A few muttered interpretations, others simply stared, wide-eyed, unsure whether to admire his control or fear the intensity behind it.
Jae stood alone now, the heat of battle still clinging to his skin, the air heavy around him. Sweat clung to his temples, the edge of dust and ash still scattered across his hair and clothes.
He drew a slow, steady breath, the faint residue of his own mana swirling along his arms and shoulders. The gash across Sun's arm had been sealed by the healers, their soft glow fading now, but the weight of what had happened pressed down on the field like an invisible storm.
The ground beneath him still bore the scars of the duel, the cracks, the scorched soil, the smudges of blood and dirt that no spell could erase.
A soft movement drew his attention. Elise had finally stepped forward, threading her way carefully through the murmuring students.
