Chapter 744: Prove Them Wrong
The mention of Ariana Merdin’s name did not draw the same kind of stunned reaction that had followed Erica Roswell’s rise or Lucian Kellor’s continued presence in the top ten. The hall did not break into murmurs, nor did many students turn with visible surprise toward the auburn-haired girl standing among them.
But that lack of reaction was not because they thought little of her, not anymore. Months ago, some might have looked at Ariana and seen only a delicate girl with glasses, gentle smiles, and a mind far more suited to books than battle.
Some might have assumed her high position had come from theory, magic aptitude, or the novelty of being a Primordial rather than anything she could actually prove when left alone.
Now, after the past months and especially after Nalim, that assumption had become harder to hold. Ariana had not risen in rank, but remaining within the top ten after an assessment like this was not something anyone could dismiss lightly.
Ariana herself stood near Sheila and several others, her training attire torn at the edge of one sleeve and dirtied from days of movement through ruins and forest.
One side of her glasses had a visible crack across the lens, though she still wore them as if refusing to let such a small inconvenience bother her.
Her auburn hair was tied more messily than usual, with loose strands clinging to her cheeks, and although exhaustion sat heavily in her eyes, there was a steadiness there that had not existed at the beginning of the academy year.
When her image appeared on the large magical screen, showing her moving through a broken ruin in Nalim with careful eyes and quiet focus, she swallowed softly but did not look away.
Sir Kaelen stepped forward again, his gaze settling briefly on the screen before shifting toward Ariana within the crowd. "Ariana Merdin," he began, his voice calm but firm, "you have come a long way, both magically and physically."
The screen showed Ariana crouching behind a half-collapsed stone wall while two Horror-class demons moved through the ruined structure ahead of her. She did not attack immediately.