The final words of the announcement faded—
And the silence that followed was no longer born of tension.
It was anticipation.
The kind that coiled in the gut. The kind that didn't crackle with fear, but readiness.
Then—
A ripple of energy shimmered across the outer edge of the safe-zone. Smooth. Intentional.
Dozens of figures began to appear in flashes of silver-blue light. Mages in layered robes and glowing insignia, each one marked by the Imperial Academy's seal—a nine-spoked sigil of convergence, hovering subtly above their left shoulders. Behind them came assistants, aides, and formal attendants dressed in neutral grays and gold-trimmed uniforms. Some held mana crystals. Others carried diagnostic relics, potion cases, or parchment-scroll interfaces hovering midair.
The candidates instinctively straightened.
This wasn't like the simulated broadcasts.
This was real presence.
Authority had arrived.
