The finals between Liam and Seraphina happened an hour later, and William watched from the back of the crowd where he could observe without drawing attention.
The match was exactly what everyone expected,two of the academy's strongest students going all out in a technical showcase that had the entire arena captivated. Seraphina's overwhelming aggression met Liam's refined precision in exchanges that were almost too fast to follow properly.
The fight lasted eight minutes before Liam secured victory through superior tactical awareness, catching Seraphina in a position where she had to either surrender or take a strike that would have been genuinely dangerous in a real fight. She lowered her weapon and accepted the loss without complaint.
The crowd erupted in applause as both fighters descended from the platform. William used the noise and distraction to slip away before anyone noticed, heading back toward his dormitory to avoid the post-match crowds.
