The Iron Circle tournament opened on a Tuesday with the kind of organized chaos that reminded me why I both hated and needed this place.

All four Dominions competed across three days of bracketed combat. The Lunar Combat Arena buzzed with restless energy, students packed into the stands like wolves awaiting blood. I stood at the edge of the Solas mid-tier bracket, high enough to draw attention, low enough that nobody expected much.

I intended to use that like a weapon.

"The first bracket's ...