Sixty-two

The sound of the crowd swirled around me like a distant melody as I made my way back to the stands, each step echoing the tumultuous thoughts churning within. There was an air of intensity that lingered, a whisper of something untold beneath the surface of the duel I had just witnessed. Reaching Lydia and Lila, their eyes glued to the ongoing spectacle below, I felt a sense of relief wash over me at the familiarity of their presence.

Slipping into the seat beside Lydia, my gaze remained fixated on the arena floor. "Did you notice anything peculiar during the fight?" I inquired, my voice barely more than a breath.

Their heads turned towards me in unison, twin expressions of puzzlement mirrored on their faces. "No," they replied in harmony, their voices blending into the symphony of the crowd.