After the calm settled over the stadium, Alice supervised the next duels without incident under Mathias' reassuring watch.
The sun burned in the middle of the sky when the last of the thirty-two qualified students walked down the arena.
"Follow the guards. They'll lead you to your academy's waiting room. We'll continue with the second phase in two hours, so use this time to recover, eat, and explore Saphir Springs. I'm sure our capital and its many specialities will leave you in awe."
Mathias's voice thundered as he raised his visor, revealing his warm smile and cheerful expression before his metallic boots clinked on the ground with each step he took on his way out.
The spectators, still excited by the magical phenomenons conjured by the competitors, cheered and discussed the events spiritedly. Some more experienced in the field even drafted tier lists, eager to predict who would wear the champion's crown in four days.
