The classroom buzzed with low chatter, a restless hum that filled the air before a storm. The sound was steady but uneven, rising and falling with bursts of laughter, quick whispers, and the scrape of pens against desks. It was the kind of noise that meant everyone was awake but distracted , all waiting for something to happen.
Lucien sat near the back, the cool glow of the tablet screen painting a pale light over his face. His pen twirled rhythmically between his fingers, the soft click and swish marking the tempo of his concentration. His gaze was locked on the glowing tablet before him. The tournament layout had dropped that morning, an intricate digital map of battle zones, checkpoints, and blind corners.
