I crashed onto my bed as soon as I got back to my room, and sleep swallowed me almost instantly. Morning arrived too soon, leaving me feeling groggy. I remembered dreaming about something—chaotic images of clashing weapons and swirling mana—but it all slipped away as soon as my eyes opened.


    I dragged myself downstairs for a light breakfast. The cafeteria was quieter than usual, probably because most students were either still asleep or already at the arena prepping for the day’s fights. I mindlessly munched on some bread and fruit, my thoughts elsewhere, replaying yesterday’s battles in my head.


    Eventually, I got up and headed toward the arena, following a few straggling students who were also on their way. The early morning sun cast long shadows across the stone pathways, making everything feel more dramatic than it probably was. I couldn’t help wondering who I’d face this time—maybe someone as strong or stronger than Evarion. Hopefully not some other prince with a fancy heirloom sword, at least.


    My heart beat a steady rhythm as we drew closer, the distant murmur of the crowd telling me the arena was already filling up. It was the last day of the tournament, and everyone who’d made it this far was probably as anxious and excited as I was. One more day of hammer-swinging chaos, and then we’d finally see how the brackets settled.


    I took a deep breath, letting the crisp morning air clear my head. One way or another, I was about to find out just how far my dwarven hammer skills could take me in this place. I just hoped I’d survive the day without too many more surprises.


    While I waited for the day to officially begin, I decided to meditate. Master Borduk always nagged me to meditate more often, insisting it would sharpen my mind and keep my mana under control. I found a relatively quiet corner of the waiting area, sat down in a cross-legged pose—he called it a “yogi position,” though I never figured out what that meant—and tried to clear my head.


    According to Master Borduk, proper dwarven meditation involved gathering the ambient mana in the air and drawing it into my body, letting it flow down to my mana core. Once my body assimilated that energy, I could channel it into my abilities—mostly manipulating rocks and carving runes. It wasn’t flashy, but it worked wonders when I needed an extra surge of power.


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    I was so focused on centering myself that I drifted into a near-trance, letting the background noise of the arena fade into a comforting hum. Suddenly, someone nudged my shoulder, and I jerked awake with a start. My heart thumped, and I had to blink a few times to remember where I was. So much for peaceful meditation.


    It was Sylra. She gently tapped my shoulder, and I opened my eyes to see her bark-like features and evergreen hair.


    “Hey, Sylra. How you doing?” I asked, a hint of a smile on my face.


    “Good. How are you?” she replied.


    “No complaints. Just waiting for the day to start,” I said, giving a casual shrug. “Did you win your fights yesterday?”


    “Sure did,” she said, taking a seat beside me. “So what were you up to over here?”


    “Meditating,” I explained. “Trying to focus on the fights ahead.”


    Sylra nodded thoughtfully. “I get that. I can feel the tension in the air, and it’s not even my bracket this morning. People are on edge.”


    I rested my elbows on my knees. “Yeah, I’m guessing everyone who made it this far is out to prove themselves. Probably going to be a tougher day than yesterday.”


    “Did you hear about Evarion?” Sylra asked.


    “Nope,” I said, shaking my head. “I went straight to bed after dinner. Why? What happened?”


    She pressed her lips together, as if she wasn’t sure how to break the news. “His father is furious that he lost. Apparently, Evarion’s been demoted from second prince to third prince. He’s blaming you, saying you embarrassed him in front of everyone.”


    “Was I supposed to just let him win?” I asked incredulously. “Because that’s not really how a tournament works.”


    Sylra shrugged. “Maybe in his mind, yeah. He’s also been telling anyone who’ll listen that he’ll get revenge.”


    “That sounds bad,” I murmured, my stomach twisting a little. “But isn’t that against school rules or something?”


    “Technically,” she said, “but there are always ways around rules if you’ve got enough influence. And guess what? Your first fight today is against one of his retainers.”


    I groaned. “Great. That’s exactly what I needed to hear right now. Should I be worried?”


    Sylra gave me a thoughtful look. “Be cautious. It’s possible the retainer’s just fighting for personal glory, but… if he’s loyal to Evarion, he might have a grudge. Just keep your eyes open, all right?”


    I nodded, taking a deep breath. “Alright. Eyes open.”