After leaving the meeting room, the students lingered in small groups, Benji and Chris's analysis still fresh in their minds. John and Anne had drifted toward the corner of the grounds, talking quietly as they watched the sky darken."So," Anne began, nudging John with her elbow, "guess that match took more out of you than you thought, huh?"John chuckled, shaking his head. "Yeah, it was a bit rough. That guy was huge—like Brick's cousin or something. Didn't expect him to be so fast on top of that."Anne smirked, her eyes gleaming with amusement. "Looked like you were on the back foot for a second there.""Only for a second," he replied, grinning. "I had to use some moves I'd been saving. Not everything's about brute force, after all."She raised an eyebrow. "Didn't seem like that's what Benji thought back there. What was that he said about 'control can be more intimidating than raw power'? Maybe you're still figuring that out."John rolled his eyes, laughing. "Yeah, well, easy for him to say. When I'm in the middle of a fight, I'm not exactly thinking about what looks intimidating."Anne's expression softened as she leaned against the nearby wall, glancing at him thoughtfully. "Maybe it's worth thinking about, though. Like, I get that you're strong—and everyone knows it. But there's something kind of amazing about showing restraint. It's like... showing you're in control, not your power."For a moment, John considered her words, his gaze drifting off. "Maybe you're right. I just... I get caught up, you know? The rush of it. And when I'm up there, it's like I have to prove something.""To who?" Anne asked quietly, her voice gentle.John hesitated, then shrugged, his confident mask slipping a bit. "I don't know. To myself, maybe." He forced a grin. "But hey, at least I'm not getting my butt kicked, right?"Anne laughed, shaking her head. "Sure, keep telling yourself that. But if you want any advice," she said, nudging him again, "you might try listening to what Benji's actually telling you. He's not exactly wrong."John sighed, then nodded. "Alright, alright, I'll give it a shot. You know, I was worried you'd start lecturing me.""Who says I'm done?" she shot back, grinning. They shared a laugh, the tension of the day easing a bit as the stars began to emerge overhead.Alex had made his way toward the entrance of the grounds, spotting Lila leaning casually against the wall. He gave a slight wave as he approached. "Hey, Lila.""Hey yourself," she greeted, flashing him a soft smile. "You did great out there, by the way."Alex scratched the back of his neck, his cheeks flushing slightly. "Thanks. I didn't expect it to be so... intense."She raised an eyebrow, a teasing smile playing on her lips. "What? Didn't expect to be in the spotlight?"He chuckled, meeting her gaze. "Not like that. I mean, yeah, I knew it'd be a challenge, but there was a lot of pressure. Seeing everyone watching, hearing Jimmy's commentary... it felt like I had to be at my best."Lila nodded, her expression thoughtful. "You did well, though. You've come a long way. And that final move? Impressive. But you need to work on that concentration—it left you pretty drained.""Yeah, Benji said the same thing," Alex admitted. "It's hard keeping up that level of focus while trying to stay on the offensive."They fell into a comfortable silence, watching the distant lights of the tournament grounds twinkle in the night. Finally, Alex glanced over at her, a hint of concern in his eyes. "I was hoping you'd be in the finals too."Lila shrugged, her gaze fixed on the horizon. "Guess it wasn't my year. Besides, it's kind of fun watching you all compete. Gives me a chance to scope out the competition without all the bruises."Alex smirked, nudging her playfully. "Planning your victory for next year already?""Maybe," she replied, grinning. "If you're lucky, I'll even take it easy on you."They both laughed, but there was a sense of sincerity beneath the banter, an understanding of each other's ambitions. For a brief moment, Alex considered saying more, but something held him back—a sense that their shared moments of quiet companionship were enough, for now."Well," he said, looking back at her, "I guess I better make it to the finals, then. Give you something worth watching."Lila's eyes sparkled, her voice laced with a playful challenge. "I'll hold you to that, Alex."Across the grounds, as most of the students began to filter out toward the dorms, a lone figure stood by the shadowed edge of the practice field. Gordon leaned against a tree, staring out into the dark with a mix of frustration and exhaustion lingering in his eyes. He'd been fuming ever since his match, haunted by the way it ended. A forfeit—it was practically an insult. He wanted to win, to dominate, not to be handed victory."Quite the match you had," a voice whispered from the darkness, cutting through his thoughts. Gordon froze, a chill prickling along his skin as a figure emerged from the shadows, cloaked and nearly blending into the night.Gordon clenched his fists, defensive. "Who are you?"The figure chuckled, an eerie, smooth sound. "You don't recognize me? I go by the name... the Messenger. But for you, perhaps we'll simply say I'm someone who's been watching.""Watching? Watching what?" Gordon demanded, trying to mask the unease crawling up his spine.The Messenger tilted his head, his piercing gaze locked on Gordon. "Watching you, Gordon. Seeing the raw potential within you. The drive, the hunger for something greater. But I can also see something else—a frustration. A feeling that you've been held back."Gordon's fists tightened, anger flaring. "What do you know about me?""Oh, more than you'd think," the Messenger replied, his voice a low whisper that seemed to wrap around Gordon's mind. "I know you've felt out of place here. You've been overlooked. I know your desire to prove yourself has been shackled by others, by petty instructors, rivals... rules."Gordon looked away, refusing to let the stranger's words penetrate, though they struck uncomfortably close to his buried feelings. "So what? What do you want?"The Messenger took a step closer, his eyes glinting with a cold intensity. "It's not about what I want, Gordon. It's about what you want. Imagine a place where you could truly test your strength without restraint, a place where your power could reach its full potential."Gordon's gaze flickered, unable to hide the intrigue surfacing in his expression. "And you're just here... offering me that?"The Messenger smiled, his voice a seductive purr. "I'm here to open a door. The choice is yours."Gordon hesitated, the weight of the offer lingering in the night air. Somewhere deep down, a part of him whispered caution, but the allure of the Messenger's words was undeniable.As Gordon stared into the Messenger's cold, calculating eyes, the figure took a step back, disappearing into the darkness as swiftly as he'd appeared, his parting words echoing in the silent night:"Consider it, Gordon. Power awaits."And then, the Messenger was gone, leaving Gordon standing alone, shrouded in shadows—and temptation.