### CHAPTER 103: THE TRIAL OF THE ELITES
Wukong dragged his fingertip across the polished stone and drew the final curve of the formation. The ink flared with a deep, earthy glow that pulled steady warmth up from the ground, and the air grew heavy but clear, like stepping into a quiet lake. Orion stood at the edge of the courtyard with his frontline commanders and academy directors, his boots resting lightly against the cool stone. Cassia stood beside him with her arms crossed, her jaw tight but her eyes steady, while Nyla shifted her weight from foot to foot, her breathing slow and controlled. The first wave of fifty elites lined up in two neat rows, their faces a mix of sharp focus and quiet nerves.
