He stepped onto the arena with his head held high, but every step betrayed the tension in his body. Caius couldn't hide it. His hands were clenched, his breathing uneven. Maybe he looked confident to the crowd, but every master in the stands could see one thing: the boy was scared.
And he had every reason to be.
Calista walked slowly, calmly. Not like a warrior... more like someone arriving to hear music. Her movements held no aggression, no hesitation. Only silence. And that silence suffocated more than any Qi.
Caius cracked.
"I won't hold back just because you're a woman!" he shouted. "I'll give it everything I've got!"
Calista tilted her head.
"Like your father did when he made you?"
For a split second, the arena froze—then muffled chuckles erupted. Some tried to hide their amusement, others didn't bother. Sylphia covered her mouth with her hand, pretending not to laugh, but her eyes betrayed her. Thalos froze mid-breath, his jaw twitched, and one brow spasmed.
