At the opening ceremony three months later, they would move up another grade and take their places as third-years.
Only after sitting down did Dark have the chance to examine the layout of the entire hall. This year, the hall's theme color was a flame-like red. Bright, dazzling crimson flowers crawled along every edge of the ceiling, while branches hanging from above burned with illusory flames. The floating candelabras had been painted red, and every candle had been replaced with a red one.
Fire-element Magic Spirits danced around the candle flames, while somewhat stirring music echoed through the air, lifting the students' spirits.
Upon the stage, crimson curtains rippled like ocean waves, and a ball of fire floated in midair, shooting upward in a pillar.
Tonight's gala was not only the end-of-term party, but also the graduation ceremony for the sixth-years. Clearly, the latter held greater significance.
Compared to students from the other years, the sixth-years were noticeably more solemn.
But graduation did not necessarily have to be sorrowful. This year's theme was "Burning." It was hoped that the graduating students would burn like flames and shine even more brilliantly in the future.
At exactly six in the evening.
All the students had taken their seats when a piano suddenly appeared in a corner of the stage and began playing on its own.
Then, accompanied by the piano music, the professors emerged from behind the stage and took their seats in the faculty section.
Immediately afterward, the ball of fire at the center of the stage suddenly burst apart, and Principal Arte made her dazzling entrance from within the flames, dressed in a brilliant red gown.
"Ladies and gentlemen, good evening!"
Principal Arte gracefully took two steps forward. Then she lifted the hem of her skirt and bowed. When she