{Meanwhile|In the meantime|At the same time|During this period|Simultaneously|Unbeknownst to anyone in authority|Behind the scenes|Away from adult supervision|Throughout these days|In recent weeks}, {hidden {completely|entirely|cleverly|strategically|masterfully|cunningly|skillfully|} from the {watchful eyes of the|vigilant|unsuspecting|oblivious|attentive|eagle-eyed|ever-present|authoritative} {teachers|professors|instructors|faculty members|staff|educators|adults}{| and administrators| and school authorities| and supervisors| and officials|}|without the {teachers|professors|instructors|faculty members|staff|educators|adults}{| and administrators| and school authorities| and supervisors| and officials|} {knowing|being aware|having any idea|suspecting anything|noticing|detecting any signs|having the slightest inkling|realizing}{| about it| of the activities| what was happening| a thing|}|far from faculty oversight|beyond the notice of school officials|away from the attention of authority figures}, {{a {roaring|booming|thriving|flourishing|bustling|lucrative|clandestine|underground|vibrant|brisk} trade|a {roaring|booming|thriving|flourishing|bustling|lucrative|clandestine|underground|vibrant|brisk} market|a {roaring|booming|thriving|flourishing|bustling|lucrative|clandestine|underground|vibrant|brisk} exchange|a {roaring|booming|thriving|flourishing|bustling|lucrative|clandestine|underground|vibrant|brisk} business|{students|pupils|children|youngsters|teenagers} {eagerly|enthusiastically|feverishly|anxiously} {trading|exchanging|buying|selling|bartering}} in {talismans, amulets, and other protective devices|amulets, talismans, and various protective items|protective devices, talismans, and various amulets|magical protective items, talismans, and amulets|charms, talismans, and magical protective objects|lucky charms, protective amulets, and mystical talismans|supposedly magical trinkets and protective charms|good luck charms, magical amulets, and protective talismans}{| of dubious effectiveness| of questionable origin| from unknown sources| made by older students|, believed to ward off bad luck,|, purported to bring good fortune,|, claimed to enhance academic performance,|, said to provide protection from various threats,|, rumored to have special powers,} was {sweeping|spreading throughout|taking over|rapidly expanding across|gaining popularity in|flourishing in|becoming the norm in|making its way through|captivating students in}|{talismans, amulets, and other protective devices|amulets, talismans, and various protective items|protective devices, talismans, and various amulets|magical protective items, talismans, and amulets|charms, talismans, and magical protective objects|lucky charms, protective amulets, and mystical talismans|supposedly magical trinkets and protective charms|good luck charms, magical amulets, and protective talismans}{| of dubious effectiveness| of questionable origin| from unknown sources| made by older students|, believed to ward off bad luck,|, purported to bring good fortune,|, claimed to enhance academic performance,|, said to provide protection from various threats,|, rumored to have special powers,} were being {traded|exchanged|sold|bartered|passed around|discreetly distributed|secretly circulated|whispered about and exchanged|furtively swapped|eagerly collected} at a {roaring|booming|thriving|flourishing|frantic|astonishing|unprecedented|remarkable|fevered|dizzying} rate {throughout|across|all over|in every corner of|among students in|between classrooms in|in the hallways of|during breaks in|under desks in}|{the demand for|student interest in|the obsession with|the fascination with} {talismans, amulets, and other protective devices|amulets, talismans, and various protective items|protective devices, talismans, and various amulets|magical protective items, talismans, and amulets|charms, talismans, and magical protective objects|lucky charms, protective amulets, and mystical talismans}{| of dubious effectiveness| of questionable origin| from unknown sources| made by older students|, believed to ward off bad luck,|, purported to bring good fortune,|, claimed to enhance academic performance,|, said to provide protection from various threats,|, rumored to have special powers,} {swept|spread|flourished|exploded|grew|intensified} {throughout|across|all over|in every corner of|among students in}} the {entire|whole|expansive|sprawling|bustling|otherwise orderly|academically focused|supposedly disciplined|normally structured|prestigious|conventional|unassuming|} school{| grounds| campus| community| population| environment| body}{| behind closed doors| in secret meetings| during lunch breaks| between classes| whenever adults weren't looking| in hushed conversations}.
