The tournament had been forced into silence for several days after Torwan's death and Balthor's sudden coronation. Grief and shock lingered among the dwarves, but life in Tharvaldur was relentless—sooner or later, the arena had to roar again. Many local students, however, chose to withdraw. The trauma of fighting under Torwan's manipulation, and the loss of friends, was too much to carry. They would try again next year.
With so many withdrawals, the brackets had to be redrawn. The new matchups were announced with thunderous excitement, and one name instantly caught the attention of the crowd: Noel Thorne vs Dior of Valor.
When the day finally arrived, the cavern-arena was once more alive with deafening voices and waving banners. Unlike the last tense days, the atmosphere was lighter. The citizens had a new king who seemed worth believing in, and the tournament—though scarred—was a chance to celebrate again.
