Chapter 2: Ceremony

Two Years Later

Jungkook puts the last jeweled stud in his ear, a black one symbolizing his seventh and final year as a cadet of the Knight Scholar Academy. There are six other stones tracing the lobe of each ear: topaz, sunstone, jade, and emerald in his left ear for his first four years at the academy, and sapphire, ruby, and onyx in his right for his last three. There is one hole still left empty, at the front most portion of his right ear lobe. He’d gotten the piercing earlier in the week in preparation for this morning's ceremony.

He rubs a little bit at the scar on his chest where that poisoned arrow had skewered him a little over two years ago now as he studies his refection in the mirror. He’s reminded of his younger self briefly, round-cheeked and eager, as he entered the academy for the first time as a student and not as a public ward of the academy.

He’s been incredibly lucky, he knows. Well, not just lucky; he’s also worked his *** off and has the grades and medals to prove it. But still, a public ward of the academy, an orphan in all but name, rescued from slavers at three years old, growing up and becoming a student at the academy? The top student, at that? It had never been done before.

Some portion of it was hard work and dedication, but the largest part was in fact thanks to his mentor and primary benefactor, Professor Moon Namgil.

A much younger Jungkook, then 14, had been encouraged by the Matron of Wards to find himself a job if he wanted a little pocket money for himself to buy the comic series he had seen behind multiple shop windows in Academy Villa. He’d applied at all kinds of places with his non-existent list of experiences and skills with no luck, until at last Professor Moon had overheard him asking for a job book-shelving at the Academy library. He’d been taken in by Jungkook’s eagerness, or as the Professor describes it “bullheadedness,” and hired Jungkook on on a probationary basis. He could do that, seeing as he’s the head librarian at the academy.

The things Jungkook wanted to do, and enjoyed doing, he usually excels in. He’d dedicated himself to becoming the best book shelver ever and then the best library assistant, and then the best head librarian assistant, and before he knew it, he and Professor Moon had become quite close. He's the only father figure Jungkook has.

Even so, it still came as quite the shock to him, when the Professor had nominated him for scholarship at the Academy. He’d never mentioned anything about it to Jungkook, though he had likely seen him gazing wistfully at the student and cadets bent over lecture notes at the library tables or marching past the library windows off on some grand mission more than one.

“You can go see your dragons, this way boy,” Professor Moon had told him, eyes twinkling at the teary eyed and grateful Jungkook in front of him. Even then, Jungkook’s fascination with dragons had been no secret. The Professor was well-respected and well-liked, so his endorsement ensured Jungkook’s free ride at the academy.

Not wanting to disappoint his mentor, and with sudden new and potentially now possible ambitions for himself, Jungkook put twice the amount of effort he had being the best library assistant into the being the best cadet and rose to top student status by the end of his first year. A status he had maintained throughout the remainder of his time at the Academy. It hadn’t made him a lot of friends, jealousy was definitely a disease, but he had Jinyoung’s crew and Yugyeom and Professor Moon and for Jungkook that was more than enough.

The face looking back at him now is not the same as that fresh-faced 18-year-old. There is no more roundness to his face, now only lines that years of combat and study had honed to razor sharpness. There are a few new scars as well: a nick through one eyebrow, a thin line on his neck. And of course, the arrow scar, the most dramatic of his collection by far, still marred and puckered and reddish as he runs his fingers over it, even after two years.

It had almost killed him, that arrow. The months of recovery had certainly put him behind, as it is. Here he was attending the spring Treatise Ceremony instead of the fall one like he was originally meant to. Yugyeom had left on his Treatise Voyage months ago and Jungkook missed him fiercely.

Jungkook pulls the white tunic of his uniform over his head and then pulls on his black uniform regulation pants, thin brown belt and freshly polished black boots before affixing two pins to his chest: one designating him as a senior cadet, a bit redundant considering the piercings in Jungkook’s opinion, and the other as the top student of the year. His hair is not cooperating today, and with a sigh he flattens the black wavy mess as best he can, sweeping it back off his forehead in a hopefully somewhat formal look.

He studies himself once more. It’s as good as its going to get. The sound of a bell reverberates throughout the Academy, chiming seven times. Jungkook curses. The ceremony starts at eight; he’s cutting it close. After one final check in the mirror, Jungkook strides out the door of his dorm.

The wood paneled halls are relatively empty, everyone undoubtedly already waiting for the ceremony to begin, so Jungkook can break into a slight jog without being judged or scolded. He breaks out of the dorms into the central courtyard in record time and doesn’t stop to appreciate the massive willows swaying in the light spring breeze, the enormous central domed fountain twinkling merrily, or the manicured flower beds of blue and gold flowers, the colors of the Academy, like he would normally as he hurries across it.

Though the courtyard doesn’t do it, the view from The Airway, the massive granite and marble bridge connecting the eastern and western portions of the Academy as it overlooks the sprawling Academy Villa below, does manage to make Jungkook pause, just for a second. It always does.

The Knight Scholar Academy is situated near the top of a lone mountain, and the warehouses, shops, and residential buildings of the Academy Villa twist along and up the side of the mountain right up until they hit the stone outer walls of the Academy itself. Beyond the buildings is nothing but vast forest, the Great Forest, as far as the eye can see, and from as high up as The Airway is, that is very far.

