The referee's voice echoed across the dome.
"Lightning Department. Please send your next representative to the platform."
All eyes turned toward the Lightning tier.
Yuna was still on her knees, her breathing had steadied slightly, but her pupils remained unnaturally wide. The faint black haze that Aren had seen earlier had thinned, but it hadn't vanished.
Aren didn't hesitate.
"She's unfit," he said sharply toward the nearby administrative staff stationed along the tier.
One of the academy attendants stiffened. "The match has already been assigned. The department must provide a representative."
Aren's jaw tightened. "She cannot fight."
Before the attendant could respond, a ripple passed through the tier as someone stepped forward from the central viewing corridor.
Principal Ardent.
He simply appeared at the edge of the Lightning platform, hands folded calmly behind his back while his eyes scanned the situation.
