The helmets came off with a hiss of pressure, like the pods were reluctant to give them back to reality. Merlin blinked against the faint haze that lingered in his vision, the echo of a battlefield fading behind his eyes. The lights of the underground hall pressed into him, sterile and unblinking, a strange contrast to the dirt and blood of the simulation.
Across the row of pods, Nathan pulled his helmet off and dropped it onto the rest, his breath uneven. "That was… not fun."
Adrian was already on his feet, rolling his shoulders like the battle had been a warm-up. His grin was bright, sweat clinging to his brow. "Come on, Nate. We won. That's all that counts."
Liliana brushed her hair back, strands sticking to her cheeks. She didn't speak, but her calm nod carried the weight of agreement.
