Ethan found his room. Checked the tag. Confirmed his name. Then entered.
The classroom was almost full.
Desks were spaced evenly, and a small privacy panel was on each one. Pencils. Sheets. Nothing else.
He took his seat. Set down his bag. Sat back in the chair.
The room was quiet but not silent. A few whispers carried through the space. Some students were already hunched over their desks, reading the pre-exam sheet again and again, even though it hadn't changed.
Others leaned back like it was just another day. A few stared at nothing, eyes unfocused, minds somewhere else.
Most looked tense—not panicked—just… held in place, like their thoughts were circling too fast to show on their faces.
Ethan scanned the room without being obvious.
There were about thirty other students. A few familiar faces. Some from past academies. Some from practice drills. Some he didn't recognize at all.
