CHAPTER 122 - The Trail Ends.

That evening.

The clearing where the enumeration was held buzzed with tension.

Beneath the tall banners of the Velmoria Academy, students formed uneven lines—tired, scraped, mud-covered, and more emotionally destroyed than a failed midterm right before winter break.

Professors sat at long, enchanted tables, clipboards floating beside them, noting gem counts as the long line of third-year students approached, one by one.

"I got one," a bruised student mumbled, holding up a single red gem like a defeated lottery winner.

The nearest professor, a thin man with ink-stained fingers, raised an eyebrow. "One?"

"Y-yeah. I almost died four times."

The professor looked at the guy from head to toe, only to shake his head.

"Next!"

The next in line walked up, smiling.