"Maria Reina Paradis."
The moment Aslan spoke her name, it felt as though the entire world froze.
For a fraction of a second, silence ruled the Grand Forum.
Then the crowd erupted.
"Shit!"
Someone inside the Crown Terrace cursed, and perhaps it was justified. More than 500 000 voices cried out at once, releasing a deafening wave of cheers that shook the very architecture of the Grand Forum. The immense stone structure seemed to tremble beneath the force. Even the reinforced windows of the Crown Terrace vibrated visibly.
The sound did not reach them at its full strength because of the thick glass and protective barriers, yet the pressure behind it could still be felt through the floor, the walls, and even their skin.
There was not a single person below who remained seated or silent.
"Maria!"
Her name rang through the amphitheater again and again.
"Maria! Maria! Maria!"