The Knight Scholar Academy and the Academy Villa is essentially an independent city-state, governed by the heads of the Academy and protected and regulated by the Knight Scholars themselves. It is a city dedicated to learning above all else, and scholars and mages from all the surroundings countries frequently flock to it. Kings and queens would send their offspring to learn and train amongst the Academy’s willows and wildflowers as well, as the place had also developed a reputation for seeking the truth in knowledge, and standing for justice and peace, and against oppression and unequal exchange of knowledge.

To Jungkook it was simply: home. The only place he had ever known. Or could really remember knowing. The place where his friends and (dare he say family?) were. So Jungkook can never resist stopping and appreciating this view of home, but he quickly shakes himself out of it and continues on his way across The Airway, sliding into the back doors at The Great Amphitheater and joining the throng of other cadets also preparing to receive their final stone: the stone that would designate them as full member of the Academy and as true Knight Scholars in both name and form as they recited their vows and announced their intentions for their Treatise Voyage.

Jungkook thinks back to informing Professor Moon, who is not only his mentor but also his advisor at the academy, about his own chosen Treatise topic as he listens to the others around him excitedly discussing theirs.

He’d announced it to Professor Moon in the privacy of his office earlier in the week, and he’d held his breath waiting for the Professor’s reaction. Professor Moon had studied him for a minute behind horn-rimmed glasses, face inscrutable. “I see,” he’d said finally. “And I don’t suppose there is any talking you out of it? I know you are aware that human-dragon relations are at an all-time low right now. That we are teetering on the brink of war?”

Jungkook shakes his head stubbornly. “That’s all the more reason for me to write this,” Jungkook had argued. “I can bring in a fresh prospective, make people look at this whole conflict from a different point of view.”

“This fresh perspective will hardly help the feelings of those who have had homes, property and lives destroyed by dragons,” Professor Moon had said drily. When Jungkook opened his mouth to protest he added, “Not that the dragons’ actions in most of those cases were totally unprovoked! No, usually quite the opposite, in fact. Still, you can’t expect one treatise to change the course of conflict. It’s too unrealistic.”

Jungkook presses his lips together stubbornly and Professor Moon sighs and softens. “It will be dangerous. This is the most dangerous treatise proposal anyone has ever brought to me. How can I sign off on something that might cost you your life?”

“It’s my dream,” Jungkook says obstinately. “I’d do it anyway. Even if you made me pick a different topic. I’d just do it on the side.”

“Is it so wrong to want you to be safe?” Professor Moon had asked. “I’ve already nearly lost you once.” Jungkook had been startled by the sparkle of tears in his eyes and hurriedly backtracked.

“I’ll be as safe as possible, I promise,” he had said softly. “I’ll make it back; I’ll make you proud.”

Professor Moon had sniffed and Jungkook’s heart had cracked, just a little. “You silly boy. I already am.” Without further argument he’d leaned down and signed off on Jungkook’s treatise topic. With a whoop of joy, Jungkook had flung himself in the old man’s arms, nearly knocking them both over.

Professor Moon had chuckled a little wetly before reaching up to smooth out his hair. “Be careful out there, Jungkook,” he’d said softly. “The Great Forest can be dangerous enough on its own. And dragons…” he’d trailed off before restarting. “Anyway, I expect you back here, successful, by this time next year, or I might have to redistribute your unofficial title as the best knight this academy has ever produced.”

Jungkook had pulled back indignantly. “You wouldn’t!”

Jungkook smiles to himself at the memory as the harassed professor helping organize the ceremony herds them all into a single file line behind the amphitheater stage. There are 90 of them in total, most having left in the Fall.

It seems like both a long and short time before Jungkook’s name is finally called and, as he steps out on the stage in front of the sea of scholars and knights and Knight Scholars witnessing the ceremony, he can’t even feel any nerves; he’s far too excited. He repeats his vow of loyalty to academy and to knowledge, truth, and peace back to the Academy head, an elderly lady with a spine of steel that Jungkook has had maybe two conversations with, trying not to bounce on his heels to relieve some of the tension in his body.

Then it’s time for Jungkook to approach his own adviser, his beloved Professor Moon, and he bends slightly to allow him to affix the eighth and final stone to Jungkook’s ear: the diamond, the symbol of a fully fledged Knight Scholar. He can’t help grinning back at Professor Moon’s proud smile. With that task complete, he takes a deep breath as he approaches the podium.

“Greetings, honored scholars, knights, and guests,” he begins. “I am Jeon Jungkook, former senior cadet of the Academy and now a newly fledged member among your ranks.” He pauses. He can’t believe he can say that. “My first task and vow as a Knight Scholar and full member of the Academy, is to leave within the hour to embark on my first Treatise Voyage. I hereby vow to present to the Academy a Treatise entitled: The Legendary Council of Dragons: An Eyewitness Account. I vow that I will not return until my voyage and treatise is complete and I stand before you as a Knight Scholar who has contributed in full to the furthering of knowledge and truth in this great Academy. Thank you.”

With a bow, Jungkook steps back from the podium. Whispers have broken out through the crowd of seated academics, but Jungkook pays them no mind. He’s going to find dragons.

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