(Rodova Team Villa, Lockdown Day 5)
After four days of idling away in the team villa, the Rodova team finally saw the curfew lifted, on the early morning of day 5.
For the first time in days, the team members woke up to some good news instead of the usual requests to cooperate for investigation, as their winners trophy was delivered to the villa.
The trophy was made out of interwoven darksteel and starlight crystal, sculpted into a twisting double-helix that shimmered under every beam of light.
Suspended within its core was a miniature rotating galaxy projection, softly glowing with celestial hues, while the base was obsidian, engraved in golden with the name of the winning team and all its members.
It was a beautiful trophy, and everyone took their turns holding it in the morning, with Yu Shen and DP even shedding a tear as they held it.
However, as if receiving the trophy was not good news enough, that same afternoon, an even better announcement rang over the Villa's intercom.
"Clearance granted. Rodova Military Academy, please proceed to Launch Bay 3 for departure. Congratulations on your circuit win, Champions."
This time, there were smiles.
Not the hollow kind.
But real ones, as the team members cheered and hooted at the prospect of returning home.
"About time," Drake muttered, tossing his duffel over one shoulder with a grin.
Boxer elbowed him, smirking. "We can't leave without taking a team picture for the press!"
"Of Course we can't, I earned that picture and I'm not leaving without it," Drake fired back, before being interrupted by Yu Shen stepping into the room, the trophy case resting over his shoulder like a badge of honor.
"Let's not waste the moment," Yu Shen said, his voice firm but proud. "Suit up. We're taking a photo before we board."
Outside, the skyship gleamed like fresh steel, as the Rodova pilot seemed to have given it a thorough cleaning for today.
The loading ramp was down, thrusters already humming gently as the medical staff quickly boarded to give the students and instructors some space.
The team lined up, everyone falling into place without being told.
Yu Shen stood in the center, holding the trophy high. Leo and Su Yang flanked him, both relaxed for once, as Su Yang stood to his left with a smirk and Leo stood to his right with the faintest glint of amusement in his eyes.
Boxer grinned wide as he threw an arm around Kohli. Du Plessis and Drake locked shoulders at the far end, while Enzo crouched in front, pointing at the camera with both fingers.
Minerva stood between Faye and David, smiling proudly, while behind them stood the pillars of their academy—Major Hen with his arms crossed, and Principal Alric holding his staff beside them like a war banner.
A media drone hovered overhead, as it was Enzo who took the lead.
"Alright everyone, say it with me!" Enzo called.
"3…2….1—"
"Rodova Forever!"
Click.
One frame. One perfect moment.
The champions of the Sky-God Arena, immortalized in a single photo as they boarded the shuttle and lifted off from the asteroid.
—----------
(Rodova Military Academy, a few hours later)
The clouds parted.
And as the ship descended toward the familiar grounds of the academy, the students inside were met with a view none of them expected.
Banners stretched from one building to the next. Tower-sized digital projections lit up the skies with their names. And directly below, the plaza was packed with students, faculty, and staff all cheering in unison.
"Welcome back, Champions!"
Yu Shen laughed under his breath. "They really rolled out the whole sky for us."
"Honestly, I thought they'd be too busy running classes," Boxer said.
"Classes are cancelled," Alric replied, his grin wide. "I made it so that today's an academy holiday now."
As the ship landed and the ramp lowered, the crowd erupted.
"Skyshard! Su Yang! Enzo! Captain Yu!"
Leo blinked, startled by how many first-years had crowded around him. One handed him a flower garland while another tried to get a picture.
"Captain! Captain Yu! Show us the trophy please!"
Yu Shen raised it proudly, smiling with confidence. "I won it this time, but it's up to you first years to win it again next year—"
Su Yang was instantly pulled into a group hug by some of the Elite class students, while Minerva, Drake, and the others were being high-fived left and right.
"Enzo, teach me that sand throw trick, that was so cool!"
"Boxer! Did you really knock that opponent off the cliff?"
Enzo climbed atop a bench like he was about to give a press conference. "Yes. And yes. And if you want autographs, form a single line!"
Off to the side, Principal Alric observed the team's return with a rare smile.
"They did well," he said.
Major Hen grunted. "Well I did coach a lot of them…."
Professor David simply folded his arms. "I suppose they're not entirely hopeless."
Muiyan Faye stood just behind them, her gaze fixed on Leo. And for once, even she allowed a smile to curl on her lips.
At Least for now, the chaos was behind them.
The cult, the gods, the politics, all distant.
Right now?
As in this moment, they were champions.
And they had come home with the trophy.
After 22 long years, Rodova was number one, once again.
—---------
(Principal Alric's office, a couple hours later)
A couple of hours later, Alric summoned Leo to his office for a private meeting.
When Leo stepped inside, he was greeted by the utterly ridiculous sight of the academy principal shamelessly hugging and kissing the tournament trophy like it was the most precious treasure in the cosmos, as watching him do that made Leo chuckle.
"You called for me sir?" He asked, after waiting patiently for Alric to stop, however, the principal did not seem eager to do so, as he gave the trophy two more kisses before finally pausing.
"Agh… Skyshard my boy! There's something I wanted to talk to you about for the past few days but couldn't, since the atmosphere never felt right, however, now that we are back at the academy, there's something I must tell you—" Alric said, as he leaned forward, and looked at Leo with a spark in his eyes.
"The Circuit's this year are over, and Yu Shen's tenure as Captain has come to an end.
It's time for Rodova to appoint a new Captain, and I want you to take the mantle my boy—" Alric said, as he smiled kindly towards Leo.
"Me? I'm not really the Captain type, I think Su Yang fits the role better…" Leo replied calmly, as Alric shook his head in denial.
"I asked the Su boy his opinion on who should be Captain, and he said 'The strongest member of the team should be Captain, and currently the strongest is Skyshard–'.
And I agree with him. The strongest should be Captain, so…. What do you say?" Alric insisted, as Leo shook his head in denial once again.
"With all due respect sir, while it's a huge honor to represent Rodova Military Academy as its Captain, I don't think I want to continue studying here for my second year.
The attack at the end of the Circuit's has rattled my psyche.
I may only be alive, because of Darnell Nuna stepping in at the right moment to try and save me, and I feel like I owe him a debt of honor.
I've made up my mind to leave the academy and join the Black Serpents Guild at the end of the academic year, if they will have me.
And I intend to join them in their quest to search for Darnell, as I've heard they're looking for him in full swing—" Leo replied as Alric's face darkened significantly at his response.
In truth, Leo's psyche was not at all rattled, infact, he did not give a rat's ass about Darnell or his well being.
However, it was also the perfect excuse for him to join the Black Serpents, and hence after careful deliberation, this was the cover story he had decided to stick with to justify his exit from Rodova, and his enrollment into the Serpents.