The magic camera finds Rahul Sharma at the top of the south tower.
The box rises above the stands, ringed by narrow columns and shaded by a dark awning. Rahul sits in his wheelchair, the glass cane resting across his legs, his assistant positioned behind him. When his image takes over the suspended screens, he lifts a hand to the crowd.
Rahul waves with practiced humility. He financed this event to hear his own name.
The announcer's voice crosses the Oathring.
"Before we present this morning's matches, Azure Prime must thank the man whose generosity made this spectacle possible. Investor, patron of the Academy, and friend of the royal house: Mr. Rahul Sharma!"
'Patron of the Academy?'
The crowd's reaction sets the platforms shaking. Rahul keeps that serene smile while thousands of people feed his ego at once.
"Without Mr. Sharma's kindness, none of what we'll see today would be possible!"
