They were finishing the last bites of mana-bread and spiced stew when the alarm rang out—sharp, resonant, like a bell forged from crystal. It cut through the healing hush like a blade, and every student froze mid-chew.
"Contestants! Return to the arena," the voice called, gently authoritative and tinged with magic. Not freaked like earlier announcements—this one held expectation.
Kai dropped his spoon. Aiden flicked his eye toward the sky. Their stomachs lurched—not from hunger, but from adrenaline teasing the edge.
"Showtime," Darius said, glancing at the towering magic of the restructured arena visible through the tent's translucent walls.
Outside, the air thrummed with excitement. Every footstep—from healers to guards—pushed them toward a new world. They filed through the glowing archway to stand again on those polished stones. The night was alive with a mix of moonlight and arcane lamps.
The transformation was breathtaking.
