Chapter 296: The National Victory Banquet (2)

It was evening, and the time for the banquet was up. City AF had transformed after the sun had set.

The Royal Grand Citadel stood at the heart of the capital district, its enormous white exterior illuminated by thousands of golden lights. Long banners bearing the national emblem hung from the upper balconies, while security barriers surrounded the entire complex.

Armored vehicles lined the outer roads, awakened security personnel stood at every entrance, specialized detection arrays swept across every guest who approached, and above the main entrance, a massive display announced the occasion.

[NATIONAL VICTORY BANQUET]

The first guests began arriving shortly after sunset. Luxury vehicles rolled through the secured gates one after another.

Academy representatives stepped out in formal attire. Government officials arrived alongside their entourages. High-ranking awakened individuals, guild leaders, instructors, tournament officials, sponsors, and prominent families all made their way toward the entrance.

The media gathered behind designated barriers, their cameras flashing continuously- every arrival became another headline. The surviving students of the tournament received the greatest attention.

North Pantheon Academy arrived first among several of the prominent academies, their students dressed in formal uniforms rather than their usual combat attire. Other academies soon followed: Ironvale Academy, West Town Saints Academy, and the remaining regional representatives.

Then came the academy everyone had been waiting for, Valecrest. The vehicle carrying the members stopped under the illuminated entrance, its doors opened, and one after another, they stepped out.

The reaction was immediate. Camera flashes erupted across the entrance; hundreds of lenses turned toward them simultaneously.

Silas stepped onto the carpet wearing the formal attire prepared for him.

His pink hair remained slightly messy despite the occasion, falling naturally over his forehead and partially framing his pink eyes.

The white suit and long coat reflected the surrounding lights, creating an almost ethereal appearance. The dark tie provided contrast against the otherwise pale outfit, while the silver accessories around his hands and wrists caught the light whenever he moved.

He looked less like a student attending a national ceremony and more like someone who belonged on the cover of a luxury magazine. The cameras naturally loved him.

Chloe walked beside him, equally composed. She wore a fitting white dress with blue embroidery and simple heels. Her long white hair was tied in a single braid resting on her shoulder, with Skadi, her white cat, sitting on her other shoulder. She looked so ethereal.

Alpha and Alicia followed together, their beauty equally mesmerizing as Silas and Chloe. It even seemed that Alpha’s beauty had affected Alicia, enhancing her beauty further.

The sight immediately became another wave of media attention. The students entered the citadel beneath a storm of flashes.

Inside, the atmosphere was completely different.

The Grand Aurelia Hall had been transformed into an enormous banquet chamber. Crystal chandeliers hung from the ceiling, long tables surrounded the central floor, and the walls were decorated with national colors, academy emblems, and commemorative displays from the tournament.

At the far end stood the main stage, and behind it was a gigantic screen displaying highlights from the competition.

Hundreds of guests gradually filled the hall. Students were seated alongside instructors and academy officials; government representatives occupied the central tables, and prominent awakened individuals and guild representatives were positioned closer to the stage. The Valecrest team received one of the most prominent tables.

Soon, the entire hall was occupied, and the lights dimmed slightly, commencing the main program.

The opening ceremony passed through formal acknowledgments, recognition of the surviving academies, and commemorations for those who had fallen during the tournament. The atmosphere remained solemn for several minutes.

Then the banquet began.

Food arrived in waves. Massive platters filled the tables: roasted meats, fresh seafood, expensive vegetables, warm breads, and desserts decorated with elaborate designs.

The kitchens had prepared enough food to feed hundreds of guests several times over. Servers moved constantly between the tables, pouring drinks and replacing empty plates.

The tense atmosphere gradually disappeared, and people began relaxing. Students who had spent weeks fighting monsters were finally allowed to behave like ordinary young people again.

Laughter spread throughout the hall while groups from different academies began mingling. Some compared tournament experiences, while others discussed future guilds and recruitment opportunities. Several instructors were already surrounded by representatives interested in their students.

The media continued documenting everything from designated areas, and the focus repeatedly returned to the tournament’s most famous participants. Silas remained relatively quiet throughout the meal.

He ate comfortably while observing the enormous gathering around him.

For someone who had become one of the most talked-about awakened individuals in the country within a matter of weeks, he showed remarkably little interest in the attention. Chloe remained by him, occasionally taking food from his fork.

Alpha and Alicia stayed together throughout the evening, their lovey-dovey actions causing some people to become sugar-sick.

Damien, Neil, Emma, Rihanna, and Godfrey gradually became more relaxed as the formal atmosphere faded.

Drinks continued flowing, and eventually, music replaced the background announcements. The main stage was cleared, and the central floor transformed into a dance floor. The banquet had entered its second phase: Dancing.

The first couples stepped onto the polished floor as a slow melody filled the hall. Several academy students joined first, followed by the instructors, and then the officials.

Soon the dance floor became crowded, and the atmosphere became warmer and considerably less formal.

A few enthusiastic students moved with enough energy to attract attention from half the room. The musicians gradually changed the rhythm, moving from elegant ballroom pieces into livelier arrangements, causing more people to join.

Alpha and Alicia eventually stepped onto the dance floor together- it was Alicia’s idea, looking at Alpha’s expression.

Alicia stayed close to him while Alpha followed the rhythm with an ease that suggested he had either practiced or possessed an irritating amount of natural talent.

Around them, other academy students danced as well. The dance floor continued filling. Silas, however, remained seated.

He sat comfortably at the table, one arm resting on the chair while he watched the spectacle unfold, the lights reflecting against his pale attire.

The entire country had spent weeks watching these students fight for survival. Now they were watching the same students dance beneath crystal chandeliers.

Everyone seemed to be enjoying themselves. For one evening, nobody was fighting. It was simply a celebration.

Outside, cameras continued capturing every important moment. Inside, the dance floor grew brighter beneath the chandeliers, and at the edge of it all, Silas remained seated, quietly watching the people around him.

For once, he had nowhere he needed to be, at least for tonight, or so he thought...