A single teardrop slid down Klea's cheek as the light faded from Tivali's eyes. The majestic wind tiger, her bonded spirit beast, let out a final, weakened purr as its great form crumpled into stillness.
"I'm sorry…" she whispered, placing her hand gently over its fading aura.
To most watching, it looked like defeat—a girl mourning the last of her summoned beasts. But those with keener insight, the few magus who truly understood Klea's, sensed something more. She hadn't tried to heal Tivali. She could have. But she chose not to.
She still had something up her sleeve. She hadn't given up.
With the flood of burning emotion radiating from her, those attuned to the flow of spirit energy realized the truth.
The duel was far from over.
And then, they saw it.
