[In the surveillance room]
Many students had already fallen asleep in their seats, their heads drooping one by one the moment the screens went blank after the group entered Haven.
It was announced beforehand that the time spent inside the Haven would remain unmonitored in the beginning—an unusual rule, but one backed by several unspoken reasons.
Some students wandered the room restlessly, pacing between the walls. Others sat cross-legged in quiet corners, meditating to refine their aether. After all, once the second round concluded, every remaining contender would finally step onto the big stage.
Gizel and Natalie, however, stayed exactly where they were. Gizel read her book with the same calm expression she always carried, while Natalie polished her shield, brushing away every last speck of dust.
Flip.
Gizel turned a page. A dried flower bud slipped out and landed on the table with a soft tap, immediately catching Natalie's attention.
