The Next Forward

Elara beamed, stepping forward to greet Charlotte with an enthusiastic hug. "Of course, we stayed! Did you really think we'd miss a second of that? You were incredible out there."

Charlotte chuckled, patting Elara on the back before stepping back. "Thanks, Elara. It means a lot to have you two here cheering me on. Did it look as good as it felt?"

Cruzer gave her a rare grin, his arms crossed casually. "Better. You didn't just win—you dominated. That last move was a thing of beauty. The crowd couldn't get enough of it."

Charlotte's cheeks flushed slightly at the praise, though her confidence remained intact. "It wasn't easy. He was stronger than I expected, and his endurance was something else. But I knew if I stayed patient, I could wear him down."

Elara nodded eagerly. "You did more than that. You turned his strength into his weakness. The way you baited him into overextending was brilliant. It's like you were a step ahead the entire time."