The following morning, the group woke to the usual tolling of the enchanted bell that signaled the start of the day. The events of the competition still lingered in their minds, but there was little time to bask in victory. The school was relentless in its schedule, and lessons resumed without pause.
At breakfast, the group gathered in the Great Hall, a massive chamber with floating lanterns and enchanted windows that displayed shifting images of the outside world. As they ate, the room buzzed with conversations about the competition.
“Did you see Zara’s face yesterday?” Mia whispered, grinning. “I thought she was going to explode.”
Logan smirked. “Serves her right. She’s been underestimating us since day one.”
Elise, ever the peacemaker, added, “Let’s not get too cocky. We’ve still got a lot to prove.”
Before they could delve deeper into their discussion, a commotion near the entrance caught their attention. A senior group, clad in their distinctive crimson robes, had entered the hal
