I felt the headmaster's eyes bore into me as the students around me fell silent. Though I could see no pupils beyond that golden mask, I believed that if he were to continue staring a moment longer than he did, his gaze would evaporate me. At last he relented, and sighed.
"Are you quite finished disrupting my...hmm...tell me, what we were discussing again, good sir?"
I felt my face flush completely at this rare act of mercy the headmaster proferred, and managed to say, "I believe we were discussing chronology, headmaster."
"Ah yes, time. Unless you master it, it will master you. I want you to think of all the leaders and heroes that have come before us. Given the choice, whether to rule corrupt and failing empires, or to challenge the fates for another throw, a better throw against one's destiny - what would you do in their stead? But does one truly have a choice? One can only match, move by move, the machinations of fate, and thus defy the tyrannous stars."
Excerpt from an early academy student's diary
Recorded as being a reserved, wise, and calculating individual, Headmaster Belos maintained a generally stoic demeanor during his time as headmaster of
The Phoenix Academy, though was still regarded highly by student and faculty alike for his interest in everyone's learning and well-being. Credited with being one of the key strategists and tacticians that led the early Velantians to victory against the
Oreion Inquisition, Belos helped the Solidor royal family found the academy, and was one of the earliest contributors to the historical and magical artifact collection the academy would soon amass.
Unfortunately, no records exist as to what race Belos might have been, though most speculate
Humans or
Elves. His ultimate fate is equally mysterious; upon leaving on a information gathering expedition, Belos never returned to the academy. According to sparse records of journals and research papers, Belos became somewhat obsessed with the supposed existence of a place he referred to as "The Forgotten Realm", a plane of reality that had been lost from the memory of mortal kind. Its existence was never proven, however, as Belos' fate is still a subject for debate for all those on Academy grounds to this day.
A large statue of Belos exists behind the Academy's main convocation hall, and is where all orientation and graduation ceremonies take place.
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