That settled the matter, and the students begrudgingly accepted.
"Good. Now let's end the lesson here. You all have assignments to work on," Orlen said.
Turning to Alia and Maria, he added, "Alia, take the equipment to the storeroom. Maria, help her out, will you?"
Maria hesitated but nodded. She still hadn't figured out why Alia seemed upset with her, but this was as good an opportunity as any to find out.
As the students dispersed, Arlon reflected on the match. Orlen's teaching style might be unconventional, but he truly cares about his students, he thought.
And while Arlon was one of the few to appreciate that, the students were too busy grumbling about their new assignments to notice.
---
Maria followed Alia toward the equipment room, her hands clutching a small but heavy crate filled with gear.
The awkward silence between them felt heavier than the equipment they were carrying.