The room smelled like sex despite the open window.
Kael ignored it. Isabella seemed to be trying to as well, though her left eye twitched every time the wind shifted wrong.
The three of them sat around a small table near the window, cold food from room service spread between them. Kael ate mechanically, fueling his body without tasting anything. Aria picked at her food. Isabella didn't eat at all.
"The wildcard match ended an hour ago." Isabella's voice was all business. "Sylvan Star won the sixth spot. They'll join the other five academies in the final round."
Kael paused mid-bite. "Silas lost?"
"Imperial lost to Neon Abyss. Three-two." Isabella's expression tightened. "Only their vice captain won his match. Everyone else lost."
Kael set down his fork.
Silas. Peak Mana Heart Rank 3. One of the most powerful cultivators in the same realm. He'd seen her fight during the Hevaria mission. Watched her dismantle opponents with calm, brutal efficiency. For her to lose...
