Morning arrived over the Imperial Capital with the particular confidence of a day that doesn't know what it's walking into.
The repaired arena stood under a sky so clear it looked deliberate, catching the early light on fresh stone that hadn't yet learned to look old. Thousands of spectators moved through the gates with the energy of people who had spent the night anticipating this — arguing in the food stalls, settling wagers established the previous day, finding their seats with the proprietary urgency of individuals who had claimed a specific view and intended to defend it.
To all of them, today was simple. Today was the day the National Championship Finals reached its conclusion.
They were right about that. They just had no context for what conclusion meant anymore.
Inside Skygate Academy's preparation room, Aether stood beside the window and watched the crowd flow through the arena gates and held a question he didn't know how to put down.
