Got it—you want his appearance and confidence to really stand out more. I’ll weave that in naturally and keep the same tone. *** The arena rang with noise—metal clashing, dragons shifting, Gobber barking orders—but Snotlout barely heard any of it. At fifteen, he’d grown into himself in a way most of the others hadn’t yet. He wasn’t bulky like some of the older Vikings, but he was built well—slender, strong, and balanced. Tall enough to stand out, not so tall he looked awkward. Everything about him carried an easy kind of confidence, like he knew exactly how he looked and exactly how people saw him. And he didn’t mind it. Not even a little. Especially not right now. Because Emma had just stepped into the arena. Snotlout’s brown eyes locked onto her immediately, a slow grin pulling at his mouth like this was already going his way. “Oh yeah,” he muttered under his breath. “Today’s a good day.” Gobber slammed his hook against a shield. “Listen up! Pairing exercise! Find a partner you won’t embarrass yourselves with!” Snotlout didn’t wait for anything else. He moved through the crowd with that same effortless swagger—shoulders relaxed, posture easy, like the space naturally made room for him. A few heads turned as he passed, but he only cared about one person. He stopped right in front of Emma. “Looks like you’re with me,” he said, like it was already decided. Emma crossed her arms slightly, studying him. “You don’t even know what we’re doing yet.” Snotlout tilted his head, grin sharpening. “Doesn’t matter. I’m still your best option.” He said it like a fact, not a guess. Gobber started calling names, but Snotlout didn’t move—didn’t even glance away. His attention stayed on her, steady and unapologetic. “Stay with me,” he added, quieter this time. Not less confident. Just… more direct. Gobber looked over, sighed, and waved them off. “Fine. You two—paired. Try not to make me regret it.” “Won’t happen,” Snotlout called back easily. He turned, grabbi