The first student shouted before the Mirage Hermit had even finished speaking.
"What was that?!"
Another voice immediately followed.
"Eight hours!"
"My arm got bitten off!"
"I died!"
"You were eaten," someone corrected from two rows away.
The student whipped around.
"THAT IS NOT BETTER!"
The orientation hall descended into chaos.
Questions came from every direction.
Students checked their arms, legs, faces, and stomachs as though they expected illusionary injuries to have followed them back into reality.
Others reached for classmates who had vanished during the examination, grabbing shoulders and sleeves just to confirm that they were actually there.
Someone near Class Three was crying.
Another student was laughing.
A Class Four boy repeatedly opened and closed his hand while muttering, "Still attached."
Headmaster Theoran Vale allowed the chaos to continue.
For approximately twenty seconds.
Then he struck the bottom of his cane against the stage.
Once.
