The air hummed as it lingered, carrying with it an ominous joy wrapped in the crisp Halloween breeze.
The Citadel itself, proud and towering, wore its decoration with such splendor that even familiar eyes wandered around as though beholding it for the very first time.
Yet, the work of embellishment was far from finished. Even then, more hands were busy at the Great Hall, precisely the place chosen for the initiation of the newly recruited Azrens into their S.O.S, and for the sacred changing of their ES chips in the Core Sigil.
This was the day Simma had long awaited, a day etched into his thoughts since the end of the tournament. Truth be told, he was not alone in his longing, every soul who had qualified to be an Azren had counted the days with the same hunger in their hearts.
