Back in the training room, Eno and Lily sat on the floor, taking a much-needed break. The air was thick with the aftermath of their intense training, a mix of sweat and energy that still lingered in the room. They were catching their breath, chatting lightly, when the sudden sound of a phone notification broke through the silence.
Eno reached into his pocket, checking his phone. His eyes widened slightly as he read the message. "Hey, Lily," he called out, glancing at her. "Looks like we need to head to the assembly hall. There's some kind of announcement."
Lily raised an eyebrow, curiosity piqued. "Does the message say anything about what the announcement is?" she asked, brushing a few strands of her Long, white hair out of her face.
Eno shook his head. "Nope, just that we need to be there. Guess we'll have to find out ourselves."
Lily let out a sigh, her shoulders slumping in disappointment. "Aww, but I really wanted to keep training," she said, her voice tinged with reluctance. "I felt like we were just getting into a good rhythm."
Eno chuckled, a warm smile spreading across his face. "Lily, we started training early in the morning, and now it's nighttime," he said, glancing at the dark sky outside the training room window.
Lily's eyes went wide, and she jumped to her feet, her expression a mix of disbelief and shock. "Wait, what? We spent 15 hours in here?" she exclaimed, her voice echoing through the room. "How did time pass so quickly?"
Eno grinned, unable to hold back his laughter. "I know, right? Time really flew by. But we should probably get moving before we end up being late to the assembly."
Lily groaned, rubbing her tired muscles. "Fine," she said, though the disappointment was still clear in her tone. She grabbed her belongings and followed Eno out of the room, both of them stepping into the quiet hallway.
As they walked toward the assembly hall, Lily glanced over at Eno. "You know," she started, "maybe tomorrow we should pace ourselves a bit better. If it weren't for that message, we probably would've spent even more than 15 hours training."
Eno chuckled, his blue eyes sparkling with amusement. "Yeah, I think you're right," he admitted. "But if we're not training, what do you want to do instead?"
Lily's expression softened, and a nostalgic smile spread across her lips. "I think we should play some games," she said. "We've been so busy lately, and I kind of miss it."
"Video games?" Eno asked, tilting his head slightly.
Lily shook her head. "No, I was thinking about tabletop games," she replied. "You know, like the board games we used to play when we were kids."
Eno's smile grew even warmer as he remembered. "Oh, yeah," he said. "We used to play those board games all the time growing up. It was the only one we had, and we played it so much that everyone else got bored of it."
Lily laughed, the sound light and full of fond memories. "Yeah, but we never got bored because we turned it into a constant competition," she said. "That's what made it fun."
Eno's gaze softened, and he felt a pang of warmth in his chest. "Those were good times," he said quietly. "We really did have fun, didn't we?"
They continued walking down the hallway, their conversation filled with laughter and reminiscing about the past. The memory of their childhood games and the bond they shared was a reminder of how far they had come together. But that Quickly came to an end.
Finally, they reached the assembly hall, the grand doors looming ahead of them. Eno and Lily exchanged a final smile, their earlier exhaustion forgotten in the light of their shared memories. Together, they stepped inside, ready to face whatever announcement awaited them.
When Eno and Lily entered the assembly hall, they were met with a sight that was both familiar and overwhelming: a sea of students filling every available space, their voices blending into a low hum of anticipation and curiosity. The hall was alive with energy, students shifting in their seats and whispering to one another about what could possibly warrant an assembly On a weekend.
Eno and Lily made their way through the crowd, searching for a spot. After weaving through rows of chattering students, they finally found two empty seats near the middle. Settling in, Lily leaned over to Eno, her brows furrowed in confusion.
"You know," she said in a low voice, "I didn't say anything in the training room, but since other students are talking about it. why would they call everyone to the assembly hall on a weekend? It better be something important."
Eno shrugged, his eyes scanning the stage. "Well, considering the timing, it has to be," he replied. "They wouldn't disrupt our weekend unless it was serious."
Before Lily could respond, the crowd fell silent as the principal of the Academy stepped onto the stage. Principal Esther was an imposing figure, her presence commanding respect from the entire student body. Her silver hair was tied back in a tight bun, and her sharp eyes seemed to see through everyone in the room. Her reputation as the fifth-ranked hunter on the continent preceded her, and even the most confident students felt a sense of awe in her presence.
Principal Esther stood in the center of the stage, her gaze sweeping across the room. "Hello, everyone," she began, her voice strong and authoritative. "I know many of you are irritated to have your relaxation time interrupted, but I assure you, this announcement will be both quick and significant."
A hush fell over the assembly hall, students leaning forward to catch every word.
"As you all know," Principal Esther continued, "the tournament between the top three academies is rapidly approaching, and this year, we are the hosts. It is a great honor and a tremendous responsibility. To that end, I want you all to extend a warm welcome to our guests."
She extended her left arm, gesturing to a group standing just offstage. "From the third-ranked academy, Song Academy," she announced, her voice carrying a note of respect.
A middle-aged man with an eyepatch and a neatly trimmed goatee stepped forward. His presence was imposing, a sense of discipline radiating from him. Walking beside him was a young man who appeared to be a student, though he looked far from energetic. He had gray hair and tired-looking black eyes, and his posture suggested exhaustion rather than the confidence one would expect from a top student. Yet, there was no doubt that he was formidable—the number one student of Song Academy.
The audience murmured, intrigued by the newcomers, but Principal Esther quickly moved on. She raised her right arm to the other side of the stage.
"And from the second-ranked academy on the continent, Dragon Fang Academy," she announced.
A stunning young woman stepped forward, her long hair tied back in a high ponytail, with glasses that added a sense of refined intelligence to her striking features. The principal of Dragon Fang Academy exuded an air of authority, but it was the young man accompanying her who drew most of the students' attention.
He had fiery red hair styled in an elegant, swept-back manner reminiscent of a warrior prince, and his features were sharp and undeniably handsome. His presence radiated confidence, and the way he held himself suggested he was used to being admired. His eyes, however, burned with a fierce intensity, a challenge to anyone who dared underestimate him.
Principal Esther waited for the students' whispers to die down before continuing. "These individuals are the principals of Song Academy and Dragon Fang Academy, as well as their top-ranked students," she said, her voice cutting through the chatter. "Tomorrow, all visiting students will be participating in friendly training sessions alongside our top 50. This is an opportunity for all of you to learn, grow, and prepare for the challenges that await in the tournament."
Eno and Lily exchanged glances, both feeling a surge of anticipation. The tournament was no longer a distant event—it was right around the corner, and tomorrow's training session would be the first taste of what they were up against.
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Author note i'm going to shift my writing style a little bit