The roar of the crowd had quieted to a low murmur, the high from Grim and Cyrus's fight still hanging thick in the air like smoke after a fire. Repair crews scuttled away after finishing up the tiles once again, leaving behind a pristine battlefield. As they departed, Kai stood near the edge of the stands, arms folded, eyes narrowed in thought.
Rael stood beside him, arms behind his back. He gave Kai a sharp jab in the shoulder with two fingers.
"You think you'd stand a chance against Grim?" Rael asked, a slight smirk tugging at the edge of his weathered face.
Kai tilted his head. "Maybe. I've never seen mana used like that before. Not like a force, but a presence. Like drowning in mist."
Rael gave a slow nod, his gaze drifting out toward the arena. "Neither have I. And I've seen thousands of fights. I've fought in hundreds more." He exhaled deeply, and for a moment, he looked much older than he had a minute ago.
