranking figures watching the ceremony exchanged glances.

Some appeared surprised that she had chosen to describe Ezra in such a manner. Others nodded calmly, agreeing with her words.

The Phantom Rolls had already brought considerable attention to the young Ashenlocke. Its design and performance had changed the way people viewed vehicles, and the influence of his work was no longer limited to The Eclipse that bought the rights to the Vehicle.

The changes could be seen on the roads.

They could be seen in the workshops.

And they could be seen in the growing interest people had developed in the inventions of a boy who had not even completed his first year at the Royal Academy.

"The Duke House of Ashenlocke is also blessed to have a child like you and little Vera."

The Queen continued speaking.

"The firearms you assisted in creating have truly helped boost the military power of the Kingdom, and for that, I say thank you."

She spoke calmly, but her words carried weight.

The people who understood the importance of firearms knew that her gratitude was not merely a polite gesture.

Ezra’s inventions had contributed to Britannia’s military strength, and the possibilities offered by his work extended far beyond the weapons that had already been produced.

His contributions had given the Kingdom another reason to pay attention to the Ashenlockes.

The Queen did not stop there.

"But you didn’t just show us occasional glimpses of your qualities and imagination. In this Combat Festival, aside from the New Sun and the Jewel of Ash, you were the only child who constantly kept us wondering what you would bring out next."

She paused briefly, her eyes still on Ezra.

"The gadgets you revealed and the Alchemy breakthroughs you showed us were honestly amazing. I find it difficult to believe that a child can have so much drive when it comes to creation."

Ezra continued kneeling, listening to her words without changing his expression.

"Whether your creations relate to your Alchemy Path or not, you have made things beyond what even the Grand Craftsmen of the Kingdom have thought of doing."

A few of the spectators nodded as they listened.

Others looked at Ezra with renewed interest. Some had already known about the Phantom Rolls, while others had only recently begun paying attention to the young inventor because of his performance during the Combat Festival.

Now, the Queen was openly praising both sides of his abilities.

His work as a Gun Alchemist.

And his imagination as a Craftsman.

"Your mind seems like a vast ocean of ideas flooding you, and even then..."

The Queen paused, considering her next words.

"You don’t seem to forget them. I believe you keep working on them until you can make them a reality, and that’s why I feel you are unique."

Her right index finger remained pointed toward him.

"This is why, when I learnt that Grand Elder Portia Ashenlocke wanted to give you a title after your victory against Fatima Drakes, I stepped in to make her wait for this moment."

The Queen glanced toward the Head of the Storm Royal Alchemist Branch.

"It was a risk, but my gut told me there was something more befitting for the boy who stands before us now."

The Head of the Strom Royal Alchemist Branch gave a nod, already understanding what she wanted.

His Flame Alchemy ignited within milliseconds.

Yet, even among the spectators and students watching the ceremony, very few could tell when he had formed his Alchemy Circle. The ignition happened so quickly that the Scarlet Flames appeared to move into place without any visible preparation.

Only Alchemists beyond the Grand Arcanist rank could clearly follow the execution of his Alchemy.

For everyone else, the result was what mattered.

The Scarlet Flames moved through the air and formed the title for the arena to see.

Ezra raised his head.

The scarlet characters reflected in his eyes as he read the words written before him.

"The Silent Architect of Ash."

He muttered the name quietly.

Beneath it appeared another title, the one Grand Elder Portia Ashenlocke had given him.

The Thousandfold Mind of Ash.

The two titles remained in the air, their scarlet light drawing the attention of the spectators.

Many people inside the arena stopped to look at them. Those watching the live broadcast also had a clear view of the words, and conversations began spreading as people tried to understand what the Queen’s choice meant.

The Silent Architect of Ash.

It suited a boy who rarely spoke more than necessary, yet whose actions continued to leave people with questions.

Ezra had a habit of allowing his creations and his performance to speak for him. During the Combat Festival, he had repeatedly revealed something new, forcing his opponents and the spectators to reconsider what they thought they knew about him.

And the Queen seemed to have noticed that as well.

Maybe she had noticed this, a long time before now.

"Ezra, you are a quiet, calm, and observant child. Watching you fight made me realize that you don’t let the world see through you. Instead, you let your actions show who you are."

She lowered her hand slightly, her expression remaining warm.

"A Craftsman who doesn’t need other people’s words to create. You truly deserve the name."

Ezra looked at the title for another moment.

He had not expected to receive something like this.

At least, not now.

But...

Now, after everything that had happened during the Combat Festival, he was standing before the Queen of Britannia and receiving a title that would be seen throughout the Kingdom.

He did not know what to say about it.

So, he simply accepted the moment, keeping his thoughts to himself.

The Queen dropped her hand and gave him a soft smile.

"The Royal Academy awards you all Eight-Grade Ese."

She said it calmly.

The servants who had brought the trolley with the covered tray stepped forward and removed the covering. Beneath it were the Eighth-Grade Ese prepared for the Top Ten students.

The items rested neatly on the tray, arranged for the ceremony. The servants began handing them to the students one by one, taking care not to disturb the other awards as they moved along the line.

The Top Ten students accepted their Ese with respectful bows.

Ezra received his along with the others.

The Queen watched them as the servants completed the presentation.

The ceremony had given two students special titles, but all ten had received recognition for their achievements during the Combat Festival.

The Queen looked across the group.

"I wish you all safety and prosperity. I will see you all in the Palace for the Royal Academy Party."

She waved playfully before turning away.

The Heads of the Royal Alchemist Branches stood at the same time and lowered their heads. Their movements were almost perfectly synchronized, and the people nearby followed the Queen with their eyes as she began leaving her seat.

Her maids and guards moved with her, while the Heads of the Royal Alchemist Branches followed behind and beside her.

The Queen left the arena with her attendants surrounding her.

Immediately afterward, the Dukes and Duchesses also stood and began departing with their own servants and guards.

The important guests gradually left their seats, and the atmosphere around the ceremony changed as their attention moved away from the platform.

The arena, however, was far from quiet.

Conversations about the new titles and rankings continued spreading through the stands. Some spectators discussed Maxwell’s title as the New Sun, while others were more interested in Ezra’s two titles and the inventions that had earned him the Queen’s praise.

The names would remain in people’s minds long after the ceremony ended.

Then a sound echoed above them.

The closed ceiling of the arena began to open.

Sections of the ceiling moved apart as the mechanism carried them back into position.

The lights switched off, and sunlight gradually filled the arena again, spreading over the seats and the broad platform where the First-Years had fought.

The change drew the attention of several spectators, some of whom looked up as the bright afternoon sky became visible.

The Combat Festival was nearly over.

Professor Liliana Galehart’s voice soon echoed through the arena speakers.

"Thank you, everyone, for coming to watch the Combat Festival."

Her voice carried across the stands, reaching the spectators who were still discussing the ceremony.

"We all appreciate you. This is the message the Headmaster sent me to give to you."

She continued speaking calmly.

The other students walked up to the Top Ten fellow first years to congratulate them with a pleased and happy expression, while the audience settled down to listen. Some spectators were already preparing to leave, while others stayed in their seats, waiting to hear the final announcement.

Liliana looked toward the assembled crowd from where she stood.

"And with this, the Grand First-Year Combat Festival comes to an end."

Her words marked the conclusion of the festival.

The Combat Festival had ended, but the results, the titles, and the battles witnessed over the past days would not be forgotten so easily.

Because for many of the students, this was only the beginning.