The Grand Amphitheater of Astralux Academy was a marvel of architectural ambition, its circular tiers carved from gleaming white stone that seemed to absorb and reflect the morning light. Nearly three hundred new students filled the seats in clusters that reflected the kingdom's rigid social hierarchy, nobles congregated in the upper sections, their fine clothes and confident postures marking them as the academy's expected elite, while commoners huddled in the lower tiers like supplicants seeking sanctuary.
The massive space hummed with nervous energy as conversations flickered between excitement and anxiety. For most of these students, today would determine not just their academic placement but their entire future within the most prestigious institution in the realm.
