The final matches of the day came to an end not long after.

The sun had already begun to set below the horizon, leaving the sky in shades of orange and red.

One by one, the crowds started leaving the arena, their voices still filled with excitement as they talked about the fights they had witnessed.

Theo remained seated for a moment longer, his gaze drifting across the field.

’Day one... done,’ he thought quietly.

Beside him, Owen stretched his arms with a satisfied sigh.

"Man," he said, cracking his neck. "That summoner girl..."

Theo didn’t even look at him.

"I swear," he continued, shaking his head. "That combo? The harpy for sound and that long-tailed thing for control and defense? That’s pretty insane."

Theo stood up slowly.

"Mm."

Owen glanced at him, clearly expecting more of a reaction.

"...That’s all you’ve got?" he asked.

Theo pressed his lips together, nodding slowly.

’’She would be annoying to fight,’’ he said calmly. ’’But if you can take care of the harpy, she’s lost most of her strength.’’

Owen snorted.

’’Come on,’’ he said, shaking his head. ’’As if taking care of that harpy is easy.’’

Iris stood up quietly beside them.

"Let’s go," she said softly.

The three of them began making their way down the stands along with the rest of the participants.

Owen kept talking the entire time.

’’How did she even get two contracted beasts?’’ he continued. ’’And two beasts of that quality too?’’

Theo walked slightly behind him, his hands in his pockets.

Iris walked beside him.

Neither of them said anything.

Theo glanced at her out of the corner of his eye.

Her expression was calm again, the tension and hesitation from earlier completely gone now.

’...It seems like she’s taken care of what was troubling her,’ he thought, a small smile forming on his lips.

Iris noticed his glance.

Their eyes met for a brief moment.

Then she smiled back faintly.

’Yup. She’s happy again.’

Theo looked ahead again without saying anything.

The three of them continued walking until they reached the participant’s exit at the back of the arena.

Just as they stepped outside—

Owen suddenly came to a stop, nearly causing Theo to walk into him.

’’...What?’’ he asked, confused.

Owen didn’t respond.

Instead, he kept staring ahead of him.

Theo followed his gaze slowly... and immediately understood why.

There, leaning casually against the wall, stood the summoner girl from earlier.

A calm, confident smile covered her face.

As soon as she saw them—

She pushed herself off the wall and stepped forward.

Then she raised her hand...

And pointed straight at them.

"I’m going to beat all three of you," she said, her voice clear. "And it won’t even be close."

Theo blinked once.

Iris remained completely still, clearly taken aback too.

But Owen... stepped forward immediately.

"Oh really?" he said, a grin spreading across his face. "Then you better hope you don’t go up against me."

Lyra’s eyes shifted instantly.

Her full attention locked onto him. 𝚏𝗿𝗲𝐞𝐰𝚎𝕓𝐧𝚘𝘃𝗲𝐥.𝐜𝚘𝕞

"I’ll crush you," he continued without hesitation.

For a moment, both of them were silent.

Then Lyra tilted her head slightly.

"Is that so?" she said calmly. "I don’t think you stand a chance at all."

Owen’s grin only widened.

"Wanna bet?"

"I don’t need to," she replied. "I’ve already seen enough."

The two of them continued going back and forth, neither willing to back down.

Theo and Iris simply stood there behind them. Both of their expressions were completely blank.

Finally, Theo glanced at Iris for a moment and raised his shoulders slightly.

’What is this...?’

’It’s like they completely forgot about our existence...’

Iris let out a quiet chuckle before giving a small nod to the side.

Both of them stepped aside without another word.

They leaned lightly against the wall, letting the other two continue their argument.

"...You’re all talk," Owen said.

"And you’re overestimating yourself," Lyra shot back immediately.

Theo let out a quiet breath.

’...They’re not going to stop anytime soon.’

After a few more minutes, Lyra suddenly straightened.

"Whatever," she said, turning away slightly. "I’ll see you tomorrow."

She glanced back over her shoulder.

"Try not to lose before that."

With that, she walked off without waiting for a response.

Owen stood there for a second.

Then he turned back toward Theo and Iris with confident grin plastered across his face.

’’She backed down first,’’ he said proudly. ’’Now I’ll just have to stomp her into the ground later.’’

Theo tilted his head slightly.

’’Mm.’’

He stepped forward and lightly patted Owen on the back.

"I’m sure of it," he said calmly. "But for now... it’s time to go home."

Owen nodded, still filled with confidence.

Iris also stepped forward, smiling sweetly at Theo.

’’I’ll be heading out as well,’’ she said. ’’My father’s waiting for me.’’

Theo nodded once, also smiling again.

’’See you tomorrow.’’

Already turning around, Iris waved back at them before walking away.

Theo watched her for a moment longer.

Finally, he turned to Owen.

’’Let’s go.’’

The two of them walked through the streets in silence for about ten seconds.

Then—

"I’m telling you," Owen started again. "She’s definitely strong, but—"

Theo sighed, interrupting him.

"...You’re still thinking about her?"

Owen frowned.

"Of course I am," he said.

Theo rubbed his temples, his head hurting from all Owen’s talking.

"...Don’t tell me you actually fell for her."

Owen stopped walking immediately.

His head snapped to Theo, a deep frown on his face.

"What the hell made you think that would happen?" he asked. "She just doesn’t understand her own level at all."

Theo stared at him for a moment.

"...Right."

"I’m serious," he continued. "And I’m going to get rid of that arrogance myself!"

At this point, Theo didn’t even bother responding anymore.

Instead, he switched the topic until the two split off to their own homes.

Theo came to a stop in front of his apartment a few minutes later.

As he stepped inside, the door barely closed behind him before he got pulled into a tight embrace.