Professor Draven stood before the class, his cold, commanding presence as intimidating as ever. His gaze swept over the room, pausing just long enough to make each student feel individually scrutinized. Finally, he spoke, his voice devoid of warmth or kindness.
"This supplementary test is optional," he began, the words hanging in the air like a challenge. "If you are confident in your performance on the quiz or if you believe you can achieve high marks on other assignments and projects, you may choose not to participate."
It's neither an act of kindness nor a gift.
A silence followed his statement, filled with unspoken tension. Despite the professor's seemingly generous offer, no one moved to leave. Everyone knew better than to miss an opportunity, no matter how daunting, to prove their worth in Draven's class.
