Battle for Valedictorian

Sitting still as she could, Elenia remained level-headed and perfectly calm. On the outside. 

A storm swirled through her brain. All unimportant thoughts were shredded. Any branching thoughts were lost to the winds. And with every person leaving the stage, Elenia's mental hurricane grew in force. 

The eighth student was faster than the seventh. However, the eighth student's black rabbit only received a placating nod from the king; no mentions of honor or keeping his head held high. 

Similarly, the ninth, tenth, and eleventh students only heard the king speak while offering the ceremonial prayer to the Diamond God. 

By the twelfth student, the king finally mentioned honor for the second time. That young woman gleefully bottled her joy and left the stage with her blue-feathered owl perched on her shoulder. 

Finally, the thirteenth student was called forth; the first of six students in the back row.