As the dome dissolved, Kyle gasped, greedily pulling in lungfuls of fresh air. Both exhaustion and relief washed over him as the sensation of oxygen flooding his system felt almost euphoric, and for a few moments, he simply stood there, savoring it.
Once his breathing steadied, he straightened up and looked around. To his surprise, the large hall was eerily empty. The rows of domes were gone, leaving behind only the smooth floor and silence. A quick glance confirmed there were no other students left.
"I wonder where they all went," Kyle muttered to himself. His gaze then landed on Instructor Layla, who was seated cross-legged in the middle of the room, her eyes closed, cultivating.
Dragging his heavy legs forward, Kyle approached her. He didn't call out or disturb her focus. Before he could even get close, Layla's eyes snapped open and she spranged up to her feet with effortless grace. Her piercing gaze locked onto Kyle, and a wide smile broke across her face.
