The arena's atmosphere buzzed with an electric charge, the air alive with anticipation and whispers of alliances, strategies, and rivalries. Cruzer and Elara lingered a moment longer, their shared resolve intertwining as unspoken words passed between them.
Elara could see the storm in his eyes, but she knew better than to push him now. Cruzer wasn't one to be dragged into his past without emerging stronger.
As the crowd dispersed and the names of academies continued to scroll across the holographic displays, the reality of what lay ahead settled over them.
Cruzer's fists relaxed, though his grip on the Abyssal Shardblade lingered. Its dark sheen seemed to absorb the light around it, a reflection of the void within him that now burned with a new purpose.
"We should head back," Elara said softly, her voice cutting through the haze of thoughts in his mind. "We've seen enough for today."
