Kota turned from the window.
The courtyard below was packed. Banners, dust, shouting. Kids with wooden swords. Vendors with trays of meat. And for half a second, purple hair. Then nothing.
He left.
Jaeger didn't say anything. He just followed.
The hall was empty. Everyone was outside for Solstia. Kota's boots hit stone. He didn't look back at the window.
The others were in the room they'd been given. Leiya was tearing bread. Mira held a cup she wasn't drinking. Thorne stood at the window with his arms crossed.
They looked up when he walked in.
Jaeger shut the door behind them.
For a second, nobody spoke. Only the sound of Solstia came through the walls. Drums. Screaming. The thud of practice swords.
Kota stood at the head of the table.
"You're all here," he said. "Good."
"You look like hell," Leiya said.
He ignored her.
"Event's started," Thorne said, still watching the courtyard. "Whole city's out there."
"I saw her," Kota said.
That shut them up. Mira put her cup down. Leiya stopped chewing. Thorne turned from the window.
"Who?" Jaeger asked.
"Purple hair," Kota said. "Saw her outside my window last night. Saw her again just now. Down in the courtyard."
Leiya went still. "The one Xerxus mentioned?"
"Yeah," Kota said.
The door opened.
Xerxus stepped in. No guards. No announcement. Just him, hands clasped behind his back, smiling like he'd been invited.
"I hope you all slept well," Xerxus said. He looked around the room, eyes landing on each of them for a second too long. "Forgive me for yesterday. I didn't ask for your names."
Leiya stood first. "Leiya."
"Thorne," Thorne said from the window.
"Jaeger," Jaeger said. He didn't move from the door.
Mira set her cup down and dipped her head. "Mira. Thank you for the food."
Xerxus nodded at each of them. Then his eyes found Kota.
"I was hoping to speak with you alone," Xerxus said.
Leiya stepped forward. "No. I'm staying."
Xerxus studied her for a beat. Then he smiled. "Very well."
Thorne pushed off the window. "We'll go."
Mira stood, her eyes flicking to Kota once before she followed Thorne. "We'll be downstairs."
Jaeger opened the door. He didn't look at Xerxus. "I'll be right outside."
The three of them left. The door shut. Jaeger's boots didn't move from the hall.
Xerxus turned to the window. The drums from the courtyard were louder now.
"The things you've seen here are sacred, Kota."
Leiya's arms crossed. "Explain to me how people can fly."
Xerxus smiled. "They're using magic."
Leiya frowned. "Magic? What is that?"
Xerxus's eyes went back to Kota. "Magic is the way of our world here. It's essential to life in this kingdom. Disrespect it and the crowd will turn before my guards do. Solstia isn't like other kingdoms."
Leiya's jaw tightened. "Is that a threat?"
"A warning," Xerxus said. "Solstia is not like other kingdoms. They don't forgive ignorance." He looked at Kota again. "Tell me. Would you like to participate in the games today?"
Kota held his eyes. "I'll think about it."
Xerxus nodded once, like he expected that. "Wise."
Kota didn't break eye contact. "I saw the purple haired girl you mentioned. Last night."
Xerxus blinked. "You saw her?"
"Outside my window," Kota said. "After the curfew horns. She was standing in the courtyard."
Xerxus took a step forward. "You're sure it was her? Purple hair?"
"Yeah," Kota said. "Saw her again this morning too. Down in the courtyard. Then she was gone."
Xerxus turned fully toward the window, like he expected to see her now. His hand went to his belt. "That's not possible."
Leiya looked at Kota, then at Xerxus. "What do you mean?"
Xerxus's jaw flexed. "There really isn't any girls with purple hair in Solstia. None." He looked at Kota. "I've doubled the guards for the event. If you see her again, please, let me know."
Leiya stayed quiet. Her hands were clasped in front of her.
Xerxus exhaled. "Walk with me. Both of you." He didn't smile this time. "We need to start the games."
Kota followed. "Leiya."
She nodded and moved to his side. No words.
Xerxus led them out. Jaeger fell in behind without a word. Xerxus's pace was quick. He kept glancing at the halls like he expected someone to be there.
They didn't take the main stairs. Xerxus turned down a narrow corridor, tapestries of gold suns on the walls.
"Solstia judges strength first," he said, not looking back. "We need to know what we're dealing with."
The corridor opened into the courtyard. Heat. Noise. Banners snapping. The air around the crystal felt heavy, like before a storm.
A circle had been cleared near the center, guards holding the crowd back. In the middle stood a black crystal on a stone pedestal. Taller than a man. Veins of blue light crawled through it.
Xerxus stopped at the edge of the circle. He looked at Kota.
"Mana crystal," he said. "Touch it. Now."
Kota didn't move.
The crowd saw them. The drums stopped.
Leiya's eyes never left the crystal. She stepped forward.
"What is a mana crystal?"