Liora froze.
Then her eyes became huge. "But… there is no first-year slot on the committee!"
"Well," Celeste said, turning back to the courtyard, "there's a first time for everything."
"You're— you're serious!?" Liora squeaked. "Celeste, the DC has never recruited a first year. Not once in the academy's entire history!"
Her shock was fully justified.
The disciplinary committee only accepted students from the second year onward.
Only because it was practical.
Evaluations took years to identify who had the strength, discipline, and mana control to restrain their peers if needed.
True prodigies only began to noticeably outpace their generation in their second year at the earliest, often later.
Even Liora and Celeste were exceptions.
Celeste, because her lineage and talent were nothing short of extraordinary.
Liora, because her magic, despite her constant chatter, was frighteningly effective.
But a first year? That was unheard of.
