[Third Person].
Soon, the council chamber transformed. What was once a room of deliberation was now an arena.
Chairs had been cleared. The centre space stood open beneath the high ceiling. Elders sat in a half-circle. Behind them, nobles, warriors, and invited spectators filled every available space. The air buzzed with expectation.
At the centre stood Meredith and Wanda. Then, Reginald stepped forward, his voice carrying across the chamber.
"This duel will last fifteen minutes," he announced. "It is not a fight to the death. The objective is dominance and submission. Excessive lethal force is prohibited. When the time is up, or if one party yields or is rendered unable to continue, the duel ends."
He turned to Wanda, then Meredith, hiding his smugness. "Do you understand?"
Meredith inclined her head. "I do."
"I do." Wanda's lips curved faintly.
The guards stepped back, and silence fell.
