The dawn sky stretched pale and bruised as Dante sat at the edge of his bed, hands clasped tightly between his knees. His room in the academy dormitory was quiet except for the faint hum of the city outside. For hours he had been awake, staring at the ceiling, letting Jason's words from the day before repeat in his mind like a drumbeat:
"You're starting the next match."
It should have filled him with unshakable pride. Instead, it came with an ache in his chest and a storm in his gut. He thought of the last two fixtures—two losses that still sat heavy on the squad. Eternal Era had a reputation to defend. Slipping down the table after only two weeks was unthinkable. Fans were already questioning, critics circling. And now, the answer to those doubts was him.
Blaze.
