"Ethan Brightsword, step forward," said the Chief Instructor. His booming voice echoed off the high obsidian walls of the inner courtyard, laced with a trace of grim amusement.
Ethan casually strolled out of the ranks, his heavy black boots clicking sharply against the polished stone. He unhitched the leather pouch from his belt and tossed it onto the jade counting table. The moment the pouch opened, a brilliant, multicolored array of light erupted into the air, each token pulsing with a distinct, perfectly balanced spiritual frequency.
"Ethan Brightsword: forty-seven unique talisman groups. Total density weight: absolute zero," said the counting disciple, his own hands trembling slightly as he recorded the staggering number. "Priority Rank: One."
"Unbelievable..." said a noble youth in the back, his knuckles whitening as he stared at the glowing display.
