The Empire Academy didn’t have its own festival, but the closing ceremony served as a substitute.
The day of the closing ceremony, marking the end of the semester, was a time for students, usually bound by strict rules, to let loose and have fun.
Thoroughly vetted merchants entered the academy to sell food, and theater troupes and bands were invited to provide entertainment.
Moreover, each department exhibited their achievements from the semester, which was also a significant attraction.
The Military Department attracted the largest crowd by holding a public fighting competition, while the Magic Department showcased new spells created by students to great acclaim.
Even the usually overlooked Art Department managed to garner attention on this day, as they showcased their paintings, and music students held concerts that drew in many spectators with various sculptures and dazzling displays.
Of course, it wasn’t just the departments eagerly awaiting this closing ceremony.
Various clubs within the academy anxiously looked forward to the occasion, as it was one of the few opportunities to showcase what they had prepared, ensuring the participation of all clubs in the closing ceremony event.
Among these exhibitions that caught the attention of this year’s students and visitors alike was none other than the Manga Club’s “Animation Exhibition.”
“They’re so confident they’ll show us more than we imagined today.”
“Since it’s Professor Rupert at the helm, there’s definitely going to be something worth seeing.”
“Hey, wait, are there no seats left already?”
Naturally, all of the sensation-making newcomers known as the “four from the academy” had joined. Additionally, interest in the Manga Club, now associated with Rupert, who was known as the Empire’s best painter, was at an all-time high.
Rumors had spread widely that the Manga Club’s preparations for the closing ceremony were impressive, so even though there was still a long wait until it started, the auditorium rented for the Manga Club’s exhibition was packed with people.
Naturally, students and external guests alike crowded in, resulting in groans echoing from various corners.
“Darn it! I hope what we prepared isn’t just mediocre.”
Initially driven by curiosity, some people became frustrated, wondering if coming here was a mistake amid all this hardship.
Though they considered leaving, they felt compelled to witness the exhibition to not feel cheated after already going through the trouble.
Yet, if the Manga Club’s preparation turned out to be underwhelming, they were ready to criticize it for ages.
Thus, people waited amidst the throngs in the auditorium for the exhibition’s start.
Finally, when someone stepped onto the podium, all eyes turned to them.
“Thank you for taking the time, even amidst your busy schedules, to attend our Manga Club’s closing ceremony exhibition.”
A young man with blond hair and glasses, the Manga Club’s instructional professor, Rupert, stepped forward to address the crowd, and a smattering of applause broke out before it erupted into a roar.
“Wow!!! It’s my first time seeing the real Rupert!”
“I’m telling you, this latest work is amazing! He’s a god!!!”
“I wonder what he’s going to show this time?”
Public interest in Rupert, who had created fairy tale books, comic books, and now comic magazines, was at an all-time high.
The perception that anything he produced was entertaining had now settled in people’s minds, resulting in a noticeable shift.
Even students who had initially been skeptical of Rupert were now desperately wanting to attend his lectures following just one semester.
“But they’ll probably show a new comic book, so why did they choose the auditorium as the exhibition space?”
“Right? I just hope they don’t have too few copies to circulate.”
“I’m a bit uneasy knowing it was made by students. Well, Rupert must have assisted, though….”
The people gathered in the auditorium held some slight doubts.
Since it was a Manga Club exhibition, surely there would be a new comic book. They assumed it would be published in a magazine format with students’ short comics, just like the trending nature of manapya.
Why would they limit the space to the auditorium? They couldn’t help but wonder.
However, without a moment to dispel their questions, Rupert was followed by Manga Club members, who began taking turns greeting the audience.
Due to a particularly notable group of four among the members, attention shifted once more in that direction.
Once all the introductions were complete, Rupert continued speaking.
“I’m very pleased to be able to present a new experience to those of you who have kindly visited us today.”
Snap!
As Rupert finished speaking, he snapped his fingers.
The lights from the magical artifacts that had previously lit up the auditorium extinguished, plunging it into darkness.
“What’s going on?”
“Why are they turning off the lights?”
“Don’t step on my foot!”
