Chương 99: The Results

The day of the announcement dawned clear. This time, no one stayed in the room. From early morning, the entire group was already gathered in the hallway — the children and the four adults. No one spoke much. It wasn't exactly nervousness. It was just the strange feeling that, very soon, something was going to shift. When the call came, they went down together. The academy's main hall was full. Candidates of various ages and races occupied almost the entire space. Some tried to look confident.

Others couldn't hide their fear. At the back of the hall, the orphanage group stayed gathered in a corner, as always: close enough to touch each other if they needed to. Lysithea stood right behind Kuroe. Elara beside Mirella. Graciela crossed her arms and muttered something quietly about "taking too long." Joker and Harley were at the front of the group, holding hands. Astrid was bouncing her foot. Marina held onto the hem of Sylvara's clothes. Rina kept rising up onto her tiptoes and down again.

Kuroe, as always, simply observed. A tall man stepped onto the small stage with a list in his hands. The conversation in the hall gradually died down. This story has been taken without authorization. Report any sightings. — I will only announce the names of those who have been approved — he said in a firm voice. — Anyone who is not called may leave at the end. He began to read. Name after name. A few restrained shouts. Some sighs. People leaving in silence when they realized they wouldn't be called.

The group remained still. Until the man reached a specific part of the list and made a small pause. — From the Santa Lunalie Orphanage… The air around them seemed to grow denser for a second. — Astrid. — Marina. — Rina. — Sylvara. — Lirien. — Kuroe. — Harley. — And Joker. For a moment, no one moved. Then the noise came. Astrid released the breath she had been holding and pulled Marina into a quick hug. Rina and Sylvara looked at each other and laughed quietly, relieved.

Harley turned her face toward Joker and smiled in that wide, dangerous way only she had. Joker returned the smile and squeezed her hand more tightly. Kuroe didn't shout. She didn't jump. But the corner of her mouth slowly lifted into a small, rare smile. When Rina pulled her into the middle of the group, she didn't resist. She simply let herself be drawn in. From behind, Lysithea covered her mouth with one hand, her eyes shining. Elara closed her eyes for a second and let out a breath.

Mirella smiled sideways, discreet. Graciela crossed her arms more tightly and muttered: — Finally. The man on the stage continued reading other names, but for them it no longer mattered. They had passed. All of them. While the hall was still reorganizing itself with the approved candidates and those beginning to leave, Harley stepped closer to Joker and spoke quietly, only for him to hear: — So… ready for the next act? Joker laughed softly, almost against her ear. — Always.

Lysithea approached from behind and rested a hand on each of their shoulders. She said nothing. She just stayed there. Elara, Mirella, and Graciela joined them right after. Within a few seconds the entire group was together again in the middle of the hall, a small messy nucleus in the middle of the crowd. No one needed to make a speech. The result had already said enough. They had gotten in. And, more importantly… they had gotten in together. End of Chapter 99