The Principal walked to the grand chair that was situated beside the podium.
His long robes flowed silently behind him as he moved.
He stopped directly in front of it. His presence alone commanded a natural respectful silence without him having to say a single word.
He then raised both his hands in a placid open-palmed gesture. It was a silent invitation for the vast assembly of standing students and faculty to be seated.
"All students please sit down," he said. His voice was soft almost gentle.
It was the kind of tone an old grandfather might use with his grandchildren.
Yet it possessed a strange resonant quality. His voice carried effortlessly throughout the entire cavernous auditorium.
Each word reached every single ear with perfect unimpeded clarity. It was as if he were whispering directly to each individual person at the same time.
This subtle but profound display of power caused a fresh wave of astonishment to ripple through the first-year students.
