The cacophony of the Iron Yard was a stark contrast too the silence that had preceded it. Students now clashed with practise weapons, shouted incantations, and filled the air with the sizzle and pop of minor spells The drama of the duel was over relegated to gossip and whispered speculation. Liam remained on the bench the gritty feeling of the stone seeping through his robes his mind replaying the last few minutes on a frantic dizzying loop. The image of Alistair's hate-filled glare was burned onto the back of his eyelids.
He was so lost in his thoughts that he didn't notice the approach until a shadow fell over him He looked up startled and his breath hitched.
