The auditorium was filled to capacity.
Every seat taken. People standing in the back. Children perched on parents' shoulders. Journalists with cameras. Government officials in suits. Community members in their Sunday best.
Ethan stood backstage, peeking through the curtain. His heart pounded. His hands were clammy. He'd faced Chimera. He'd faced Marcus. He'd faced armies and governments and ancient entities. But this felt different. This felt bigger.
Nora walked up behind him. "Nervous?"
"Terrified."
"Good. That means you care."
She took his hand. Squeezed it.
"Twenty students," she said. "Twenty young people who came to us scared and confused. Now they're graduating. Ready to go out into the world."
"Ready to change the world."
"That's the goal."
The lights dimmed. The crowd qui
