The second fireball struck at the heart of the formation, and this time the arena’s rhythm broke.

Flame rolled across the central ring, washing over the three guardians caught within its reach. Guardian Two’s ward flashed once, twice, then fractured into fading lines of light. Guardian One staggered under the blast, its lacquered frame glowing red at the joints, while Guardian Three’s stance faltered just long enough for the formation to lose its perfect symmetry.

At the same time, Alicia’s interference struck the pylon at the peak of its pulse.

The crystal crown flared violently. Mana surged backward through the floor channels, racing along the dueling rings in sharp, irregular bursts. The shimmer around the guardians collapsed all at once. Guardian Four, already turning toward Alicia, was caught by the sudden reversal of gravity and hurled back across the outer lane, striking the arena floor in a hard skid of sparks and ringing metal.

For a breath, the constructs attempted to correct themselves.

Then the chamber decided.

“Evaluation complete. Cohort Magenta: successful.”

The guardians froze in place. Their blades dissolved into motes of pale light, and their runes dimmed to a dormant glow. The arena floor brightened beneath the group, and the world folded around them with the same gentle precision that had brought them into the Vestibule.

When sight returned, they stood once more within the Grand Induction Hall.

The chamber was quieter than before. Only a handful of colored cohorts had already returned, their members standing in scattered groups beneath the turning crystal array. Several colors remained absent.

Proctor Roffimières stood at the center of the hall, his floating tome open beside him. His expression remained composed, though his gaze lingered on Magenta’s bracelets for a moment longer than necessary.

“Cohort Magenta,” he said clearly, “you have completed the entrance examination.”

The crystal above released a soft shower of star-like light.

“Welcome to the Ethereal Luminary.”