Ren made his way back to his dormitory through corridors that felt strangely quiet after the thunderous arena atmosphere.
The adrenaline from his victory over Cassandra had long faded off, replaced by the kind of analytical calm that always settled over him during moments of solitude.
But as he approached his shared dorm, he could faintly hear something that made him pause; the unmistakable sound of focused hammering, punctuated by occasional muttered curses that would have made academy instructors blush.
He opened the door to find Lia hunched over her reading table, completely absorbed in what appeared to be an intricate metalworking project.
Delicate silver wires were being shaped into complex geometric patterns while tiny gemstones were carefully set into precise positions.
The air shimmered with the controlled heat of magical forging, and various jeweler's tools were arranged with systematic precision around her workspace.
