The air in the room grew thick with tension as a student near the front raised their hand hesitantly. A boy with auburn hair and glasses adjusted his apron nervously before speaking, his voice shaking just a little.
"Um… Professor Maeve," he began, "isn't this a bit extreme? I mean, no one's ever been expelled on the first day before. Didn't you used to give students more chances?"
Maeve's gaze snapped to him, her purple eyes narrowing. The poor boy visibly shrank under her stare, as if the weight of her glare alone was enough to crush his spirit.
"You're correct," she said, her voice calm but laced with ice. "In the past, I tolerated mediocrity. I watched students fail and repeat this course year after year, wasting time and resources. This academy produces the best, and I refuse to let it be sullied by incompetence any longer."
