The fight continued on after the opening match of the martial arts tournament—which happened to be mine.
I didn't bother glancing at the B block matches. Frankly, I wasn't all that interested since there's still some time before my next fight.
My attention was focused entirely on the A block.
…And right now, it was Alice's match.
She stood on the stage, facing off against a mage girl who looked a year or two older. From the looks of her robe and insignia, she was likely from a noble family with a deep magical lineage.
The tension in the air was thick.
The crowd roared, their excitement rolling through the arena like thunder.
—"Go! Lady Alice, you can easily win this fight!"
—"I'm a fan of yours!"
—"Freeze her, Serina! Show her the power of magic!"
From where I sat, the atmosphere around the arena felt sharp, tense—like the split second before a storm breaks.
