[2/5]
The two boys, Carlos and Darnell, stepped out of the stadium and into the vast expanse of the academy grounds. A strange silence greeted them, far removed from the energy and noise they had left behind. The outside world now felt oddly hollow, as if the heartbeat of the academy pulsed solely within the contest hall.
Probably because the contest had already begun, and most people were more invested in the excitement of the event than anything else.
The two moved with purpose through the moonlit paths of the academy, their steps confident, as though they had walked these grounds countless times before. Carlos led the way, a calm focus etched on his face, while Darnell followed, his eyes darting left and right, absorbing every detail of their route.
