The late afternoon sun bathed Genova's arena in a soft golden glow. While the arena wasn't the largest in the discipline, it was packed to the brim.
Not a single seat was empty. The excitement was tangible, buzzing in the air like an electric current.
The crowd was a mix of locals and spectators who had traveled far and wide for this global event.
Media crews scrambled for the best angles, their cameras sweeping over the massive audience.
This wasn't just a regional tournament, it was history in the making.
Tamara, Kallistra, Infinite Twilight and Golden Cosmos were present, all the big names gathered for a climactic event.
On stage, the academy's teachers stood rigidly beside the director.
Among them was Rowan, calm and composed as always. He scanned the crowd, looking for Eratz's face in the sea of faces.
Eratz watched him carefully. Rowan's stoic demeanor hid a subtle stiffness in his posture.
