Students who had arrived much earlier than Eric and Alina were already being processed.
Academy staff were guiding them towards the designated examination areas.
Eric's batch however along with many other groups of students who had arrived more recently were currently categorized as "waiting." They were being held in the large open field.
The lines they were standing in were slowly inching forward.
It was a very slow process as earlier groups were admitted into the Academy grounds proper.
Eric and Alina stood together in one of these slowly advancing queues. The atmosphere in the field was thick with anticipation.
Eric could almost feel the nervousness that radiated from the hundreds of young hopefuls all around them.
Everyone was anxious. Everyone wanted to do well.
Alina leaned closer to Eric. Her voice was a low murmur so only he could hear her.
