15. Day of Tournament

Carrying the weight of millions of unshed tears, Rose ran as if her life depended on it. Her breath came in ragged gasps, her feet pounding against the pavement until she reached the familiar sight of her home. A wave of bittersweet nostalgia hit her as her eyes landed on the weathered bench in front of the house—a place marked with memories. She used to sit there for hours, video chatting with Felix, sharing secrets, and finding peace whenever life became too overwhelming. But tonight, the bench wasn’t empty. Someone else was there—Hawkbone. His presence was unexpected. Slowly, cautiously, she approached, her emotions a tangled knot in her chest. She sank down beside him, her trembling hands wiping away the tears streaking her face. Without a word, Hawkbone reached into his pocket and handed her an envelope. His dark eyes held a strange mixture of intensity and understanding as he placed it in her hands. "Open this only when you're ready," he said, his voice steady but edged with some