...
Legend had it that the dean of Hurst Royal Extraordinary Academy was a Great Mage of unfathomable power, verging on the Holy Sanctuary. He was constantly engrossed in his magical research and rarely made public appearances.
Lynch had been enrolled for nearly three years, and this was the first time he had ever seen the dean in person.
"Future pillars of the Empire."
The dean began to speak. His voice was calm and gentle, yet it seemed to resonate in every person's ear.
"It is time for the annual assessment once more. I'll get straight to the point. This year's practical assessment will be slightly different from previous years." He extended a finger and gestured casually in the air.
In an instant, countless tiny, colored specks of light surged from his fingertip, rapidly interweaving, outlining, and rendering in midair.
In the blink of an eye, a massive, three-dimensional map was suspended in the air above the square.
