Chapter 14: No Losing
Daylan and Astara barely had a chance to discuss their duels, as Astara needed rest to recover her eyes. Daylan trained alone for a while, pushing himself to his limits, but eventually forced himself to sleep, trying to quiet the overactive thoughts racing through his mind.
The sun rose quickly from the East, signaling the start of a new day. Daylan prepared for the tournament and rushed to the library to check on Astara, but she wasn't there. With no time to waste, he made his way to the training center. There, he found her, training relentlessly. As soon as Daylan entered, he leaned against the wall, mesmerized by Astara's unwavering passion.
The moment she noticed Daylan, she paused. "Hey, are you ready?" She grabbed her shirt. "Let's go, Day."
Daylan smiled, watching her walk past him, her expression masked with seriousness. He followed suit.
"The tournament ends tomorrow. I guess you already know that."
Daylan gave a firm nod.
"Do your best to win today, because I won't be losing."
Daylan remained silent, tossing his dagger back and forth.
More than half of the Chivalries won their duels and qualified for the next round.
However, those who failed were still required to remain at the tournament, their presence lingering as a reminder of their defeat.
At the vanguard of the monastery, their carriages awaited their arrival. Astara barely spoke a word on the way to the arena, much like the day before. It seemed as though something was troubling her. Daylan resisted the urge to press her about it—he could tell it was something she wasn't ready to share.