THE WEIGHT OF A NEW RANK

Inside the grand and ornate office of the Vice Chancellor, the atmosphere was thick with tension and anticipation. Kaelen stood in the center of the room, his eyes darting between the gathered pillars of the academy, each a towering figure in their own right. General Cao stood near the window, arms folded, while Bowen, the Dark Saint, remained seated, his expression stern and watchful after the recent encounters with his son. The others looked on silently, their focus entirely on Kaelen and the Vice Chancellor.

The Vice Chancellor himself, sitting behind his massive, elaborately carved desk, leaned back slightly in his chair, his fingers steepled before him as he regarded Kaelen with a rare, approving smile. His calm demeanor contrasted with the intensity in the room. With a deliberate motion, he reached into one of the drawers of his desk and pulled out a small, elegant box.