The council chamber doors closed behind them as Remi continued down the corridor.
His footsteps echoed against the polished stone, steady and deliberate.
Roco and Soho followed close behind him, while the nobles moved through the corridor in small groups, their attention fixed on the boy walking ahead of them.
Kota walked beside Leiya. Neither spoke for several moments.
Leiya glanced at him. "You really agreed to fight him?" she asked.
Kota kept his eyes forward. "He challenged me," he answered.
"That doesn't answer my question," she said.
Kota looked toward her. "I wanted to," he replied.
Leiya stared at him for a moment before sighing. "Of course you did," she muttered.
A few steps ahead, Remi glanced over his shoulder. "The training grounds aren't far from here," he called. "Once we arrive, we can settle this properly."
Soho's eyes brightened. "I can't wait," she said.
Roco looked at her. "You're enjoying this way too much," she said.
"Obviously," Soho replied.
Remi shook his head. "You two are impossible," he muttered.
They eventually reached a large set of doors at the end of the corridor. Remi pushed them open, revealing a massive training courtyard surrounded by towering stone walls.
The space was enormous. Tall pillars surrounded the arena, and faded markings covered the stone floor from countless battles that had taken place there.
The air felt different here. Less confined. Less fragile.
Remi stepped through first. "Follow me, everyone," he said.
The nobles entered behind him.
Kota stepped into the courtyard and looked around. His eyes moved across the damaged stone, the weapons, and the surrounding walls. Leiya remained beside him.
Rhen stopped near the entrance while Xerxus and the others gathered along the edge of the training grounds.
Macey glanced toward Nash as they took their places along the edge of the courtyard. "So this is the boy everyone was arguing about," he said.
Nash kept his eyes on Kota. "Looks ordinary enough," he replied.
Macey gave a quiet scoff. "That's usually when you should be concerned," he said.
Nash glanced at him. "You think he's dangerous?" he asked.
"I think Harlan wouldn't be this interested in him if there wasn't something worth watching," Macey answered.
A few steps away, Eldora listened to their exchange without turning toward them. "Or perhaps we're simply looking for something that isn't there," she remarked.
Macey looked toward her. "You don't think there's anything unusual about him?" he asked.
Eldora slowly turned the ring around her finger. "I think we've seen too little to make that judgment," she said.
Nearby, Jude glanced toward them. "Then perhaps everyone should wait until the fight begins before deciding what he is," she suggested.
Nash nodded. "Fair enough," he said.
Roco folded her arms. "Remi," she called.
He turned toward her.
"Are you seriously planning on fighting him without knowing what he's capable of?" she asked.
Remi smiled faintly. "That's the point," he answered.
Soho leaned against one of the stone pillars. "I like him more already," she said.
Roco sighed. "You liked him before he even agreed to fight," she pointed out.
"So?" Soho replied.
Roco stared at her. Soho only grinned.
Remi walked toward the center of the courtyard before stopping. "Kota," he called.
Kota looked at him.
"Come here," Remi said.
Kota stepped forward. The nobles grew quiet.
Remi stood several feet away from him. "Before we begin, I want to make something clear," he said.
Kota waited.
"I don't care where you came from," Remi continued. "I don't care what rumors you've heard about Solstia. I want to know what you're capable of."
Kota's expression stayed blank. "Then find out," he replied.
Remi smiled. "That's exactly what I intend to do," he said.
He lowered himself slightly, shifting into a fighting stance. The atmosphere changed instantly.
The relaxed look left his face. His shoulders dropped. His feet adjusted against the stone. His eyes sharpened.
Soho straightened from the pillar. "Oh," she said.
Roco glanced toward her. "What?" she asked.
Soho's grin widened. "He's serious," she answered.
Roco looked back toward Remi. She knew that stance. Remi rarely took it unless he intended to end a fight quickly.
"He better be," Roco muttered.
Harlan watched from the edge of the courtyard with his arms folded. His attention never left Remi with confidence sitting plain on his face.
Caldera stood several feet away, quietly watching the two fighters. Xerxus remained beside her.
"You think this will tell us anything?" Xerxus asked.
Caldera didn't look away from Kota. "It will tell us something," she answered.
"What?" he asked.
"Whether he fights like someone trying to prove himself," she said.
Xerxus glanced toward her. "And if he doesn't?" he pressed.
Caldera's eyes narrowed. "Then we have a different problem," she replied.
Kota stood completely still. Remi studied him. For several seconds, neither moved. The wind passed through the courtyard. Kota's silver hair shifted slightly across his face. Remi's eyes followed the movement.
"You're not even going to take a stance?" Remi asked.
"No," Kota answered.
Remi raised an eyebrow. "You're confident," he said.
"No," Kota replied.
The answer made Remi pause. "Then what are you?" he asked.
Kota looked directly at him. "Ready," he said.
