The afternoon sun shone high above, mellowing into soft gold. The hues stretched long shadows across the school field, the perfect warm palette for autumn.
The much more chaotic energy of the morning had simmered. The students particularly were still lively and spirited but touched with the exhaustion of a day well spent running around and cheering.
"Julia! Here, here!"
"I think Class 7-C will win first place."
"If only the reward is no exam for the entire year."
Laughter and chatter resonated in the air, followed by scuffles of sneakers against the grass and the chirps of whistles.
The final event before the closing ceremony would begin anytime now, the tug-of-war game. Parents and teachers joined together to form two different teams, ready to face one another.
Lariette stood at the edge of the field with Nora, balancing a thermal flask in one hand while staring at Ruediger. He gathered with his teammates across the field.
