Prime Ascendant

Chapter 12

In a different part of the world...

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The hum of anticipation filled the room, though nothing particularly exciting was happening on the surface. Rows of desks neatly arranged, students sitting with disciplined posture, and at the front, an instructor tracing diagrams on a digital board—a lecture, as routine as any other. Yet, there was an unspoken awareness beneath the surface, a quiet vigilance. Elara had felt it for weeks, and judging by the way her classmates watched the instructor’s every movement, they had sensed it too. Today, though, she tried to focus, even as her mind drifted.

The instructor, a stern-faced woman in her fifties, pointed to a holographic projection of a plant shimmering in green and blue hues. "This," she began, "is the Ulvanis Serrata, a species notable for its regenerative properties. But, more importantly for our studies, its unique ability to detect and respond to high levels of radiation. Now, can anyone tell me why this might be especially useful?"

E