The light from the setting sun streamed through the windows of Stronghold's central courtyard, casting long shadows over the stone walls. The tension from the earlier sparring match had dissipated, but the excitement of the upcoming tournament lingered in the air. The students of Benji and Chris, still buzzing with adrenaline, gathered in small groups to cool off and discuss strategy.
Alex leaned against a stone pillar, the soreness from his spar with Maxwell still fresh in his muscles. He could hear Gordon and John arguing nearby, something about who was better suited for the tournament, but Alex tuned them out for now. His gaze was focused on the far side of the courtyard, where Lila was sitting alone, absently tracing patterns on the stone bench with her finger.Alex had always been drawn to Lila's quiet strength. She didn't fight with brute force like he did—her powers were more subtle, precise—but he respected her all the same. He pushed off the pillar and made his way over to her, trying to ignore the flutter in his chest as he approached."Hey," Alex said, dropping onto the bench beside her with his usual grin. "You looked deep in thought. Thinking about strategies for Mira?"Lila glanced up, her eyes sparkling briefly in the fading sunlight. "Not really," she replied with a soft smile. "More like...trying to center myself. The tournament is important, but with everything going on, it's hard to focus just on that."Alex nodded, leaning back against the bench. "Yeah, I get that. I mean, all this talk about the Syndicate still being out there? It feels like there's a storm brewing, and we're all just waiting for it to hit."Lila's expression softened, a flicker of concern crossing her face. "Benji keeps saying we need to stay focused, but I can tell he's worried. He doesn't show it, but I can feel it.""Same with Chris," Alex admitted, rubbing the back of his neck. "He pretends like everything's under control, but I know he's got something else on his mind. I think the Nexus stuff is starting to weigh on all of them."Lila nodded, her gaze drifting toward the horizon. "It's strange, though. I thought the Nexus was supposed to be safe after Rage was taken away. But if the Syndicate's still out there...it doesn't feel over."For a moment, they sat in comfortable silence, the weight of their shared concerns filling the space between them. It wasn't often that they got a chance to talk like this—without the chaos of training or the looming pressure of battles. Alex found it refreshing, and maybe a little grounding, to hear Lila's thoughts."You've always been good at seeing the bigger picture," Alex said, a touch of admiration in his voice. "I'm more of a 'hit things until they stop moving' kind of guy, but you... you're smart about this stuff."Lila laughed softly, the sound light and reassuring. "And that's why we work well together, right? You hit things, and I figure out where to hit."Alex chuckled, feeling the tension between them ease. "Yeah, I guess you're right. Maybe we'll make a good team at the tournament after all."Lila's smile widened, and for a brief moment, the weight of the upcoming battles seemed to lift. "Just don't go charging in without thinking, okay? I can't always save you from yourself."Alex grinned, playfully nudging her shoulder. "No promises."Across the courtyard, Gordon and Victor were in the middle of yet another heated argument—this time, quite literally."You seriously think you can outlast me?" Victor taunted, his voice crackling with energy as tiny flames flickered around his clenched fists. "I'll burn through your defenses in the first round. You'll be lucky if you can even touch me before I roast you."Gordon rolled his eyes, crossing his arms with a confident smirk. "Roast me? Please. I've got more strength in one punch than you've got in your entire flame show."Victor's eyes narrowed, his fiery aura flaring up slightly, mirroring the intensity in his voice. "You think you're all that because you're strong, but you're just slow, Gordon. I'll be dancing circles around you before you even know what hit you."The two stood toe-to-toe, the heat of their rivalry almost palpable in the air. Victor, always brimming with energy, looked ready to launch into a full-on spar, while Gordon, his muscles tensed with raw power, seemed just as eager to prove his dominance.Nearby, John, who had been leaning casually against a stone column, shook his head with a sigh. "Here we go again. Can't you two save this for the tournament? You're acting like it's the finals already.""Maybe it is," Gordon shot back, not taking his eyes off Victor. "Might as well settle this now, right, flame boy?"Victor's flames flared brighter, a wild grin spreading across his face. "You're on. Let's see if that muscle of yours is any match for real speed."But before the sparks could fly—literally—Anne stepped in between them, her arms crossed and an exasperated look on her face. "Can you two not go a single day without trying to one-up each other? We've got bigger things to worry about than who's stronger or faster."Victor didn't back down, the fire still dancing at the tips of his fingers. "It's not about that, Anne. It's about showing this brute that all the strength in the world doesn't matter when you can't keep up with me."Gordon let out a low chuckle, shaking his head. "You really think you're that fast, huh? We'll see when I knock that smug grin off your face."Anne sighed, stepping back but not without shooting them both a glare. "Fine. Just don't destroy the place while you're at it."John, ever the mediator, stepped closer, though there was a hint of amusement in his voice now. "Alright, alright. Why don't you two keep your energy in check until the tournament? Mira's where it's all going down, and I'd hate for either of you to get sidelined before then."Victor and Gordon exchanged a heated glance, the fire in both of their eyes blazing bright. But after a moment, Victor huffed and let the flames around his hands flicker out. "Fine. I'll wait. But don't think I'm backing down, Gordon."Gordon grinned, cracking his knuckles. "I wouldn't expect you to. But just remember, I'm not going easy on you. Not now, not in Mira."Victor smirked, already visualizing the fight in his head. "Good. I wouldn't want you to."As the tension between them simmered down—at least for now—Anne crossed her arms again, looking between the two. "You two are ridiculous. You know that, right?"Victor shrugged, his fiery personality still crackling beneath the surface. "It's called motivation, Anne. You wouldn't get it."Gordon gave a small, satisfied grunt. "He just doesn't want to admit that he's nervous."Victor shot him a glare, but the grin on his face showed that their rivalry was more playful than hostile. "You wish, muscle-head. I'm just getting warmed up."As the banter between the others grew louder, Alex glanced over at Gordon and Victor, shaking his head with an amused smile. "They're really going at it again, huh?"Lila followed his gaze, watching the two with mild interest. "It's always like this between them. I think the tournament is only going to make it worse.""Probably," Alex agreed. "But hey, maybe a little competition will push us all to do better. Can't have Gordon hogging the spotlight, can we?"Lila chuckled, leaning back against the bench. "No, we definitely can't."After a moment, Alex turned back to Lila, his expression a little more serious. "What do you think our chances are? At the tournament, I mean."Lila considered his question carefully, her brow furrowing. "I think we're strong, Alex. But it's not just about winning. Something will probably happen at Mira—I can feel it. It won't just be about the matches. Just think about it - such a huge gathering with all the important people from all over the cities!"Alex didn't reply right away, but her words settled deep in his chest. He had felt it too—the tension, the unease that had been growing ever since Rage's attack. The tournament was supposed to be a proving ground, but now, it felt like it might be something more. Something dangerous."We'll be ready," Alex said quietly, determination hardening his tone. "Whatever happens, we'll face it together."Lila smiled softly, her eyes meeting his. "Yeah. Together."