"Why less time?"
"Three days is tradition!"
Zhao raised a hand to silence the protests, his owl markings shimmering with quiet authority. "As some of you may know, we have a student whose beast has... particular limitations with prolonged exposure to high mana concentration zones."
All eyes turned to Ren. The mushrooms in his hair pulsed weakly, as if confirming the professor's words. Their usual glow seemed somehow dimmer under the weight of so many stares.
"It's not fair!" someone protested from the back of the crowd. "Why should we all lose half a day because of the fungus?"
"Yeah, let him stay behind if he can't handle it!"
Jin's smile turned malicious, his tiger markings rippling with cruel delight. "Or better yet, let him come and we'll see how long he really lasts with that useless beast."
