At dawn the next day, chaos erupted in the Star-Gazing Tower of the Star Gate Council.
The Wizards here had believed the Migration Experiment had succeeded, and that they could leave this world with no future alongside Speaker Alik. But they hadn't expected Speaker Alik to waste no time at all: the moment the fourth practical experiment succeeded, he chose to take all the Tier 3 Wizards and leave.
Not a single one of the lower-tier Wizards or Apprentices who had assisted with the experiments was taken along.
From beginning to end, these people had known nothing about the core of the experiment. They had only been informed of its progress from time to time.
When the second practical experiment achieved tremendous success, they had been ecstatic.
When the third practical experiment also went smoothly, they had begun looking forward to the wonderful future that awaited them beyond the Star Gate.
When the fourth practical experiment met every established target, they had already begun to pity the Wizards on the other two continents.
But that proud, exhilarated feeling hadn't lasted more than a few days before it was completely crushed.
It turned out that Alik had never included them on the Migration list.
It turned out that they were no different in status from the people they had pitied.
After the shock, disbelief, and stunned disappointment came an outburst of fury.
Every instrument and document in the Star-Gazing Tower—and even its doors and windows—was smashed to pieces.
Fortunately, everyone was a rational Wizard. Otherwise, the chaos might have been much worse.
It wasn't until noon, after everyone had finished venting, that their spirits finally sank again.
Some began to think about leaving the Star Gate Council, though they had no idea where they would go once they did.
As the