The crowd didn't disperse immediately.
That was the first difference.
Usually, after a spar—
People moved on.
Talked.
Reset.
Not this time.
They lingered.
Not openly staring—
But staying close enough to keep him in view.
"…Yeah," Riser muttered, stepping off the field, "this isn't going away."
Lyra walked beside him, slower than before, her gaze scanning the edges of the courtyard.
"…No."
"…That bad?"
"…Worse."
He glanced sideways at her.
"…You're not usually dramatic."
"I'm not."
A pause.
"…That was a Valencrest."
"…Yeah, I noticed."
"And you didn't lose."
"…Also noticed."
She stopped walking.
Just for a moment.
"…That matters."
Riser exhaled lightly.
"…I figured."
Before he could say anything else—
Another voice cut in.
"You're not as disappointing as I expected."
Different tone this time.
Sharper.
Less measured.
Riser turned.
Slowly.
A new figure stood at the edge of the field.
Arms loosely at his sides.
Posture relaxed—
But not careless.
"…That's a strong opening line," Riser said.
The guy smirked faintly.
"…I don't waste time."
"…Seems to be a pattern today."
Lyra's expression tightened slightly.
"…Ignore him."
"…That doesn't sound promising."
"It's not."
The new challenger stepped forward anyway.
"Kael."
A pause.
"…Draven."
That name—
Didn't cause whispers.
It caused something else.
A shift.
"…Crimson Veil," someone muttered.
"…Of course they'd show up."
Riser let out a quiet breath.
"…Yeah. That tracks."
Kael stopped a few steps away.
Closer than Arden had.
More direct.
"I watched your fight."
"…Good for you."
"You're slow."
Riser blinked once.
"…That's rude."
"But you're adapting."
"…Better."
Kael's smirk widened slightly.
"…I like that."
Lyra stepped forward slightly.
"…Not now."
Kael didn't look at her.
"…I wasn't talking to you."
"…You should be."
A brief pause.
The tension sharpened.
Riser stepped between them slightly.
Not blocking.
Not aggressive.
Just—
Present.
"…You here to talk," he said calmly, "or are we doing this again?"
Kael's eyes flicked back to him.
"…Tempting."
A small pause.
Then—
"…But not yet."
Riser raised an eyebrow.
"…That's new."
"I don't waste good fights."
"…That's convenient."
Kael stepped closer.
Just enough to enter Riser's space—
Without crossing it.
"You're interesting."
"…I'm hearing that a lot today."
"But you're not ready."
Riser didn't react immediately.
"…For what?"
Kael's smile faded slightly.
"…For me."
Silence.
Then—
Riser smirked.
"…Good."
That got a reaction.
Small.
But real.
Kael tilted his head slightly.
"…Oh?"
"Wouldn't want to disappoint you too early."
A beat.
Then—
Kael laughed.
Not loud.
Not forced.
Real.
"…Yeah."
A step back.
"…You'll do."
He turned.
Just like Arden had.
But this exit—
Felt different.
Less conclusion.
More—
Promise.
"…That one's a problem," Lyra muttered.
Riser watched him go.
"…Yeah."
A small pause.
"…I like him."
"…Of course you do."
Because that was the kind of fight he wanted.
Not clean.
Not controlled.
Something he'd have to earn.
Riser exhaled slowly.
"…So that's two."
Lyra crossed her arms again.
"…It won't stop there."
"…I figured."
Because now—
It wasn't just curiosity.
It was interest from different sides.
And that meant—
Different expectations.
Different pressures.
Different problems.
"…We should leave," Lyra said.
"…Yeah."
They started walking again.
But this time—
The space didn't feel neutral.
People moved aside.
Just slightly.
Not out of fear.
Out of awareness.
"…That's new," Riser muttered.
"…Get used to it."
They reached the edge of the courtyard—
Almost out—
When—
"You handled that well."
Riser didn't stop this time.
"…You always show up after things happen?"
Ravel matched his pace easily.
"I observe first."
"…Of course you do."
She glanced at him briefly.
"You didn't escalate."
"…Didn't need to."
"You didn't retreat either."
"…Also didn't need to."
A faint pause.
Then—
"…Good."
Lyra looked between them.
"…So we're calling that a success?"
Ravel nodded once.
"…Yes."
"…That feels too simple."
"It's not."
Ravel slowed slightly.
"They're dividing into categories."
Riser glanced at her.
"…Explain."
"Observers. Challengers. Opportunists."
"…And which one was that?" he asked, nodding in the direction Kael had gone.
"…Challenger."
"And Arden?"
"…Evaluator."
Riser exhaled quietly.
"…That leaves opportunists."
Ravel didn't answer immediately.
Because—
She didn't need to.
"…Right."
Riser already knew.
Because if there were people who tested—
And people who fought—
Then there were people who—
Used.
"…Yeah," he muttered.
"…That's the part I'm not looking forward to."
Ravel's tone didn't change.
"You don't get to choose that part."
"…Figures."
A brief silence settled between them.
Then—
"…It starts tonight."
Riser glanced at her.
"…That fast?"
"Yes."
"…What starts?"
Before she could answer—
Another voice cut in.
"Oh, don't act surprised."
Riser stopped.
"…You really have perfect timing."
Elira stepped out from the corridor ahead.
Leaning casually against the wall—
Like she'd been there the entire time.
Watching.
Waiting.
"…I was wondering how long it would take you."
Lyra sighed.
"…I knew it."
Riser rubbed the back of his neck.
"…Let me guess."
Elira smiled.
"You're coming with me."
"…That's not optional, is it?"
"…Not even a little."
Of course it wasn't.
Riser exhaled slowly.
"…Yeah."
A small pause.
"…This is where things get complicated."
Elira's smile widened.
"Oh, Riser."
She pushed off the wall.
"They already are."