The thirty minutes passed in a blur. Students huddled in groups, strategizing and forming alliances for the later trials. Some meditated alone, preparing mentally. Others paced nervously, unable to sit still.
Aria spent most of the time with Mira and Torin, who were giving her rapid-fire advice about academy culture and what to expect.
"The comprehension test is usually the hardest," Mira explained. "Not because it requires power, but because it requires actual understanding. You can't brute-force your way through it."
"And they use ancient techniques that nobody's seen before," Torin added. "So you can't prepare by studying ahead of time. You just have to be smart."
"How long do we usually have?" Aria asked.
"Six hours," Mira said. "Most people barely make it to the passing threshold by the end. The really good students finish in three or four hours."
Before Aria could respond, a deep gong sound echoed across the platform. Every student fell silent immediately.
