"I didn't expect everyone to be interested in this," Valerie said as she looked across the VVIP room, her crimson uniform standing out against the opulent surroundings.
The observation chamber was suspended high above the arena, its walls constructed of one-way transparency material that offered an unobstructed view of the preparation area below. Plush chairs were arranged in tiered rows, each bearing the insignia of a major academy or continental power. Crystal decanters of rare spirits sat untouched on side tables, the gathering too focused on the spectacle about to unfold for such distractions.
