The sky was a roiling sea of gray, lightning flashing faintly in the distance. Thunder muttered like a distant beast. The entire Class D had gathered by the burned remains of their test manual. Smoke curled upwards, mingling with the damp earth, as everyone wore looks of fear and uncertainty.
Riven stepped forward and he raised a steady hand.
"Now—now. Let's not get worked up. We can handle this," he said, voice calm.
Slow nods spread through the group.
"Alright!" he called out. "Let's get to work!"
With that, Class D scattered, task by task, determined to salvage what they could.
---
AT THE LAKE
Caden waded into the lake, water splashing around him as he dragged the net along the surface. "Let's catch more this time!" he yelled, full of energy.
Aria watched him from the edge, offering a small, genuine smile. "He's surprisingly useful."
Kairon, standing beside her, nodded. His voice was calm: "Yeah. This is his forte."
