The name echoed like a hammer strike.
Gasps. Whispers. Some voices sharp with disbelief, others hushed with awe. Dozens of eyes swiveled toward him, wide, uncertain, reverent.
Merlin sat still. His jaw tightened. He hadn't wanted the attention, but it settled on him like iron chains all the same.
Elara's hand shifted slightly at her side, brushing against his. Not enough to be obvious. Just enough that he felt it.
He exhaled slowly.
Vivienne's voice cut through the tension. "These standings are not final judgments of your potential. They reflect this year's performance only. The path forward is long, and many of you will rise or fall in time. But remember this: strength is not only measured by victory. It is measured by how you carry it."
Her gaze lingered on Merlin for the briefest moment before she turned away.
The instructors dismissed the class.
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