"Ding! Ding! Ding!"
"Examination time is over. All candidates, please stop writing, place your papers in the center of your desks, and leave the examination hall in an orderly manner... Proctors, please collect the papers in order of candidate number..."
At the podium, accompanied by the crisp sound of a chime, Professor Celerus loudly reminded the examinees to leave. Under the supervision of the two proctors, paper after paper slowly rose from the desks and slid silently and steadily into the boxes in the proctors' arms.
Wizard Mili stood by the door, watching the examinees file out obediently.
An invisible barrier seemed to stand across the low threshold, separating inside from outside. Within it, apart from the rustle of paper, there was only the faint sound of breathing; beyond it, the students who had just finished their exam were discussing the answers to questions they were uncertain about in hushed but heated voices.
"—Was coral glue animal glue or plant glue? I don't remember 'Talisman Bullet Production' explaining that. And couldn't talisman bullet adhesive just use universal glue brewed with Magic Power? Why would they test something so obscure?"
"—You have to consider the Magic Power depletion of hunting teams during the pioneering war in the New World. A lot of the time, compounded glue costs much less than universal glue. Even stage magicians... I mean, Low-level Wizards can provide excellent logistical support."
"—Theoretically speaking, coral glue is made by processing and refining the secretions of coral polyps. Coral polyps are animals, so coral glue should count as animal glue. Besides, shellac was originally a type of animal glue..."
"—Wait, why are you discussing coral glue? Was there even anything about coral glue on today's exam? Wasn't the only question involving adhesives about rosin and gum arabic?"
"..."
"—Your question