The next morning, sunlight streamed through the academy windows, casting long golden streaks across the polished floors.
A few glanced through the windows at the clear sky, grateful for the break in the recent rainy weather.
Inside Training Hall No. 9, the atmosphere was different.
The room was vast and open, its floors marked with faded lines from countless sparring sessions.
Reinforced walls hummed faintly with protective inscriptions, and the air carried the subtle scent of residual mana.
The hall had seen years of training, injuries, and victories. Today, it would see more.
Edwin had booked the hall for the next twelve hours.
He had woken up early to secure the reservation, knowing that training spaces would become scarce as the tournament approached.
Other teams had the same idea. The academy was already buzzing with preparation.
Aria and Brania stretched near the center of the room, their movements slow and deliberate as they loosened their muscles.
