As I stood with Ren by my side, the weight of exhaustion pressing down on me like a lead cloak. My arms still ached from the strain of battle, and every bruise throbbed with a dull pulse of pain. But none of that mattered right now.
Even though the council's cheers and murmurs echoed from above, all I could hear was the rhythmic thud of my heartbeat. My gaze was locked on Freyrjar as he descended from the stands, his majestic white wings stirring a soft gust with each beat. The golden glow of his amber eyes was no longer just playful… It carried a weight of finality.
He landed before us, his boots clicking against the stone floor with a crisp, commanding sound. The warm grin on his face hinted at satisfaction, though I couldn't tell if it was pride or amusement.
"Luna D'Emeralia and William Renfield Lazarro… You have passed Adventus Academy's entrance trial with extraordinary ingenuity and resolve," Freyrjar announced, his voice reverberating through the arena.
