The conversations dropped in volume—not ending, just pulling inward as collective attention began its forward lean toward the moment that most of the crowd had made the journey to the Magical City to see.
Walker Clan — fourth entry. Harvey Walker stepped forward, and the crowd's noise rose before he had taken three steps.
It was a different quality of response from anything the previous three entries had produced—not warm recognition, not polite acknowledgement, but the particular energy of a crowd responding to the thing they identified as the competition's primary factor moving into position.
The viewer platforms produced a sustained sound that built rather than peaked and held at its elevated level as Harvey and Aaden walked toward the boundary stakes.
