The exercise ended and the pressure disappeared.
Several students let themselves fall where they were. Others headed toward the exit with dragging steps. The murmur returned little by little, mixed with heavy breathing.
The courtyard began to empty.
Aku remained standing a few seconds, adjusting his breathing. Then he walked to one side of the field, without hurry. His body had responded well, though the wear was evident in the tension of his shoulders and in the way he released air.
A few meters away, Gerald remained on the ground.
Face up.
His chest rose and fell with difficulty. He had one hand on his stomach and the other resting on the ground, as if he didn't have strength even to sit up. His glasses were slightly crooked.
"I think..." he murmured between gasps, "I'm going to die here..."
He tried to get up.
He didn't succeed.
He let his head fall back down.
Bīng Xuě, on the other hand, kept moving.
