The evening sun painted Silvercrest in shades of gold and crimson as I stood on the hotel balcony. Tomorrow's finals location was visible from here, it was the grand arena, currently being prepared for the final match.
"Can't sleep?" Seraphina walked onto the balcony, her body was healing but still weeks from full recovery.
"Thinking."
"About Adrian?"
"About everything. Felix dead. Victoria missing. You injured. All this cost, and for what? A tournament victory?"
"For the platform it provides." She positioned her wheelchair beside me. "After tomorrow, win or lose, everyone on the continent will know your name. That's power. Real power."
"If we win."
"When you win," she corrected. "I've seen you both fight. He's stronger, but you're smarter and right now, smart beats strong."
"Kaeel said Adrian's breaking, and that I should exploit that."
"Do you want to?"
