The courtyard exploded into applause.
Students cheered from every direction, some even rising from their seats. Queen Mia clapped openly from her elevated throne while Yua grinned beside her and joined in as well.
Eselin lowered her sword and stepped back respectfully, the golden glow around her body fading away.
Null remained still for a moment before giving her a small nod of acknowledgment.
Despite losing, his expression barely changed at all.
Ken leaned back beside me and groaned quietly. "Wow… just… wow, man. Wow."
Three more matches passed after Eselin and Null's duel, each one louder than the last. Students clashed with wooden blades beneath the glowing barrier while the crowd shouted from the rows of seats surrounding the arena. Some fights ended quickly. Others dragged on with exhausted students barely able to stand by the end of them.
By the fourth match, the sun had already begun lowering slightly behind the academy walls, casting long shadows across the courtyard.
