The moment Liam Hunter's name left Lucia's mouth, the Eastern Grand Hall grew lively in a way it had not been since the ranking announcement began.
For an instant, almost everyone forgot about the image being shown on the magical screen. They forgot that the display had just revealed Liam appearing high above Nalim's dense canopy and falling toward the forest as though the realm itself had decided to throw him into danger before he even touched the ground.
Their attention was instead seized by something far more immediate, far more shocking, and, for many of them, far more difficult to understand.
Liam Hunter had dropped from rank one to rank three.
The reaction spread through the second years in waves of whispers, sharp breaths, and stunned looks. Some students turned toward Liam openly before remembering themselves and quickly looking away.
