The moment Cedric was out of earshot, Lena turned to him, worry creeping into her expression.
"You shouldn't have done that," she said quietly. "Now he's got his eyes on you because of me."
"I'll be fine," Leon said, sitting back down like nothing had happened.
"Leon—"
"Lena. I'll be fine."
She didn't look convinced, but before she could push further, a voice boomed out across the ballroom, loud enough that conversations died instantly and every head turned toward the far wall.
A massive screen had lit up above the platform, and a figure appeared on it, dressed sharply, microphone in hand, grinning with the energy of someone whose entire job was exactly this moment.
"Ladies and gentlemen! Esteemed guests, honored families, and of course, our wonderful young competitors!"
His voice carried easily through speakers positioned around the hall.
"I'm Hosk Brannigan, and I'll be your host for tonight!"
The crowd's energy shifted instantly, a low buzz of anticipation rippling outward.
"That's right!" Hosk continued, voice rising. "It's time for the main event! The one you've all traveled here for, the one the entire continent is watching!"
He paused, letting the moment build.
"The Colosseum!"
Across the human continent, screens flickered to life.
In bustling town squares, crowds gathered shoulder to shoulder, eyes fixed on massive projection screens. In taverns and guild halls, drinks paused halfway to mouths as the broadcast began. In homes, families crowded around smaller versions of the same screen, children perched on parent's laps, all of it converging on the same image.
The Aurenfall.
Once a decade. Everyone watched.
...
Back in the ballroom, Lena nudged Leon's shoulder.
"I'll see you there," she said, standing.
Yuki had already gotten to her feet too, ears up, tails swaying with restless energy. She gave Lena a small wave.
"Go get 'em," Yuki said, grinning. "I'll be cheering."
"Thanks," Lena said, smiling back.
Just then Arlott approached the table again, calm as ever, hands clasped behind his back.
"It's time," he said simply.
Leon nodded at Lena. "I'll meet you there."
"Don't be late," she said, already turning to head toward where the weapons were being distributed.
Hosk's voice rang out again from the massive screen above, cutting cleanly through the noise of the ballroom.
"All young competitors, please make your way to the designated magic circle! The transfer will begin shortly, so don't dawdle!"
A wave of movement rippled through the crowd as hundreds of children, dressed in their finest, began making their way toward a massive glowing circle that had been set into the ballroom floor, etched in lines of pale light that pulsed steadily.
Lena reached it. Stepped onto the glowing surface among the crowd of other participants.
The circle flared.
And in an instant, she was gone, along with the hundreds of others standing on it, vanishing in a wash of light that left nothing behind but the faint hum of residual mana.
Leon watched the space where she'd been standing.
He hadn't moved yet.
Arlott turned to face Leon fully.
His usual composure was still there, but something underneath it had shifted, something quieter and more deliberate.
"Leon," he said.
Leon looked up at him.
"Just do your best," Arlott said. "You're my son. That's never been about strength, and it never will be." He paused. "But I won't pretend strength doesn't matter either. There are moments where it's necessary. Today might be one of them."
He met Leon's eyes.
"Whatever you decide to do out there. However you decide to do it." His voice steadied. "I'll support it. Fully."
Something settled in Leon's chest. Warm, quiet, the kind of feeling he didn't have a lot of practice naming.
He smiled. Genuinely. The kind of smile that didn't show up often on his face.
"Thanks, Dad," he said, and turned toward the circle.
He'd taken a few steps when Arlott's voice called out again.
"Leon."
He turned back.
Their eyes met.
Arlott's expression had shifted again, something lighter now, the corner of his mouth pulling upward.
"Blow them all out of the water."
Leon blinked.
Then grinned, wide and unguarded, nothing like the careful, composed expression he usually wore.
"Will do," he said.
He stepped onto the circle.
Light flared around him, washing out the ballroom, the noise, the murmurs, all of it.
And then he was gone.