With Liam, Asher, and Charlotte already waiting at the clearing, the rest of their peers began to arrive one by one. Some emerged from the treeline at a jog, others stumbled in at a slower pace, and a few practically dragged themselves forward, legs heavy and movements sluggish. Eventually, the last of them arrived, and the entire first-year class was gathered in the clearing once more. Nearly all of them wore clear evidence of how brutal the course had been—clothes stained with mud, boots caked in grime, hair matted and faces streaked with dirt and sweat.
As they stood there, the difference in condition was obvious. Some students had already managed to steady their breathing, hands on hips or resting on their knees as they recovered. Others were still hunched over, chests rising and falling sharply as they fought to catch their breath, exhaustion written plainly across their faces.
