Chapter 766: Ready When You Are
They eventually found an empty hall on the eastern side of the academy, one of the smaller practice halls meant for light sparring, movement drills, and controlled demonstrations rather than large-scale combat.
It was spacious enough for two people to move freely without feeling cramped, with polished stone flooring, reinforced walls, and a slightly elevated platform at the center that stood only a few inches above the rest of the room. Tall windows lined one side of the hall, allowing sunlight to pour across the floor in long pale bands, while training markings had been engraved into the platform’s surface to help students keep distance and positioning during practice.
Liam stepped onto the platform first and moved toward the center without any particular urgency. Gabby followed him with far more energy, her dark eyes fixed on him as if she were afraid he might change his mind if she looked away for even a second.
Dylan, Sasha, and Anna remained off to the side, standing near the lower section of the hall where they could watch without getting in the way. Dylan leaned lazily against one of the side pillars like someone who had already decided this would be the highlight of his day, while Sasha stood with her hands clasped together in anticipation. Anna crossed her arms and studied the platform more carefully, her expression carrying the look of someone who had already accepted that Gabby was about to do something reckless.
For a moment, no one spoke.
Gabby rolled her shoulders, then flexed her fingers at her sides. Her breathing had evened out since the chase through the hallway, but excitement still showed in the small shifts of her posture. She tried to stand steady, yet her weight kept moving subtly from one foot to the other, as though her body was already preparing to burst forward before the spar had even begun.
Liam noticed.
"Relax," he said.
Gabby’s eyes narrowed. "I am relaxed."
Dylan snorted from the side. "You look like a firecracker that just found religion."
Gabby turned her head sharply. "No one asked you."
"I know," Dylan said, smiling. "That has never stopped me before."