Simultaneously, inside the Battle Royal, before the gate leading to the 21st level, Yuris sat on a rock with a blade of grass tucked between his teeth. He draped his arm over Zack's shoulder, staring ahead.
"When will Skyler come back?"
"It's been hours."
Isaac shook his head beside them.
"What hours? You know, it's not even been half an hour yet. Just wait—he'll be back."
Austin chuckled, pointing toward the red-eyed mermaid pacing before them.
"We can wait, but watching her like that... you'd think Skyler ran off with someone else. She's the reason it feels like hours."
A heavy silence settled over them again.
Eventually, Zack stood up and asked the pacing mermaid to sit down. After all, his head was starting to spin from watching her pace in endless circles before him.
