The following morning, all first and second-year candidates assembled in Sparkshire's main auditorium—a massive space designed to accommodate the entire student body, tiered seating ensuring visibility, and soul-force acoustics making speakers audible throughout.
Bright settled into a seat beside Duncan, his spatial awareness automatically cataloguing the assembly's organization, noting security presence that seemed enhanced beyond normal protocols.
Something significant, Bright assessed
Aldric Thorne took the stage without ceremonial introduction—the old man's presence alone commanding attention, his authority requiring no verbal establishment.
"This is a Brief announcement regarding modifications done to the curriculum," Thorne began. "Next month, thirty-five candidates from Federated Kingdoms of Ashmar and Theocracy of Solhaven will join the Academy for a semester-long educational exchange."
