Beneath the Aetherium
The observation chamber beneath the Aetherium hummed with mana and tension. Dozens of floating crystal screens shimmered in the air, each showing a different student somewhere on the examination island. Instructors filled the seats in lazy clusters, sipping coffee, scribbling notes, or placing very illegal bets.
One particular screen drew the most attention.
Candidate #108: Sebastian Nekros.
The feed zoomed in on him standing in a clearing, surrounded by dozens of hulking, chittering F-rank ant monsters.
Instructor Vale let out a bark of laughter. "That's the prince-breaker, right? Ten thousand thalgar says the ants eat him before the feed can buffer."
"I'll take that," said Lira, leaning back with a grin. "He's got the look of a troublemaker. Either he'll die or do something stupidly flashy."
A younger instructor squinted at the screen. "Wait… he's not even drawing a weapon?"
