The silence that followed Serenya's last words was suffocating.Tens of thousands of students stood frozen, their hearts still rattled from the roar that had nearly split their skulls. The only sound was the low, guttural growl of the beast beside Serenya, a steady, threatening rumble that vibrated in the marble and in their bones.
Avin's throat was dry. Nobody dared to speak, cough, or even breathe too loudly. Nobody wanted to be the next to draw that monster's attention.
Finally, Serenya's soft, melodic voice returned, slicing through the tension.
"Your first test," she said, "will be survival. Those who endure will then participate in the written and practical sections. We acknowledge that strength wears many faces—some of you are skilled in diplomacy, others in battle, others still in art or knowledge. But before all of that, you must demonstrate at least the instinct to stay alive. Without survival, there can be nothing else."
