"Finally! The ordained time is now upon us," Aldrich muttered with a mock-dramatic flair as he strolled down the long, echoing corridor. His steps were measured, but his mind raced with anticipation.
The grouping list had finally been released. He now knew which team he'd been assigned to and more importantly, who his teammates were.
All that remained was the final piece of the puzzle: the exam content. That was the real wildcard. Whatever twisted challenge the Eldora Institute had concocted, Aldrich was certain it wouldn't be anything straightforward.
This wasn't just a test. It was judgment day.
An unspoken decree hung over them all, one that determined who would rise, who would fall, and who would be discarded altogether. Promotions, demotions, and even dropouts could hinge on the outcome.
"No," Aldrich whispered to himself. "No space for negative thoughts. I just need to give it my all, nothing more, nothing less."
