Night had given way to morning, and after a restless sleep filled with strategic planning and memories, I found myself back in the grand arena of Mythos Academy. The stands were packed with spectators – students, faculty, dignitaries from across the continents, and even some of the most powerful figures in the world hidden away in private observation rooms. The weight of their collective expectation pressed down on the twenty of us who stood in formation, waiting for the Crown Challenge to begin.
Vice Headmaster Valerie von Lampez stood upon an elevated platform that allowed her to address not just us competitors but the entire assembly. The microphone she spoke into carried her voice throughout the arena and to the viewing screens worldwide where millions watched what had become far more than a simple academy competition.