{Meanwhile|In the meantime|At the same time|During this period|Simultaneously|Unbeknownst to anyone in authority|Behind the scenes|Away from adult supervision|Throughout these days|In recent weeks|As classes continued normally|While academic pursuits ostensibly took center stage}, {hidden {completely|entirely|cleverly|strategically|masterfully|cunningly|skillfully|deliberately|} from the {watchful eyes of the|vigilant|unsuspecting|oblivious|attentive|eagle-eyed|ever-present|authoritative|concerned|distracted} {teachers|professors|instructors|faculty members|staff|educators|adults|school personnel}{| and administrators| and school authorities| and supervisors| and officials| and prefects|}|without the {teachers|professors|instructors|faculty members|staff|educators|adults|school personnel}{| and administrators| and school authorities| and supervisors| and officials| and prefects|} {knowing|being aware|having any idea|suspecting anything|noticing|detecting any signs|having the slightest inkling|realizing|catching on}{| about it| of the activities| what was happening| a thing| what was going on|}|far from faculty oversight|beyond the notice of school officials|away from the attention of authority figures|out of sight of supervising staff}, {{a {roaring|booming|thriving|flourishing|bustling|lucrative|clandestine|underground|vibrant|brisk|secretive|intense} trade|a {roaring|booming|thriving|flourishing|bustling|lucrative|clandestine|underground|vibrant|brisk|secretive|intense} market|a {roaring|booming|thriving|flourishing|bustling|lucrative|clandestine|underground|vibrant|brisk|secretive|intense} exchange|a {roaring|booming|thriving|flourishing|bustling|lucrative|clandestine|underground|vibrant|brisk|secretive|intense} business|{students|pupils|children|youngsters|teenagers|classmates|schoolchildren} {eagerly|enthusiastically|feverishly|anxiously|desperately|excitedly|covertly} {trading|exchanging|buying|selling|bartering|swapping|dealing in}} in {talismans, amulets, and other protective devices|amulets, talismans, and various protective items|protective devices, talismans, and various amulets|magical protective items, talismans, and amulets|charms, talismans, and magical protective objects|lucky charms, protective amulets, and mystical talismans|supposedly magical trinkets and protective charms|good luck charms, magical amulets, and protective talismans|enchanted objects, mystic symbols, and protective charms}{| of dubious effectiveness| of questionable origin| from unknown sources| made by older students| crafted during free periods|, believed to ward off bad luck,|, purported to bring good fortune,|, claimed to enhance academic performance,|, said to provide protection from various threats,|, rumored to have special powers,|, allegedly imbued with protective magic,} was {sweeping|spreading throughout|taking over|rapidly expanding across|gaining popularity in|flourishing in|becoming the norm in|making its way through|captivating students in|overwhelming|dominating social interactions in}|{talismans, amulets, and other protective devices|amulets, talismans, and various protective items|protective devices, talismans, and various amulets|magical protective items, talismans, and amulets|charms, talismans, and magical protective objects|lucky charms, protective amulets, and mystical talismans|supposedly magical trinkets and protective charms|good luck charms, magical amulets, and protective talismans|enchanted objects, mystic symbols, and protective charms}{| of dubious effectiveness| of questionable origin| from unknown sources| made by older students| crafted during free periods|, believed to ward off bad luck,|, purported to bring good fortune,|, claimed to enhance academic performance,|, said to provide protection from various threats,|, rumored to have special powers,|, allegedly imbued with protective magic,} were being {traded|exchanged|sold|bartered|passed around|discreetly distributed|secretly circulated|whispered about and exchanged|furtively swapped|eagerly collected|covertly transferred|passed from hand to hand} at a {roaring|booming|thriving|flourishing|frantic|astonishing|unprecedented|remarkable|fevered|dizzying|startling|breathtaking} rate {throughout|across|all over|in every corner of|among students in|between classrooms in|in the hallways of|during breaks in|under desks in|in the bathrooms of|in dormitories of|on the grounds of}|{the demand for|student interest in|the obsession with|the fascination with|the craze for|the mania surrounding} {talismans, amulets, and other protective devices|amulets, talismans, and various protective items|protective devices, talismans, and various amulets|magical protective items, talismans, and amulets|charms, talismans, and magical protective objects|lucky charms, protective amulets, and mystical talismans|enchanted objects, mystic symbols, and protective charms}{| of dubious effectiveness| of questionable origin| from unknown sources| made by older students| crafted during free periods|, believed to ward off bad luck,|, purported to bring good fortune,|, claimed to enhance academic performance,|, said to provide protection from various threats,|, rumored to have special powers,|, allegedly imbued with protective magic,} {swept|spread|flourished|exploded|grew|intensified|surged|snowballed|multiplied} {throughout|across|all over|in every corner of|among students in|rapidly through}} the {entire|whole|expansive|sprawling|bustling|otherwise orderly|academically focused|supposedly disciplined|normally structured|prestigious|conventional|unassuming|once-quiet|seemingly peaceful|typically studious|ordinarily sedate} school{| grounds| campus| community| population| environment| body| facilities| buildings}{| behind closed doors| in secret meetings| during lunch breaks| between classes| whenever adults weren't looking| in hushed conversations| in shadowy corners| away from prying eyes| out of earshot of teachers}{| as exams approached| during the term| as the semester progressed| despite official prohibitions| in defiance of school rules}.