The piercing alarm blared. Red lights flashed in the corridors, and the excited chatter of the tournament crowd was replaced by a confused murmur.
In the workshop, Jonah and Vanessa exchanged a look of grim understanding. "The Bureau," Jonah said, his voice flat. The near-kiss, the moment of vulnerability, felt like it was from a different lifetime. The shadow war was here.
A moment later, a sharp chime came from the console. A direct communication from the Headmaster. His voice echoed through the room. "The alert is being handled. Security is checking the lower levels. The match will proceed as scheduled. Do not show them they have rattled us. Go. Now."
Jonah nodded, looking determined. This was no longer just a tournament. The arena was a battlefield.
_______________________________________
The atmosphere in the stadium was filled with tension. The crowd was uneasy, whispering about the alarms. The usual pre-match hype was gone, replaced by a nervous energy.
