The banners of ElderGlow Academy fluttered gently in the wind as the second day of the Grand Fourfold Trials began. The main coliseum on the academy grounds was buzzing once again, not with curiosity this time, but with sharpened focus.
Today, it was the Year Two students' turn.
Compared to the wide-eyed and fiery, if sometimes clumsy, battles of the Year Ones, the crowd now expected something more refined, more tactical.
These students were on the cusp of advancing into the Silver ranks—some were already halfway into High Bronze. Their talent was budding into power, and the atmosphere in the arena felt noticeably heavier.
In the section of elevated seats reserved for the Year Three representatives of ElderGlow, Damon, Anaya, Daveon, and Celeste sat quietly, their expressions far more serious than the previous day.
There was no betting. No wild cheering or mock arguments.
Instead, eyes were sharp. Thoughts turned inward.
