As soon as I returned to the stands and settled into my usual seat, Instructor Violet turned toward me with a sharp gaze.
"Where have you been?" she asked, her voice flat but clearly carrying a note of disapproval. "You were gone a long time."
I shrugged casually. "Constipated."
Violet narrowed her eyes, clearly not believing me. But before she could argue further, she continued, "Did you see Arianna? She hasn't come back either."
"No," I answered innocently. "I didn't see her at all."
Violet exhaled in frustration.
"You're late. After Isabel's loss, Yukie stepped up."
Her gaze shifted to the arena, and I turned to look as well.
There, Yukie Iceblood stood calmly in the center of the arena. Her white hair gently swayed in the wind, her face expressionless as usual. Before her, Isaac Moonfall stood in a ready stance, both daggers gripped tightly, his body slightly crouched. But from his posture, it was clear he was uncomfortable.
The massive scoreboard overhead displayed:
