"That will be all for today," Draven finally said, his voice clipped and efficient. "Dismissed."
A collective breath seemed to be released. The children scrambled to their feet, a flurry of movement that sent chairs scraping against the floor and echoed through the room. There was a sense of excitement in their actions—a youthful energy that spoke of eagerness to practice what they had learned, even if the lesson had been far from simple. The children, despite their circumstances, radiated a kind of hope that couldn't be easily dimmed.