[Silvena's POV]
From Silvena's side of the table, the Grand Magisterial Hall was far livelier now, with first-year scholars gathered around their assigned tables while instructors steadily occupied the upper galleries.
Her roving gaze drifted across the hall almost absently, passing over one squad after another until it finally settled near the opposite side of the banquet floor — at Squad 69's table.
However, one seat among them remained conspicuously vacant when it should not have been.
'Huh, he's not here yet?'
Silvena rested her chin against the back of her hand, her eyes questioning.
'I wonder why?'
Then, she looked away.
The hall remained clamorous around her, saturated with overlapping voices and scattered bursts of laughter.
Discussion about the test still drifted from several tables, though much of the scholars' attention had already gravitated toward the shrouded buffet stations.
Silvena could hardly fault them.
