Half an hour later, the battleground was already filled with the students of the Phoenix Class.
The wide stone arena stretched beneath the open sky, formation arrays faintly glowing along the edges, humming with a faint pressure.
Wind brushed against cloaks and hair as students stood in loose clusters, weapons at their sides, expressions ranging from eager to tense.
Gray stood near the front.
Then someone frowned.
"…Where are the other classes?"
"They're late?" One glanced toward the northern entrance.
"No way. The Azure Dragon Class would've shown up early just to glare at us." A girl shaded her eyes with her hand and looked around.
"Did we get the time wrong?" Another student muttered.
Cassandra's gaze swept across the empty viewing platforms.
"There's no movement anywhere."
"Strange…" Maelis tilted her head slightly.
Whispers spread quickly.
"Are we going alone?"
"Did they cancel it?"
"Is this some kind of trap?"
"Ahem!"
