They made it to the grand hall just as the opening ceremony was about to start. They quietly snuck in and made their way to the first year section and found where their class was sitting and joined them. The grand hall was the place where all ceremonies and important celebrations took place. Every year on the beginning of the first day of school, the headmistress would begin the year with a speech addressing the whole campus. With the entire training years of the main school gathered there, the speech was boastcast to the middle grades and the elemantry grades. Later in the month, she would go to address the branch schools and speicalized school. For now, Guardian Academy was about to enter into yet another year.

Wearing the academy robes of purple and white, a woman who appeared to be in her early thirties walked to the center of the stage where a mic rested on a polen. She glanced around the room, waiting for the slience that would come. When the headmistress stands up to speak, everyone quiets down to listen. Once slience set upon the huge hall, the headmistress smiled. "Welcome to yet another year at Guardian Academy. The first and main school for training young guardians of every age and class from anywhere and everywhere. Guardian Acadmey has a rich history, one that has spanned many generations and centuries."

Everyone from students to staff to former students nodded and listened to the speech. The headmistress knew everyone in this room, at one point or another she had meet all of them, even breifly. For as long as anyone knew, the headmistress has been at the academy for years. No one knew who old she was, what her class was, or how long she had been at the academy. That was the thing about guardians, that aged differently than normal people. Depending on many factors and things, they could age slower or faster. It was an interesting thing.

"I wonder what the games for this year will be." Izumi whisphered to Shira and Naomi. They had found seats in the last room of their class section. With over a hundred first years, they were broken up into four sections and than futher divided into their classes for the year. Some would move onto one of the speicalized schools before the first month was over. Others would be returning to the other branch campuses that surrounded the academy based on their class or what skills they needed to improve on. The rest would remain at the main academy for the rest of the year.

"I don't know. Some of the third years were saying that it would be several contests over the year." Shira leaned over to whispher to Izumi. "We won't know until the middle of the month. But I heard, the winning year gets a trip to one of the branch campuses. But in the overall winning class, each person will get a hint as to what their guardian test is." The games were an aunnal event that happens every year, offering a prize to the winning grade and sometimes the overall winning class. Sometimes the games happened in one day, over the course of a week, a month, or even the school year.

"This year is speical in several ways." The headmistress paused for a moment than continued. "We have a new first year who has shown great skill and proven that we made the right choose when we chose to skip her not one but two years." A mummur went through a crowd at this news. It was known several years ago that a fourth year elementry student had been skipped two years. That was four years ago and now she was a first year, two years younger than her classmates. "As you know, it is rare that a student completely skips one grade. But two and at once? It was unheard of. I believe once you meet her and see or, for some of you, face her in battle, you will understand why we made the descion we made."

Naomi's face flushed red at the mention of her. "Now everyone's going to be looking for me." She tried to slide down into her seat, not wanting those who knew who the headmistress was talking about to look at her. "The last thing I want is to start the new school year with battle changlles." Izumi and Shira couldn't help but giggle at Naomi's expression.

"While this is speical, it is important to note that current second years should be preparing in the event they are chosen this year for their guardian test. Third years should also be preparing for this and graduation. At the end of the year, you will be going out into the world and embrace life as a full guardian." Several of the students smiled at the mention of the guardian test, they couldn't wait to take it and become full guardians. "But I'm sure you would all like to know what this year's games are?" There was a wave of cheers. "This is the other spiecal thing about this year, for the first time in several years we shall be intudcting a new game. Over the course of the year, a capture the flag royale will be held. A tourament between the grades and another between the classes. The ten best will move onto the final championship round. As this is mostly a game played in the training years for well, training, the games will begin in two months. However second and third years will begin anywhere from the middle of this month to sometime next month. You will begiven the chance for a refresher course, while the first years can have a chance to get a taste of what they'll be in for. New information will be given out in the coming days."

The hall was a buzz with this news, the students couldn't wait for the start of the games. It was one of the highlights of the year and the second biggest event on the campus. Yes, it was something to look forward to. "To the elementry grades, I wish you the best of lucky. Enjoy your time, they go by so quickly. Soon I will be address you in these very seats. Middle grades, your in a uquice time in your training at the academy. No longer in the elemenatry grades, yet not in the training years either. As your training increases and gets harder, you being to realize many things. And finally my training years. First years, you are just truly beginning your training. Things will only get harder from here, but it will be well worth it. Second years, please help and take care of the first years, as they are new and just as you were just one year ago. Third years, as you enter you last and final year, know that your time at the academy has meant something more than just training. Remember the bonds that you have formed here and take them with you once you leave. But know that, you will always have a place and home here at Guardian Academy. Students, staff, family, and friends. Lets make this year better than all the rest as we begin yet another year."

The opening cemerony ended with a roar of cheers from not just in the hall, but from all of the campuses. "Something tells me that this year will be interest." Naomi looked back at the stage one last time as she turned and followed along with everyone else out of the hall. "So begins my first year in the training years."