"Why don't I feel surprised?" Emma muttered as the two of them walked together through the garden after breakfast.
The stone path beneath their feet was still damp from the morning dew, and the trimmed hedges on either side glistened faintly under the soft sunlight.
Early in the morning, many students were already rushing toward their respective classes, some walking calmly with books in hand, others almost sprinting as if afraid the bells would scold them for their delay. However, unlike the lower years, the third-year students' classes would resume only after the Dungeon Trials concluded.
Many of them had already submitted their names for the Trials. After all, they were allowed only two chances every year to gain a star, and missing even one opportunity could mean falling behind permanently. And since this was their third year, the pressure was suffocating.
