The fire kept crackling under the small improvised structures. The flames weren't large, but remained stable, fed by dry branches and well-placed leaves. Smoke rose in thin lines, disappearing among the tree canopies. The artificial star's light began descending in intensity, adopting a warmer tone. It wasn't a real sunset, but the system simulated the change precisely enough to alter the environment's perception.
Hok Nerris observed each of the bonfires unhurriedly. He walked among them, stopping just enough to evaluate the material's disposition, the way flames held themselves, and each student's reaction.
He crouched beside the fire of one of the more distant students and pushed aside a branch with his boot's tip. The flames flickered an instant before going out.
"Too compact," he said. "Without air, there's no fire."
He stood up without looking back.
