Hearing Luke's words, John instantly snapped back to reality.
The tent was already filled with a crowd, the atmosphere thick with a sense of déjà vu so strong it felt like time had rewound itself. Seeing the grand stage and the expectant audience made John feel a mixture of awkwardness and suspicion.
"What's going on, teacher?" John asked. He approached with the calm, respectful demeanour he used to mask his true feelings. "Is there a big competition happening today that we weren't told about?"
"All this is for your sparring matches," the teacher smiled, though there was a hint of apology in his eyes. It was clear this was a theatrical production designed specifically to target John and the other four.
"The Headmaster arranged this himself. He even went ahead and invited representatives from several Paragon-affiliated families. He said..."
