The tension in the clearing was suffocating.
Everyone was waiting.
The blue bird hovered above us, its glowing wings casting an eerie light on the gathered students. No one spoke. No one dared to.
The bird's voice echoed through the clearing, clear and authoritative.
A collective sigh of relief rippled through the students—except for Class C.
My students weren't relaxed. They were focused, standing a little too close together, eyes scanning the crowd.
Good.
They were learning.
I kept my expression neutral, but I was watching too.
Kellan was still near the edge of the clearing, his jaw clenched, his eyes occasionally flicking toward me.
Class A and B were clustered together, murmuring in hushed tones.
They weren't celebrating.
Because they knew.
They hadn't won.
The clearing went dead silent.
Everyone's eyes locked onto the bird.
Silence.
And then—
"What?!"
