First Speaker

When the Supreme Commander stepped onto the podium with heavy strides, every breath in the hall was held. He was the head of the Empire's most prestigious academy; his words would decide fates. His face bore neither a smile nor a trace of emotion—only a stern, unyielding expression. The golden insignia gleaming on his uniform's shoulders marked him as one of the Empire's most elite warriors.

"Welcome to the 1329th graduation ceremony of the Galactic War Academy." His voice echoed through every corner of the hall. "Today, you are not just graduating from this academy. Today, you become the sword and shield of the Empire."

Then he turned to the massive holo-screen behind him. With a press of a button, the academy's emblem faded, replaced by an empty list. At the top of the screen, a single title appeared, drawing every gaze toward it:

"Graduation Rankings"

At that moment, every heartbeat in the hall quickened. Some young officer candidates clenched their fists, while others chose to take a deep breath and wait. Erikhan furrowed his brows slightly. He could feel the pressure in his chest down to his very bones. The most important moment of his life was about to unfold in mere seconds.

The Supreme Commander continued in a cold, detached tone. "This list is an assessment of the years you have spent at this academy—your perseverance, intelligence, and combat prowess. Those at the top will be recognized as the Empire's brightest stars and will graduate with the highest honors. The Imperial Command Council will assign directly the top three graduates. The top twenty-five will be selected to lead elite forces. And the rest… will be sent to the border systems, as their fates dictate."

He pressed a button.

The rankings began to appear slowly.

First, the lower ranks emerged. For the hundreds gathered in the hall, the names counting down from 500 represented either crushing disappointment or immense relief. A few bowed their heads in silence, while others managed faint, resigned smiles. But the real tension in the hall would remain until the top three were revealed.

Erikhan watched the screen intently. 2000… 100… 50… 30… 29… 28… 27…

26 - Adrian Lmelan

As the rankings continued to scroll, the silence in the hall deepened. Heartbeats echoed in the ears of those present. Erikhan did not blink. With every passing second, the weight in his chest grew heavier.

22… 21… 20…

His name had still not appeared. He frowned slightly in surprise. He had expected to be within the top twenty, perhaps around fifteenth… But not seeing his name yet felt like a stone pressing against his ribs.

19 - Izela Avarion

A soft murmur rippled through the hall. Izela was one of the academy's most talented women. Even her posture exuded a warrior's discipline. Yet she was only nineteenth. The doubt within Erikhan grew.

15… 12… 10…

His breathing became unsteady. Nagging thoughts stormed through his mind. Could it be…?

7… 6… 5…

His blood ran cold. He was still not on the list. His hands clenched into fists involuntarily. Was he in the top three? Impossible.

3 - Alexander Vorenis

A tense silence filled the hall. Alexander had been one of the academy's favorites. He came from a noble family and was widely regarded as the greatest rival due to his strategic brilliance and combat intelligence. But he was third.

Erikhan's heart pounded. His eyes remained locked on the screen.

2 - Valeria Rauthen

A faint murmur rose from the depths of the hall, cutting through the tense anticipation. When Valeria Rauthen's name appeared, some held their breath in surprise, while others nodded as if this was the expected outcome. Valeria had been one of the academy's brightest minds. Her flawless combat skills and analytical intelligence had crushed her opponents in nearly every drill. Yet, even she was second.

The atmosphere was now razor thin. Only one name remained. A dull roar filled Erikhan's ears. His heartbeats slammed against his chest.

His breathing grew erratic, but his face remained frozen, emotionless. His eyes were locked on the screen, waiting for a single thing.

The Supreme Commander fell silent for a moment. His gaze swept across the hall as if weighing the souls of the young officers before him. Then, in heavy silence, he pressed the button once more.

1 - Erikhan Valerius

For a split second, time stood still.

The first sound to break the silence was the sharp intake of breath from dozens of mouths. Then, a few people stirred in shock, followed by whispers spreading across the hall. Was this an unexpected result? Or had the inevitable simply come to pass?

Erikhan's mind went blank for a moment. His eyes locked onto his name on the screen, but he struggled to believe it was truly there. Then, slowly, reality settled in. He was first.

