When Wren arrived at the arena, it was already dark and the competition had started. The bright lights of the arena illuminated the excited crowd, casting a vibrant glow over the sea of faces.
She spotted Diana in the crowds and walked up to her seat, the sound of cheering and murmurs filling the air.
The arena was full, all the classes were present, from the Nova class to the Celestial class, each one distinguishable by their unique uniforms and badges.
Although the crowds were unfamiliar sea of faces to Wren, it was easy to detect familiar faces, especially Darnell, who seemed to brighten up everywhere he went with his infectious smile and charismatic presence.
"Hurry up and seat, Ashley would be next," Diana gestured at Wren, patting the empty seat beside her.
Wren gladly sat down, holding her snack .
The snack resembling a hawthorn-inspired treat, consistented of a crunchy peanut coated in a layer of melted pink sugar, sparkling with edible glitter, all on a wooden stick.
The sweet aroma wafted up to her nostrils, making her mouth water. Just before she arrived, the stalls were already opened, and she helped herself to someone's stall, of course, she had to pay, but luckily, they were not that expensive – just a few coins for the delicious treat.
"Ashley is really good, she defeated ten opponents," Diana claimed, as she chewed feverishly on the Pink Sparkle hawthorn Wren had bought.
Below them, two contestants were engaged in an intense sparring match, their movements swift and calculated. Wren watched with interest, her eyes darting between the fighters. Meanwhile, Diana continued to cheer, her enthusiasm infectious.
As Wren glanced up at the scoreboard, her eyes widened in surprise. There, among the list of competitors, she saw three familiar names: Kai Blackwood, Elsa Blackwood, and Kinrara Blackwood. The Blackwood siblings seemed to be making a name for themselves in the competition.
They were already known in the academy for their exceptional skills, and it seemed they were competing against each other.
The scoreboard displayed their names in bold letters, along with their respective rankings and win-loss records. Wren's eyes lingered on the board, intrigued by the prospect of watching the Blackwood siblings compete against each other.
Meanwhile,Ashley stepped onto the stage, her eyes scanning the scoreboard with growing unease as she read the name of her opponent: Elsa Eyre. A shiver ran down her spine as she recalled the intensity of their past encounters and the animosity that seemed to simmer between them. Elsa, with her razor-sharp focus and unyielding determination, was a force to be reckoned with.
As Elsa climbed onto the stage, a confident smirk danced across her lips, her eyes flashing with a fierce intensity that seemed to pierce through Ashley's very soul. "I wouldn't spare you," Elsa declared, her voice dripping with malice, her words piercing Ashley's confidence like a dagger.
The match commenced, and Ashley found herself struggling to keep up with Elsa's lightning-fast punches. Each blow landed with precision, sending Ashley stumbling backward, her body screaming in pain. Elsa's presence was suffocating, her aura radiating an almost palpable sense of dominance. Ashley's guilt and remorse swirled to the surface, memories of past conflicts flooding her mind as she realized she was largely to blame for Elsa's hatred.
As Ashley fell to the ground, her vision blurring, she felt a wave of despair wash over her. Elsa towered above, her voice venomous as she hurled insults, "This is what you are, a punk, a waste, empty space." The words cut deep, and Ashley's eyes welled up with tears as she gazed up at Elsa.
In a final, desperate bid, Elsa delivered a crushing punch that sent Ashley crashing to the ground, her body throbbing in agony. The sounds of the crowd faded into the background, replaced by the pounding of Ashley's heart and the jeers of the audience. As she teetered on the edge of consciousness, Ashley caught glimpses of familiar faces – Diana, Wren, and Kinrara – their expressions a mix of disappointment and concern.
With a Herculean effort, Ashley mustered the faintest whisper of an apology, the words barely audible as she slipped into unconsciousness. Elsa's eyes narrowed, her gaze softening ever so slightly as she registered the apology. For a moment, the animosity between them seemed to dissipate, replaced by a glimmer of understanding.
As Ashley lay motionallyless on the ground, Elsa's voice cut through the silence, her words laced with a complex mix of emotions. "Sorry can't change everything, we are even now." With those words, Elsa declared victory, her dominance over Ashley complete. The match may have been over, but the emotional toll of their confrontation would linger, a testament to the deep-seated tensions between them