The hallway to the Trial arena was super crowded with all sorts of people—nobles trying to get the best view, guards making sure everyone behaved, and servants running around getting things ready last minute.
You could totally feel the buzz in the air, like everyone was on the edge of their seats waiting for something big to go down.
Arthur and Elliot strolled through the crowd, and everyone actually stepped aside to let them through.
Unlike before when Arthur would go pretty much unnoticed at tournaments, today people stopped talking mid-sentence to stare at him. Some looked curious, others seemed suddenly respectful.
"Something's different," Elliot said quietly, noticing how people were reacting. "They're looking at you in a new way."
"Good," Arthur said. "Let them wonder about it."
The hallway opened into a big waiting area where different groups had gathered before entering the main arena.
