The morning classes dragged by in a blur.
I took notes mechanically.
Kyle sat beside me through it all, quieter than usual. He wasn't bouncing in his seat or whispering excited. He just sat there, staring at the board, his jaw tight.
By the time the final bell rang, all others knew what was happening. Word had spread, commoner challenging a top-ten noble to a duel. The kind of thing people gathered to watch.
It was one thing that these nobles enjoyed the most beside the power... entertainment.
As we reached, training grounds were packed.
Students ringed the main arena, nobles in the front, commoners hanging back near the edges, everyone talking in low, excited murmurs. A few upperclassmen had shown up too, leaning against weapon racks with expressions that ranged from curious to amused.
Instructor Kael stood in the center of the arena, arms crossed, his expression unreadable.
From the side, Marcus arrived first, flanked by two of his friends.
