The next day arrived much faster than people had noticed.
Perhaps it was because everyone had been waiting so eagerly for this particular morning to arrive.
From the moment the sun began to rise over the Royal Academy, Britannia already seemed to be moving toward the same destination.
The morning sunlight shone brightly over the streets surrounding the Academy, washing the buildings in a pale golden light as people made their way toward the arena. Merchants had opened their stalls early, and the streets were already crowded with people wearing Academy colors, noble family insignias, and clothing decorated with the names or symbols of their favorite Young Alchemists.
Some people had even spent their morning buying the final pieces of merchandise from the Combat Festival.
Small banners.
Badges.
Cloth ribbons.
Even Miniature toy weapons modeled after the firearms used during the matches.
