Lyra's POV
Days had passed when the reality hit me like a freight train. I would have to face Xander in the ring again.
Kenji delivered the news himself that morning. He approached our breakfast table with measured steps, his eyes locking onto mine with an intensity that made the dining hall feel smaller. The second fight would happen soon, he announced without preamble.
Something flickered in his gaze. Fear, maybe. I chose not to pursue it, but Nyx caught every detail. She brought it up daily during our training sessions, and even now as I prepared for battle, she wouldn't let it rest.
I pulled the laces tight on my training shoes, tucking the ends into the sides exactly as Ash had shown me. Tripping over loose laces was the fastest way to lose a fight, he'd warned. Nyx launched into her usual pre-fight speech, though this version carried extra fire.
