The sun rose over New Vein City like a curtain lifting on opening night.
"Good morning Valoria!" Park Hyun-Jae's voice boomed across millions of breakfast tables, his holographic image materializing in living rooms from Veridian Hills to the Outer Districts. "It's tournament day at New Vein Academy, and if you're not watching this, you're officially the most boring person in the country!"
Sterling Weaver leaned forward on the news desk, his salt-and-pepper hair perfectly styled, his expression carrying the intensity of someone announcing the end of the world instead of a student competition.
"Seven years," he said. "Seven consecutive years of Argent Sentinel dominance. But this year? This year, the betting pools have shifted. For the first time in academy history, the Onyx Hounds are favored to take the crown."
