The referee stepped forward, his presence cutting through the buzz of the crowd.
Everything went quiet almost instantly, all eyes snapping to him. He held a sheet of paper in one hand, cleared his throat, and spoke in a voice that carried authority without effort.
“Before we begin,” he said, “let me explain the rules of this year’s Luna’s Circle Battle.”
The crowd leaned in. I could feel the tension tighten like a rope around my chest.
He unfolded the paper and held it out, letting the weight of the announcement settle in.
“Last year, the title of Luna of the Year was won by Luna Nova of Star Pack. By tradition, she will face the winner of this year’s matches in the final round.”
A murmur swept through the spectators. I felt my pulse spike. Nova. The undefeated, admired, feared Lun
