The staff in the blue jacket cleared his throat once everyone was settled. His voice wasn't booming, but it carried easily across the room, filling the silence.
"First, congratulations to all of you for reaching this stage." His eyes swept the room, resting briefly on Michael before moving across the rest of the awakeners.
The staff continued. "Regardless of what happens tomorrow, you can be assured of this much: every one of you will gain guaranteed entry into at least a Cultivation Academy."
That announcement drew a mix of expressions.
"However," the staff said, his tone firm, "if your goal is an Awakeners' Academy… then I suggest you do your best tomorrow. Only those who achieve Rank 2 qualify. This much I believe you guys are already aware of."
The weight of his words pressed across the room. Rank 2 wasn't something casually achieved. Only those who awakened a year or two ago looked calm while helplessness plastered the face of the awakeners who awakened three months ago.
