Round Two: A Free-For-All

Gareth woke up with a start, blinking away the last remnants of sleep as he stretched his arms above his head. The soft light of early morning peeked through the thin curtains of his motel room, casting a warm glow across the simple furnishings. With a groan, he sat up and glanced around.

The room was decent enough, with a sturdy wooden bed, a small writing desk, and a lone chair tucked in the corner. It wasn't fancy, but it served its purpose.

He stood up, still groggy, and made his way to Turai's room to wake him. It was time for breakfast, and Gareth knew the importance of starting the day with a full stomach, especially before a big event like today's second round of the preliminaries. He knocked on the door twice, then paused, expecting Turai's usual gruff response.

Nothing.

"Turai, wake up, you lazy boy!" Gareth called, a small grin tugging at his lips as he knocked again, louder this time.

Still nothing.