She reached beneath the podium and produced the silver bowl.
"The All-Year Rite. Conducted once before in this institution's history, following the first Abyss invasion three hundred and one years ago. It is conducted again today."
She looked at the scroll.
"Eight representatives. Male and female, one pair per year. They will take the Oath of Continuation on behalf of the full Academy. Not on behalf of a class. On behalf of the institution itself."
She let that sit for a moment.
"First year. Female representative, Provisional Rank 1. Sable Irren."
A girl rose from the bottom tier. Small, dark-haired, with the look of someone assessed as exceptional before arriving and assessed correctly. She walked to the stage with the careful precision of a first-year who understood that everything she did in this room was being read by people who had been reading rooms for two years longer than she had.
She reached the bowl's far left and stood perfectly still.
