The remainder of the assessment passed without much incident—mostly. The administrative team quickly replaced the shattered crystal, but the damage to Orion's anonymity was already done. Several students kept throwing nervous glances his way, and one particular instructor stared at him with an intensity that suggested a long, upcoming lecture. Apparently, exploding expensive academy property during an entry exam made a lasting impression.
By late afternoon, the grueling evaluations finally ground to a halt, and the ocean of students dispersed across the campus. Some cheered and headed off to celebrate, others muttered bitter complaints, and a few simply looked shell-shocked. The academy had a brutal way of correcting overinflated expectations right out of the gate, a reality check Orion thoroughly approved of. Reality was always educational.
