Elara sat still, her breathing controlled, trying to find calm amidst the storm of emotions brewing within her. Each breath was an effort to center herself, but the weight of the exam seemed heavier than usual. After several minutes, she finally forced herself to return to the desk, her gaze fixed on the half-finished magic circle glowing faintly before her. There was no escaping it—she had to face this challenge head-on.
"Focus," she whispered to herself, gripping the quill tightly. The usual sharpness of her mind was dulled by the exhaustion creeping into every part of her body, but she couldn't afford to give in to it. Not now.
