At the seating section of the High Powers of Britannia, a few minutes before the winner's announcement...
"I'm sure I'm not the only one who just saw what happened, right?"
Duke Aldous Burnwick glanced toward the Duke of Bergwyn, then toward the Duke of Galehart.
The two Dukes exchanged a brief look before both nodded in agreement.
"The timing makes no sense."
The words came from Duke Aldous, but the seriousness in his voice made it clear that he wasn't simply talking about the speed of the battle.
He was talking about everything that had happened within it.
The Head of the Royal Alchemist Branch, Nebula, leaned forward slightly as she looked toward the fight platform, which had now gone quiet beneath the thick smoke.
The earlier explosions had finally stopped.
Only scattered flames continued to burn across the damaged platform.
Alister, meanwhile, kept his wine-red eyes fixed on the battlefield without speaking.
His gaze was sharp.
