White light faded.
They stood once more on the central platform of the Silver Guild examination hall. The air was warm. The runes under their feet still glowed faintly. Medical staff and clerks were already moving toward them. Around the hall other groups were still being inserted or were missing entirely. The tiered seating was half-empty.
Lira Voss looked up from her data slate, expression unchanged.
"Group 047. Survival confirmed. Sixty minutes, zero fatalities. Provisional Silver Guild status granted. Locked unit structure. Report to processing for formalization and assignment of guild designation. Next."
Trevor stepped off the platform. The seven women followed in the same tight formation they had used inside the Ice Forge. Essence reserves were low. Several of them carried visible bruises under the armor. Lisa's side still ached from the last glancing blow. Rhea's shoulder was stiff. But every one of them was standing.
