After their brief but intense stay in the VIP section, Kaelen and Guinevere quietly excused themselves and stepped out of the luxurious room. The air outside the VIP area felt lighter, though Kaelen could still feel the weight of the legendary figures' gazes as they left. He exchanged a glance with Guinevere, who gave him a small, fiery grin as if to shake off the heavy atmosphere.
Descending the stone steps of the coliseum, they finally made their way to the participants' area, where the energy was buzzing with anticipation. Participants whispered amongst themselves, so nervous, others eager to prove their worth in the tournant.
They spotted Morris sitting near the edge of the section, leaning back with a relaxed expression. His scepter was resting against the bench next to him, its intricate designs glinting faintly in the daylight. His eyes flickered up as they approached, and a knowing smile spread across his face.
"Well, look who's back from rubbing shoulders with legends," Morris teased, scooting over to make room. "Decided to join us mortals, have you?"
Kaelen chuckled and sat down beside him, feeling a sense of normalcy again. Guinevere took the seat on Kaelen's other side, folding her arms as she surveyed the participants with keen interest.
"Let's just say the air was a bit too stiff up there," Kaelen replied with a grin.
Morris nudged Kaelen's shoulder playfully. "Good to have you back. You didn't miss much yet. Just so pre-tournant chatter."
Guinevere crossed her legs and leaned forward, her gaze sharp as she studied the participants while she suddenly spoke up. "Well, the real fun is about to begin."
Kaelen felt a sense of camaraderie as they sat together, the tournant looming ever closer. The three of them, though from different walks of life, were bound by the challenge ahead.
Just as the last murmurs of conversation died down among the participants and spectators, a sudden gust of wind swept across the coliseum. The energy shifted abruptly, and all eyes turned to the center of the massive arena. Standing there was an old man, yet his presence demanded attention. His back was straight, his gaze stern and calculating.
His long, silver hair was tied back neatly, and his robes, though simple, emanated an undeniable aura of authority. The air around him almost crackled with his power, and even the most seasoned veterans could sense his formidability.
Without uttering a word, the old man raised his hand, and silence fell over the coliseum. It was the kind of silence that only soone with absolute control could command.
"Participants of the Pacesetters Rookie Tournant," the old man began, his deep voice reverberating through the entire coliseum. Each word was spoken with precision, and it carried the weight of a thousand battles fought and won. "You stand here today on the precipice of greatness, each of you vying for the title of this year's greatest.
But know this—only the strongest, the sharpest, and the most resilient will erge victorious."
Kaelen shifted slightly in his seat, feeling the gravity of the old man's words settle over him. Morris, beside him, leaned forward, his attention rapt, while Guinevere's fiery gaze remained locked on the old man.
"The tournant will begin with the group stages," the man continued. "Due to so factors that was placed during the pre tournant selections, this second stage will be a little different. Each of you will be assigned to a group of four. You will then fight against the other three people in the sa group. Victory will be rewarded with points.
The two students with the most points will advance to the next stage. But be warned…" His eyes narrowed, scanning the crowd of eager rookies. "A single loss can tip the scales against you. Do not take any opponent lightly."
His gaze swept across the coliseum, his aura pressing down on every participant like a weight. Even the spectators felt a chill as the old man's energy filled the air.
"You will fight in this very arena, under the watchful eyes of the Academy's most prestigious figures. Your strength, tactics, and willpower will all be tested. Those who prove unworthy will be cast aside. Only the best will move on."
Kaelen felt the pressure build inside him as the old man spoke, his hand subconsciously gripping the hilt of his sword. The coliseum, which had felt so vast and full of potential monts ago, now seed like a cage—a proving ground where only the strongest would survive.
The old man raised a hand again, signaling the end of his speech. "Prepare yourselves. The group stage begins now."
With that, the old man vanished as abruptly as he had appeared, leaving only a whisper of power lingering in the air.
As soon as the old man vanished from the center of the coliseum, the arena pulsed with energy once again. A low hum vibrated through the stone floors, and a flash of light shot upwards, drawing the attention of every eye. From the middle of the coliseum, a large screen materialized, glowing with an ethereal light.
Its presence was majestic, hovering high in the air for all to see, casting a soft glow over the audience.
The screen slowly shifted, pixelating for a brief mont before nas and numbers began to appear in bold golden letters.
"Look!" Morris pointed, leaning forward with excitent. "They're showing the groups!"
Kaelen squinted, his eyes tracking the groups as they rapidly cycled through on the screen. A tense silence filled the coliseum as all the participants anxiously awaited to see which group they would be placed in. The audience, too, buzzed with quiet anticipation.
At last, the nas began to settle. Kaelen's gaze fixed on the group labeled 'Group E,' and his heart skipped a beat.
**Group E:**
- Kaelen
- Guinevere
- Morris
- Eldric
Morris groaned, his hand coming up to slap his forehead. "Oh, co on! We're in the sa group? Seriously?"
Kaelen couldn't help but smirk at his friend's reaction, though there was a small, tense feeling growing inside him. Competing against each other was inevitable, but it didn't make the prospect any easier.
Guinevere leaned back in her seat, a smile tugging at her lips. "Looks like we get to test our strength against one another," she said with a competitive gleam in her eye. "I hope you're ready for a real challenge."
Kaelen nodded thoughtfully. "It'll be interesting, that's for sure. But we can't afford to underestimate each other—there's no room for mistakes." His voice was calm, but his mind raced. Sparring against his friends was one thing, but the tournant would force him to give everything he had.
Morris sighed, shaking his head. "Looks like we're going to have to put our friendship aside for this round. But no hard feelings when I win, alright?"
Kaelen and Guinevere chuckled, though there was a seriousness in the air now. The screen flickered again, showing more groups and their respective participants, but Group E remained boldly displayed.
"Who's Eldric Stormwright?" Guinevere asked, her tone curious. "I've heard of him, but I've never seen him in action."
Kaelen frowned slightly, recalling rumors of Eldric. "He's an adept-ranked internal student known for his lightning manipulation. They say he's fast—dangerously fast."
"An adept rank rookie!!?"
Morris scratched his head, "Great, just what we need. A lightning user whose talent took him to the adept rank at unimaginable speed. This group is shaping up to be a real test."
As the screen finalized the last few groups, the anticipation settled into a steady thrum of nervous excitent throughout the coliseum. The large screen disappeared in a soft shimr of light, leaving behind only the echoes of its glowing presence.
Kaelen took a deep breath, his mind already sharpening with focus. The group stage was about to begin, and with Morris, Guinevere, and Eldric in his group, he knew that every fight would be a battle of skill and resolve. But if there was one thing he was certain of—it was that this tournant would be unlike anything they had faced before.
"Well," Guinevere said, standing up and stretching her arms. "May the best fighter win."
Morris grinned, nudging Kaelen with his elbow. "Hope you're ready for so surprises, my friend."
Kaelen t their gazes, determination filling his eyes. "Let's give it our all."
But all three of them didn't notice that from a fair distance away, a pair of calm and composed eyes were currently on them. The owner of these eyes is surprisenly Julian who defeated Morris during one of the pre-tournant matches.
'Why am I having a feeling of threat from him while am this far away?' Julian suddenly thought as his face suddenly had a minute twitch before it quickly ca back to normal.
The person who he is referring to is surprisenly Kealen who he has been observing since when Kaelen approached Morris and sat down with him. But it didn't take long before he suddenly created an arc at the end of his mouth while he thought.
'Seems like this tournant won't be boring after all'
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