Within the class hall, some students were breathing raggedly as their chests rose and fell with uneven rhythm. Beads of sweat trickled down their foreheads and ran down their backs, dampening their clothes. A few of them had already pulled out handkerchiefs to wipe the perspiration from their faces, while others struggled to steady their breathing patterns after what felt like an eternity of waiting, half an hour of tense silence.
Many students chose to close their eyes, attempting to meditate or simply conserve their strength as silence encompassed the room. But, not everyone sought calm. A handful of them whispered among themselves, chattering quietly about the earlier demonstration with Instructor Melissa. The memory of her overwhelming control over Astra still lingered in their minds like a shadow, leaving them restless and uncertain.
