The speech was just as dull and long-winded as the one that Karl rembered, and he wondered if the local school superintendents all read from the sa prepared speech.
Keeping a straight face and professional stance while the bureaucrat droned on was an art of its own, and Karl mostly entertained himself watching the various expressions on the faces of the students.
To think, it had only been two years since that was him. Finally, the main speech was over, and the Superintendent gestured towards Karl's group.
"The Elites will now begin the first round of the induction ceremony. This year, we have an improved process, and we have high hopes for an increased intake of students. Please be patient as they work, and an official statent will be released after the ceremony."
Karl and the others spread out so that they would each get a row of seats to pass the items to.
[You're totally going to cheat, aren't you?] Cara asked, but her tone was more of a demand. She wanted entertainnt.
Karl didn't answer her as he passed the ring to the first student. The Acolyte accompanying him had gathered enough of them for the entire row of students, and the teachers behind him would explain the process to the students before the soldiers escorted them to the secure waiting room.
But since these students would be fully conscious, they would get to wave goodbye to their parents in the crowd.
The boy was sweating nervously as he slid the ring on his finger, and it fitted to him. His eyes went vacant as he went into a system notification, so Karl moved on.
Nothing happened to the second boy, who looked confused. But the third boy in line was muttering the word [Slash] over and over, evidently trying to manifest a warrior class.
[Do it. Co on, you know you want to.] Cara insisted, while Karl pointedly ignored her.
The ring equipped to him, and Karl moved on to a terrified looking girl who reminded him of Lotus. She slled like dirt and flowers, and Karl could see that she had been playing outside right up to the start of the ceremony, without ti to even wash her hands.
{Skill Teaching Request} [Bestial Regeneration]
Karl handed her the ring, while Cara gloated in his mind.
[Good call, that's the skill that all Lotus type creatures need. They're prone to self-inflicted injuries.] The Void Badger congratulated him.
Karl moved on, passing out the rings to the students. Well over half were able to equip the rings, and the guards were quickly getting overwheld with the escort missions. They had started taking them three at a ti because it was a long walk to the waiting room, but they were still having to run back to get the next batch.
The kids were a bit disoriented after the class selection screen, or whatever notice they got, and they still needed the escort, so Karl couldn't just have them walk to the exit. But he was almost at the end of his line, and the last few students were just as nervous as the first few had been.
Behind Karl, the nurses had started with the injections, hoping to get a few more Elites out of the process. The second wave was renewing the hope of the students still seated, as well as their parents sitting in the crowd.
The Clerics had an area healing spell active, hoping to give the ones who were minimally compatible with the injection a better chance of success when injured by the power.
That was normal in the Capital, and other large cities that had powerful clerics present, and it greatly reduced the number of lingering injuries that the students they sent to the train would have.
It wasn't looking too hopeful for the students, but the success rate was generally not great with the injection to start with, and presumably most of the successes would have awakened with the first thod.
Karl finished with one final success, and turned back to watch the nurses make their way down the line.
There was a success in Rae's line, then one in Ophelia's. But that was it. Karl could see that a few were having bad reactions to the injection, but the healing spell in effect was keeping them stable while the power passed through their bodies.
The mood in the crowd was jubilant, with the overjoyed parents outnumbering the defeated ones for the first ti in history. Normally, Karl assud the crowd would be congratulating the lucky few, but now it was a mix between sympathy for the parents of the students still sitting, and congratulations given to the parents of the ones who had been led away.
The rest of the ceremony was supposed to be focused on the students who would be going on to further classes, or looking for work, so Karl and his team retreated to the back of the podium, so they wouldn't interfere with the inspirational speeches and songs that were coming.
Fortunately for everyone, those would be given by soone other than the Superintendent. Karl turned when he heard soone enter, and watched as the crowd followed his gaze. It was an amusing sight, watching thousands of people all turn in unison because he had heard footsteps, but it worked out perfectly as a young Elite in an idol's short frilly dress waved to the crowd and strutted up to take the stage.
Only, once she got into the open, all her attention was on the gathered guests.
Nobody had warned her that things were changing this year, and she had been expecting a few school officials, plus the nurses. Not a whole group of Royal and Monarch Ranked Elites, plus the head Librarian.
The idol was probably soone famous in the Capital, but Karl had no idea who the Ascended Rank girl was. The feeling was mutual, but she was well-trained and managed to keep to her routine as she took the stage.
Not even the massive number of empty seats on the auditorium floor was enough to throw her off her performance.
"Good morning everyone. Congratulations to all of our new Elites and their families. But for everyone else, today is still a very special day. For today is the Capital Job Fair..."
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