The Aspect Demonstration arena looked different from the combat platforms. Smaller. More intimate. A circular stage surrounded by tiered seating that put the audience close enough to smell your sweat.
Which was unfortunate because I was sweating a lot.
"Competitors will be evaluated on three criteria," Professor Hanae announced from her elevated judge's platform. "Power output. Control. Creativity. Each demonstration will last no longer than three minutes. Scoring is based on a scale of one hundred."
Fifty competitors. Fifty demonstrations. Fifty chances for someone to notice that my registered Aspect made zero sense compared to what I'd shown all day.
"You're nervous."
Isabelle stood beside me in the competitor's staging area. Her spear rested against her shoulder. Her wine-red eyes watched the first demonstration with detached interest.
"I'm not nervous."
"Your left hand is twitching."
I stopped my left hand from twitching.
"Strategic concern. Different thing."
