Chapter 38 Choosing Friendship Over Glory

• ~ Elara ~
• The arena buzzed with energy as the crowd roared in anticipation. I stood at the edge of the ring, heart racing, my hands slick with sweat around the hilt of my sword. This was it - the final round, the moment I had fought so hard to reach. And yet, as I looked across the arena, my heart sank.
• Clarissa stood on the opposite side, her posture relaxed and confident, a stark contrast to the turmoil swirling within me. She was my friend - my ally in a world that often felt unforgiving - and now I had to fight her for victory. The weight of that reality pressed down on my chest, making it hard to breathe.