As the abrupt darkness set in, people began to murmur in confusion, prompting Rupert to calm them.
“Everyone, please look straight ahead from now on.”
Thanks to the amplification spell on his voice, the chatter subsided, and the audience finally turned their gazes toward the front.
A moment of silence passed, and suddenly a sound echoed from somewhere, a whining noise.
As audience members craned their heads to locate the source, a white cloth began to descend from the podium where nothing had been moments ago.
And as bouncy music started playing from sound stones strategically placed throughout the auditorium, the crowd buzzed once more.
However, that buzz didn’t last long.
Before their eyes, a video—no, an animation—began to unfold.
*
People truly fall silent when they witness something awe-inspiring, instead of clapping or gasping.
As they watched the world premiere of the animation Sylvania Symphony, only the sound of breathing could be heard among the spectators.
Before them lay what could be seen simply as moving images, yet they could not tear their eyes away from the white cloth illuminated by the projector.
On that white cloth, sometimes a horse would hum and sing, while a dog would appear to play cymbals atop it.
The audience certainly understood it was just a drawing.
Yet the natural way in which those images moved and spoke, the way they sang, made them constantly wonder if it was not something real.
Finally, after a duration of ten minutes, the animation Sylvania Symphony reached its conclusion.
The story ended with a scene where horses, dogs, cats, and chickens banded together to drive out a thief invading their home and find peace.
However, even after the screening ended and the lights returned to the auditorium, it remained eerily quiet.
Seeing the silence from the audience made the Manga Club members feel inexplicably anxious.
‘Could it be that it wasn’t good?’
‘We thought we did a great job.’
‘Was my screenplay the problem…?’
As all kinds of negative thoughts swept through their minds, a sudden *clap!* broke through the silence.
Clap clap clap!!!
Before long, the clapping grew louder and eventually filled the auditorium, with voices erupting amid the applause.
“This is a once-in-a-lifetime experience!”
“It wasn’t just the pictures moving! The music was harmonious, and the story was so lively!!”
“Wait, it ended already? I can’t believe it!”
Ten minutes can seem quite short in some contexts but can actually feel exceptionally long.
If someone asked most to stand before an audience and do anything for ten minutes, most would struggle to fill that time.
Thus, captivating an audience full of people for ten minutes is more of a difficult challenge than it might seem.
But today, the animation by the Manga Club not only filled the time but also provided an unforgettable experience in just ten short minutes.
“Do you see this, Adrian?”
“… Edric.”
As Adrian, who wrote the screenplay for Sylvania Symphony, blankly stared at the marvelous sight before him, the Third Prince initiated a conversation.
“I knew you could pull it off, Adrian.”
“No, it’s thanks to the members who drew and composed the music….”
“Of course, while the contributions of other members are significant, it’s clear that people are cheering because of the engaging story you wrote, Adrian.”
Amidst the conversation with the Third Prince, Adrian’s gaze remained glued on the audience that had gathered.
Usually, he would have focused on conversing with the Third Prince, seeing it as a valuable opportunity.
But now, he couldn’t tear his eyes away from the spectators.
The story he had penned.
The animation based on that story he had joyfully written was now being applauded and cheered for by the audience, which quickened his heartbeat.
It wasn’t a trembling of fear or dread; it was a thrilling sensation.
It felt like the same heartbeat he had experienced frequently as a child.
The thrill he felt as he read about the hero’s epic tales inscribed in books now coursed through him.
“Thank you for the advice back then, Edric.”
“No, it was rather rude of me.”
“No, I’m certain I’ll never forget the scene I witnessed today.”
Throughout the first semester, there had been many times when Adrian honestly wanted to quit.
The club he joined to make contacts with key figures of the Empire ended up consuming more of his time than anticipated, leading to rising discontent.
However, right now, he could hardly remember any of that hardship or discontent.
All he could see were the faces of people applauding and celebrating.
Adrian gazed endlessly at the throng gathered in the auditorium, thinking of how he wanted to keep witnessing such scenes.
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The world changing entertaintment: “Animation” starts here 🥹7
Cool