Remi's smile returned. "Good answer," he muttered.
He vanished. The ground cracked beneath his first step.
Leiya's eyes widened. "Kota!" she shouted.
Remi appeared directly in front of him. His fist shot forward. Kota tilted his head just enough for the punch to cut past his cheek, the wind from it brushing his hair. Kota's hand closed around Remi's wrist before the strike could reset.
The courtyard fell silent.
Remi looked down at Kota's hand. "You're fast," he said.
Kota released him. "Not fast enough," he replied.
Remi stepped backward. A grin slowly formed across his face. "Good," he said.
He vanished again. This time Kota moved with him. Their bodies collided in the center of the courtyard. The impact sent a wave of dust rolling outward across the stone. Several nobles raised their arms against the sudden gust.
Soho's grin widened. Roco's expression hardened. "What the hell…" she muttered.
Noire's eyes narrowed as she followed the movement. Beside her, Indi watched the dust settle. "Did you see that?" she asked.
Noire didn't look at her. "Enough," she said.
Indi glanced toward the battlefield. "Which one?" she pressed.
Noire's gaze remained fixed ahead. "The boy," she answered.
The dust began to settle. Two figures stood within the cloud. Kota remained standing. Remi stood several feet away. Neither appeared injured.
While looking at his hands, Remi's mind started racing. He didn't overpower me. His fingers tightened. He redirected me it's likehe knew exactly where I was going.
A quiet laugh escaped him. "This is going to be fun," he said.
Kota's eyes remained cold. "Come again," he replied.
Remi's smile disappeared. He lowered his stance. Then he charged.
Kota stayed still until the last possible second. Remi's fist cut through the air. Kota dropped under it. Remi twisted and drove his knee upward.
Kota's forearm met the strike with a solid crack. The force shoved him backward several feet, his shoes scraping hard against the stone.
Remi pressed forward immediately. Another punch came. Kota slipped past it. Another. He leaned just enough for it to miss. Another.
Kota caught the wrist again. Remi twisted free before the counter could land, spun, and drove a kick toward Kota's head. Kota raised his arm.
The kick slammed into it with a sharp sound that echoed across the courtyard. Kota slid backward. Remi landed cleanly.
The nobles remained silent.
Rhen's eyes narrowed. He blocked that?
Macey glanced toward him. "You saw it too?" he asked.
Rhen nodded. "Yes," he answered.
Macey looked back toward Kota. "He's taking those attacks without much trouble," he said.
Rhen's expression stayed serious. "That's what I'm seeing," he replied.
Across the courtyard, Eldora watched Kota's feet. "He's barely wasting movement," she observed.
Jude looked toward her. "Meaning?" she asked.
"He doesn't move unless he needs to," Eldora answered.
Jude's eyes returned to Kota. "Interesting," she murmured.
Caldera watched Kota carefully. She had noticed something the others hadn't. Kota still wasn't fighting seriously.
Remi noticed it too. His expression darkened. "You're holding back," he said.
Kota looked at him. "Yes," he answered.
The answer clearly irritated Remi. "Why?" he asked.
Kota glanced toward the nobles surrounding the courtyard. "Because there are people watching," he said.
Remi followed his gaze. Then he looked back at Kota. "You're worried about them?" he asked.
"No," Kota replied. His eyes returned to him. "I'm worried about what happens if I stop holding back."
Remi went silent. Soho's grin faded slightly. Roco's arms slowly lowered. Even Harlan's expression shifted. Caldera's eyes narrowed.
Remi stared at Kota for several seconds. Then he smiled again. "Then I'll make you stop," he said.
Kota said nothing.
Remi's body tensed. The air around him seemed to tighten. His next step shattered the stone beneath his foot. He launched forward.
This time Kota moved first. Their fists met in the center of the courtyard. The impact cracked the ground beneath them. Remi pushed forward.
Kota pushed back. For the first time, surprise flickered across Remi's face. Kota's eyes stayed emotionless. Neither gave an inch.
Then Kota shifted his footing. Remi's eyes widened. Kota twisted his wrist and redirected the force. Remi was thrown sideways. He hit the ground, rolled once, and came to a stop.
The courtyard went completely silent.
Remi slowly rose. He wiped the blood from his mouth. Then he laughed. "Now I definitely want to know what you are," he said.
Kota looked at him. "So do they," he replied. His eyes shifted toward the nobles. "They've been wondering since I walked in."
Caldera watched him carefully. Harlan's expression hardened.
Remi stepped forward once more. "Then let's give them something to wonder about," he said.
Kota lowered his stance for the first time. The nobles noticed. So did Remi. A small smile appeared on his face. "Finally," he muttered.
Kota's eyes sharpened. "Come," he said.
Remi vanished. Kota disappeared at the same instant. The courtyard erupted with the sound of their collision.