The afternoon sun poured into the wide dining hall, its rays softened by the massive stained-glass windows that lined the walls. Lyra, Victor, and Violet sat at one of the many long tables, their plates piled with food. The lively chatter of other students filled the air, but their focus remained on their conversation.
Sylvia lounged on the bench next to Lyra, casually picking at a bowl of roasted meat. Nakia, ever poised, stood behind Victor's seat, her sharp crimson eyes scanning the room as if watching for unseen threats. Violet's bond, a sleek fox-like creature named Ember, sat neatly beside her, its fiery orange fur glowing faintly.
"That was one hell of a first round," Lyra said, breaking the silence as she stabbed a fork into a piece of grilled chicken. "I'm still buzzing from it."
"You're buzzing because you won," Victor replied, smirking as he sipped from his glass. "Trust me, there's a different kind of buzz when you barely scrape by."
