Chapter 8: Echoes of Applause
The clip went viral before Rook even left the arena floor.
Thirty-six seconds. Four moves. One takedown.
The combat drone footage looped across every school feed — slow motion, multiple angles, close-ups of his footwork, commentary by instructors. His expression never changed. That's what had everyone talking.
He didn't smirk. Didn't celebrate.Just turned and walked off like he'd gotten bored.
The rest of the campus saw a calm prodigy.
Tessa saw something else.
She found him in the quad, standing under one of the old iron sculptures — a twisting tangle of former hero insignias melted together after the Skyfire Event.
He was eating a protein bar slowly, reading something on his wristband.
She stepped up beside him.
"You know what people are calling you?"
He didn't look up. "Tell me."