The Finals arena was prepared. Four competitors stood ready in their respective chambers.
The stadium fell silent as Headmaster Aldwyn ascended to the outlook platform.
He was ancient. His robes carried the marks of decades of service to the academy. His frame still commanding despite the weight of years.
His presence alone silenced the crowd.
Not through threat but through the particular authority that accompanied someone who had dedicated his entire life to the institution before them.
Aldwyn reached the center of the outlook. He did not rush to speak. He allowed the silence to stretch so that millions of observers recognized that something significant was about to be communicated.
