Chapter 86 - The Sword Festival, Part 1 (3)

Leon's POV

"Are you okay?" I asked Titania, my voice soft but heavy with concern.

She looked unhurt—her posture was steady, her breathing calm—but after what had just happened, I couldn't help but ask.

"I'm okay," Titania replied, scratching her cheek with a faint smile that didn't quite reach her eyes. Her voice carried a lightness that contrasted the tension still thick in the air. She might've been trying to brush it off, but my eyes didn't miss the way her fingers trembled slightly before she dropped her hand.

"I'm livid...!" Trill snapped, her voice sharp and cracking like a whip. She practically radiated heat, as though her rage were about to boil over and scald anyone nearby. "That bitch almost took your head, Nia! I swear, if I get paired with her in the quarterfinals, I'll make her regret ever stepping into this tournament!"