The dark spiraling stone stairs leading back up to the viewing galleries felt a lot longer on the way up than they did on the way down.
Lyra took the steps two at a time as her heavy leather boots clicked against the stone.
Her blue-gold mana was fully retracted back into her core, but she was practically vibrating.
The leftover adrenaline was a live wire buzzing through her nervous system.
Her knuckles ached inside her gauntlets from where she had buried her fist into the ruffian's stomach, but it was a good ache.
It was the ache of an undeniable victory.
She pushed past the heavy velvet curtain draped over the tunnel exit and stepped back into Team Seven's private, elevated viewing box.
Before she could even catch her breath, a tiny energetic blur slammed directly into her waist.
"You won! You won!" Kala cheered at the top of her lungs, wrapping her small arms tightly around Lyra's chainmail.
