Chapter 741: You Accomplished More Than You Think
The shift in the hall was immediate.
The murmurs lowered. Students turned their heads. Those sitting on the floor began pushing themselves up despite obvious exhaustion, while others who had been leaning against friends or walls straightened as much as their bodies allowed.
Even the ones who looked seconds away from collapsing forced themselves upright. Pride, discipline, and academy habit all worked together, making the second years stand as properly as they could while the authoritative figures entered.
Headmaster Thion Layenhart walked in first, composed as always, his steps steady and unhurried. Beside and behind him came Assistant Lucia Greydon, her clipboard held close, her gaze already moving across the students with sharp assessment.
Mystica Moonstone followed with her familiar unreadable smile, looking far too amused by the state of the hall. Sir Kaelen entered with his usual formal bearing, hands behind his back and expression stern. Behind them came the other professors and instructors, each taking in the condition of the second years as they made their way toward the stage.
The authority figures climbed the stage and moved toward their seats, though not all sat immediately. Many remained standing long enough to observe the students properly. The hall had grown almost completely silent now, broken only by the occasional strained breath, shifting footstep, or faint groan from someone trying very hard not to show how much pain they were in.
Thion approached the pulpit at the front of the stage.
For a moment, he said nothing.
His gaze swept across the hall slowly, moving over every second year present. He studied the torn uniforms, the bandages, the blood, the exhaustion, the stubborn posture of those refusing to sit, and the lingering awareness in the eyes of students who had spent seven days surviving somewhere that had forced them to grow or break.
Then he finally spoke.
"Welcome back, second years."
His voice carried across the hall clearly, calm and firm.