~Ciela
The air in the arena felt electric that morning—sunlight slanting through the high lattice windows, banners trembling overhead with every cheer. The stands overflowed with students, mentors, and spectators, all pressed shoulder to shoulder. I sat among my classmates, the usual chatter bubbling around me. The hum of hundreds of systems made the air itself seem to vibrate.
“Next match!” the referee’s amplified voice rolled across the amphitheater, cutting through the din. “Psychokinetic versus Celestial—Ciela Ardent versus Lyra Vonn! C rank versus C rank!”
A ripple moved through the crowd. I felt the eyes on me—half expectation, half curiosity. My palms were damp despite the cool breeze. I mustn’t lose. Dad won’t let me hear the last of it if I did.
Lyra Vonn stepped onto the stag