The one chosen to be directly assigned by the Imperial Command Council… The Empire's most elite warrior…

His facial muscles were tense, but a fire burned in his eyes. This was not just an achievement. This was power. This was the throne that fate had personally placed in his hands. The elite of the elite. He had passed the grueling entrance exams that eliminated hundreds of thousands of applicants, endured years of rigorous training, and survived countless tests to become the very best. It felt like a dream.

But Erikhan did not let his posture or expression waver. He quickly snapped back to reality and walked toward the podium. The Supreme Commander turned his gaze toward him. Like everyone else in the hall, he was measuring the young man's reaction. Yet Erikhan's face was as unyielding as stone. He was living proof of the discipline he had been trained in for years, masking the storm raging inside.

But he knew. Everything had changed now.

Erikhan took slow, deliberate steps toward the podium. The silence in the hall grew heavier with each stride. His eyes were still fixed on his name, glowing in the pale blue light of the screen, but his mind was already far ahead.

The Imperial Command Council.

It was a council of only the highest-ranking strategists and generals, the architects of war and politics. Being directly assigned by them was not just an honor. It was a burden, a tremendous responsibility.

And Erikhan felt the weight of it in every fiber of his being.

When he stepped onto the podium, the Supreme Commander stood tall before him. His sharp, disciplined gaze swept over the young man. Erikhan felt a shift within himself. The Supreme Commander was about to speak.

And he did.

"Erikhan Valerius."

Hearing his name spoken in such a firm and resolute voice placed an invisible weight on his shoulders. This was no longer just a name—it was a seal, a declaration that he was now the Empire's most distinguished officer. The Supreme Commander did not break eye contact as he continued,

"This academy does everything to train a warrior. But to create a leader... only the best will suffice."

The silence in the hall grew sharper with the Supreme Commander's words. Erikhan watched him without blinking.

The Supreme Commander raised his hand.

An officer stepped forward immediately, presenting him with a transparent holo-tablet. The screen flickered, displaying the title: Imperial Command Council Official Appointment Decree. Below it, Erikhan's name was etched as if carved in stone. Only a signature was missing.

The Supreme Commander extended the tablet to Erikhan. "With this signature today, you are no longer just an officer—you are the sword and shield of the Empire. "

Erikhan did not hesitate.

As he pressed his fingerprint to the screen, the holo-tablet glowed for a moment before a red seal appeared, finalizing the signature.

The Supreme Commander gave a slight nod. A small but profound gesture of acknowledgment. Then, he raised his voice:

"Are you ready to serve the Empire, Erikhan Valerius?"

Erikhan narrowed his eyes.

He could feel the weight of the entire hall pressing down on him. Dozens of young officers, generals, academy instructors... Their gazes held different emotions. Some watched with admiration, others with skepticism. Some were questioning whether he had truly earned this or if fate had simply favored him.

But the voice inside Erikhan was clear.

"I am ready."

His words echoed through every corner of the hall, holding steady. For a brief moment, silence reigned. Then, the Supreme Commander gave a firm nod.

"Then welcome to your new life."

At that moment, the metallic sound of the Imperial banner being raised echoed through the hall.

And everyone stood—to honor the very best.

The next instant, the hall erupted into deafening applause.

As the thunderous claps filled the room, Erikhan's face remained impassive. Years of training, discipline, and strict orders had taught him to wear his emotions like armor. Yet inside, his heart pounded fiercely, screaming the truth. He had imagined this moment, yes. But now that dreams had turned into reality, the weight that came with them had never felt more tangible.

The Supreme Commander cast one last firm glance at him before stepping back from the podium. It was a silent signal—now it was Erikhan's turn to speak. The entire hall held its breath, eyes locked onto him. His rivals, those who wished for his downfall, his admirers, those who would follow his path... They were all waiting for his first words.

Erikhan took a deep breath and stepped forward.

"Warriors of the Empire," he began. His voice echoed across the hall, just as the Supreme commander had moments ago. Now he stood at the podium. Now, he held the power.

For a moment, he hesitated. He could feel the tight knot in his throat. The emotions within him had transformed—not into pride, but into a heavy sense of responsibility. His gaze swept across the hall. Dozens of faces stared at him—some with hope, some with curiosity, some with envy, and some with admiration. But in truth, none of them truly knew him.

They did not know who he really was, what he truly represented, or what he was fighting for.

And worst of all, he was not entirely sure himself.

But he had to speak.