Chapter 596: Where Celebration Finds Its Rhythm
One by one, the names continued until there were no more.
Every trainee who had passed now stood wearing their jewelry, a symbol of where they belonged.
Orion stepped forward then, and the moment he did, silence followed.
He glanced briefly at Sophia.
Then back at the gathered crowd.
"…Sophia has already said everything I was supposed to say," he began.
A faint ripple of laughter followed.
Orion's lips curved slightly.
"So I'll keep this simple."
He paused and then, with a voice full of pride—
"Congratulations," he said.
Cheers went up again. Joren could hear his father cheering from where he was. Wayne laughed loudly, clapping as he did.
The noise didn't stop as Orion spoke again.
"Now, let the celebration begin," he said.
The reaction was immediate. The noise became even louder than before.
Families surged forward, pulling their children into tight embraces.
