Chapter 31: Praise
What followed the intense duel was utter silence.
Not a whisper, not even a breath. The students stood frozen, still processing what they had just witnessed.
Compared to the others, Athar had put on a true performance.
Though Angelica had ultimately defeated him, and rather decisively and overwhelmingly, his duel had been in a different league altogether.
He had held his ground, exchanged a dozen blows, and most importantly, he had created moments of brilliance, fleeting but undeniable where it seemed like he had the upper hand. Moments where it appeared that Angelica, even if briefly, had been forced on the defensive. That she had to pause herself and think about her next move.
It was not just effort. It was ingenuity. Tactics. Calmness under pressure. And that had stunned everyone.
For the past couple of weeks, Athar had been a background figure. The kind of student who melted into the background, sat in the back row during the classes, quiet and distant.
He barely spoke, rarely interacted with anyone, and was like an isolationist. No one had seen this coming.
He did not look like someone destined for the spotlight. He was not the loudest, the boldest, or the most obviously talented. He did not seem to carry the so called main character energy.