"Emery Ambrose, the academy's new top 5!" said the Magus referee.
Bursts of excitement erupted from the crowd and spread throughout the arena as the young acolyte's victory was announced. Even the group of spectators that had just escaped danger by a hair's breadth seemed exhilarated by the battle they witnessed.
The only people who obviously didn't seem pleased were those of the Cross-Faction, who quickly pulled Shatter Cross from the arena in order to be treated.
Still in the center of the arena, Emery took a deep breath and glanced at a figure standing next to a wall a distance away.
Zach Talon, the dragon-bloodlined acolyte, stared back at him. Unspoken words were exchanged between them as the two looked at each other eye-to-eye, giving Emery the urge to immediately challenge the man right there and right at that moment.
