"Girls, did you hear? There's going to be a tournament between the senior groups! Let's go!" Fayra said.
Anris barely had time to answer before she was already being carried off toward the stands. They took their seats just as the first match began. The girls were impressed, but Anris was very bored. After the second fight, Prince Kaelin sat beside Anris, greeted her, and started a polite conversation about their families' affairs.
At that moment, for the third round, Duke Liam and Duke Kairos appeared. When Liam looked at the stands with his cold gaze, he saw Kaelin, and Kaelin looked back at Liam and laughed.
When Anris lifted her head, she saw Liam and thought to herself, "How handsome he is — his crimson eyes with that coldness are so beautiful." As soon as Kaelin saw how Anris was looking at Liam, he found it even funnier.
Liam won the fight, and Kairos retreated. Anris was mesmerized by the battle. The prince went to congratulate his friend and started teasing him.
"Well, Liam, you don't mind if I talk to her, do you?" Kaelin asked.
"Don't talk nonsense," Liam replied indifferently. "Did you see how she was looking at you?"
Kaelin grinned wider.
"Oh, come on, don't deny it. You're blushing."
Liam rolled his eyes but didn't say anything more.
Kaelin nudged him playfully.
"Relax, I'm just joking. But really, you should talk to her more."
Liam glanced away, his expression unreadable.
Anris noticed him getting up and quietly slipping away toward the combat arena.
After the tournament ended, a light tension settled over the academy. Students were dispersing, but among the nobility there was a calm restraint, as if everyone understood—the real trials were yet to come.
Anris stood by the arena, assessing the scene with cold focus. Feira approached her, her face calm but her eyes full of respect.
"Liam's performance was impressive. His skill is undeniable," Feira said.
"Yes," Anris replied quietly. "There is a sense of authority and the chill of calculated intent in his movements."
Feira nodded.
"You don't joke with him. War and politics have forged such a man."
At that moment, Kaelin approached, his smile restrained, but his voice lowered as he came closer.
"Allow me to join your conversation. After the tournament, we should discuss the upcoming events and our positions."
Anris looked at him with a slight smile, accepting the invitation.
"We would be glad to hear your thoughts."
The group headed towards the buffet where others had gathered. On the way, Anris noticed Liam, without lingering, slipping away towards the training arena. Their eyes met briefly—cold and penetrating, as always. A faint, almost imperceptible tension stirred inside Anris.
When the others fell behind slightly, Kaelin leaned in and spoke quietly, so only Anris could hear.
"Did you notice how he left? His thoughts are far from here. Something heavy weighs on him."
Anris silently nodded, understanding that Liam always acts on his secret plans. Her mind flashed again to the dream—vivid and mysterious—but she wasn't ready to share it with anyone.
Feira broke the silence.
"Do you know any legends about our ancient forest?"
Selina, walking nearby, smiled thoughtfully and replied:
"They say that deep within the forest dwells something that can reveal the secrets of the past and future—an entity not of our world. It reveals its true purpose only to those who are worthy. Many have ventured there seeking answers, but some returned silent, others never returned at all."
Anris heard the words and involuntarily recalled her prophetic dreams. She kept the secret in her heart, not daring to share it even with her closest friends.
Meanwhile, Kaelin once again leaned closer, whispering.
"We both know that in these games, much is decided not by strength, but by wit and calculation. Don't you think one of us should be ready for what is coming soon?"
Anris looked at him, feeling a spark of understanding.
"I know," she answered quietly. "But for now, it's better to keep such thoughts to ourselves. Not everyone is ready to grasp the truth."
They both smiled