The first ranking column began to load.
That accomplished what the Academy's explanations had failed to do all morning.
The corridor moved.
Students who had been leaning against walls straightened. Those farther back pressed forward, while those already near the panel discovered they could apparently stand another half-step closer.
Someone brushed Elara's shoulder from behind.
"Could you move a little?"
"There is nowhere to move unless you want me to climb the pillar."
A third student solved the disagreement by squeezing between them anyway.
Beside Elara, Mireilla had somehow abandoned the support pillar she had occupied all morning and now stood almost level with the front row.
Elara glanced at her.
"I can complain and still want to see," Mireilla said.
Fair enough.
Even Elayne had drifted closer without comment.
Pale lines divided the projection.
RANK.
STUDENT.
PRIMARY BLOCK.
The first number appeared.
1.
A letter began forming beside it.
Then vanished.
