Arthur left the ring without any kind of interaction with the audience or anything. The crowd was still roaring in excitement behind him, but he moved like someone who could hear the noise and not be touched by it—like a calm sea beyond the storm.
People cheered, teammates slapped backs, and phones recorded the moment, but Arthur's face stayed statuesque.
Ryan watched him go from the arena, heart still hammering as the adrenaline still rushed inside of his veins; his ribs were aching slightly.
Every step Arthur took away from the ring, it felt like a question that Ryan had to follow.
Ryan slowly started following behind Arthur, keeping his steps slow. They slowly entered the hallway, leaving the glowing lights of the arena behind; the rush of the crowd thinned into distant sound. Nobody was bothered by two students walking by; everyone assumed Arthur was just leaving.
