Chapter 13: The Guild Selection
The jubilant victory cries began to fade as Aamir and his team members, drenched in sweat, descended from the ground, when a voice broke the silence.
"All the students who have come in the top three rankings, please come to the stage."
Aamir's heart started pounding with excitement. The announcement hung heavily in the air, drawing the crowd's attention back to the stage. Without saying anything, Aamir, Riya, Rajiv, Kiran, and Rahul turned towards the stage. They joined the crowd of other top-ranked students, each filled with a mixture of excitement and uncertainty.
As soon as they came on stage, the atmosphere changed. It seemed as if some ominous presence had descended upon them, making the air even denser. A deep darkness pressed down on them, making it difficult to stand still and breathe. The leaders of the Guild, who were enormous personalities of immense power, exuded such a dazzling rage that it almost overwhelmed the resolve of the students.
Every student present on the stage felt it — a tremendous pressure that showed a glimpse of the power of these leaders. It was a raw power that demanded attention and respect.
Then, like the sudden stopping of a storm, a voice came, breaking the tension — a voice full of peaceful amusement.
"That's enough. Do you want to kill these kids?"
There was such power in the voice that it could not be ignored, yet there was peace in its tone. Instantly, the pressure eased, as if the guild leaders had themselves withdrawn their presence. The weight disappeared, and the air became breathable again. This voice belonged to none other than Nalanda University Principal Raghuveer Sahay.
Aamir let out a breath he hadn't even realized he was holding. There was peace in the principal's expression — a complete contrast to the tension on stage. Raghuveer's eyes fell on the students, and he spoke with a light laugh.
"Very good, you kids really have amazing talent. It's possible that you may one day stand up to the tyranny of the guild leaders. That requires a special kind of strength."
The students, still reeling from the immense pressure they had just experienced, bowed in respect, accepting Raghuveer's praise. His calm behavior was like a balm to them. But the relief was short-lived.