The arena had already been repaired after the last few fights of the competition.
The ground looked untouched, smooth and clean, like nothing had ever broken there in the first place. No cracks, no marks, no sign of the vines that had torn through it earlier.
I stood on my side of the platform and took a slow look around.
The crowd was louder this time.
News had spread fast after the last match, and now almost everyone in the academy seemed to be here.
Every seat was taken, and people were packed together along the upper rails, leaning forward just to get a better view.
I spotted Kael a few rows up.
He wasn't even sitting, even though there was space next to him. He had both hands on the railing, leaning over it like he'd been waiting all day for this exact moment.
Tyrian was beside him, calm at least, watching the arena without moving much at all.
Then Emyria walked in.
She didn't look at the crowd.
