Alex sat on the dark, lusterless floor, his face drained of color, his eyes dull and empty like those of a lifeless corpse. The only sign of vitality was the faint rhythm of his breath, one slow exhale every few seconds.
It had been fifteen minutes since the test had ended, a battle that had stretched for seven grueling minutes, four of which he had spent beneath the crushing weight of the Monarch Aura.
Alex believed he had performed well, but Odeseus had offered nothing in return, staying silent this entire time, showing no reaction, not even lifting a finger to help him recover from his weakened state.
Alex was slowly recovering, aided by the steady burn of potions coursing through his body. He had chosen not to use the Temporal Reflection to reset his condition, knowing it would strip away the memories of the entire battle, memories he could not afford to lose.
