"Why did it change so much, Teacher Nolan?"
The question came from Selin, hesitant but sincere. Her voice cracked slightly, still shaken from her sudden failure in the simulation.
Around her, the other students slowly gathered, their expressions a mix of shock and confusion.
The brightness in their eyes had dulled, tempered by the unfamiliar taste of abrupt defeat.
"Seriously… why did it suddenly get that difficult?" Erik asked, looking down at the lingering interface of his 'Game Over' screen as if it had betrayed him.
"We weren't ready," muttered Ruvin. "That wasn't a simulation—that was a massacre…"
"The wind was faster, the infected were like ghosts," Calien added, furrowing his brows. "Was it always like this, and we were just lucky before? Or did you change something?"
All eyes turned toward Nolan, who stood at the edge of the room with his arms crossed and a crooked smirk playing on his lips. He looked amused… or annoyed. Possibly both.
