"Water Art! Water Splash!"
Like a pressurized hose, a torrent surged from her palm, drenching his face with a sudden force that jolted him from unconsciousness. The cold sting of the liquid yanked him back to reality, instincts flaring as he sprang upright, fists clenched and eyes scanning for threats.
"Relax," Selina said sharply. "There's no one attacking you... for now."
Her voice was devoid of any warmth. Not even a hint of amusement lingered on her face. If anything, she looked furious, unapologetically so.
And rightfully so.
The bitter taste of defeat still clung to her tongue. Being bested by an A-rank student, a title she once looked down upon wasn't a memory she welcomed. It burned, each recollection stoking the fire of her frustration. The humiliation, the disbelief, the shock... it all simmered beneath her composed exterior.
"What... what just happened?" Aydin muttered, blinking rapidly. "I—I died? Aldrich... he killed me!"
