#Chapter 48: New Perspectives

The realization strikes me like lightning. It all suddenly seems so clear. I turn to Aiden, feeling a need to help mend our misunderstanding. “I don’t think they’ve been slacking off, Aiden,” I say softly. I gesture toward Aiden’s teammates. “They’re nervous.” Aiden blinks at me. He follows my gaze. “You think so?” I nod with certainty. “Think about it — they’ve never had high rankings before you joined the team. The pressure they’re under must be immense.” Aiden’s eyes light up with realization. “Right,” he murmurs. “And the next game…” “Is against the Capital,” I complete the sentence for him. “Your old team. Sure, they’ve probably seen the Capital in action, but they’ve only experienced you. They might be expecting a team full of Aiden Cruzes.” Aiden chuckles quietly. “That’s hardly the biggest concern, but I get your point.” “It’s true,” I insist. “The Capital team definitely has intimidation on their side. Their record precedes them, and you’re a part of that. They’ve proba