For Klein, in practical terms, the honor of first place had slipped from his grasp.
Even if he decisively won the two remaining team battles, he wouldn't achieve it... He could change public perception to make it known that he was more powerful than the mushroom boy, but only if he could crush him.
That was all.
If Ren didn't perform extremely poorly in the other two categories... Klein could only maintain the illusion of superiority, but the real honor... Was lost.
And that meant much more than simple academic prestige.
In the upper stands, Kassian Goldcrest watched the celebration with a coldness that contrasted with the storm in his eyes. The agreement with Sirius's uncle, a marriage contract very useful for the Goldcrests' ambitions, largely depended, according to what was agreed upon with the old fox, on Klein proving himself a worthy match, an exceptional tamer up to the prestige of both families.
