The arena fell silent as Eren and Commander Maria faced each other across the sand. The twin blades in Eren's hands hummed with a subtle resonance that traveled up his arms and settled in his chest—a connection deeper than metal against flesh.
Maria's single blade gleamed with an iridescent sheen that shifted colors with each movement, like oil on water. Her stance was casual, almost lazy, but Eren recognized the coiled tension beneath—a predator ready to pounce.
In the royal box, Naia leaned forward, knuckles white against the railing. "He's still learning earth," she whispered to no one in particular. "Maria has decades of experience with illusion."
Lyra's face remained impassive, but her eyes narrowed slightly. "This will be... educational."
Queen Elena merely observed, her expression serene despite the tension building below.
The herald's hand dropped.
WHOOSH
