The moment the referee's voice echoed through the arena, the silence among the witnesses finally cracked.
Whispers crept in first, then murmurs, and soon the whole of the class S was filled with low voices speaking Leon's name again and again.
Leon noticed it as he stood there, the Moonblade still resting in his hand. And all the eyes shifted between him and Kian's unmoving body against the far wall, with frost still clinging to the stone around him.
The looks they gave him were no longer just curiosity.
It was awe, and fear.
Leon exhaled slowly, letting his shoulders relax.
His gaze drifted briefly toward Sir Tyler, and he caught it. Sir Tyler's eyes had not left the Moonblade even once. They were glued to it as if he were actively suppressing the urge to rush forward and demand answers.
Leon almost chuckled.
'Sweet,' he thought. 'Let's edge him a little more.'
