The rest of the day passed normally.
Against all expectations, the next day, the day of the tournament, had arrived.
We had received no information regarding the teams.
Everyone ate breakfast quickly except for me. I never ate when I was nervous.
Everyone headed toward the Inner Arena.
The crowd of people filling the streets grew larger and larger as we approached the arena.
What appeared to be the Inner Arena rose above the rooftops of the city's buildings. The term "Inner Arena" seemed to come from the fact that it was located right in the center of the city.
All pedestrian and roadways seemed to lead to it.
The large stone arena was oval-shaped.
At the entrance, several guards in uniform stood as straight as possible.
Inside, a barrier and a sign bore the inscription "Competitors Only".
I turned toward the others.
"I think I'll have to go now."
Lise smiled at me.
"Good luck, young master."
I smiled back.
"Thank you."
I turned around and continued alone down the corridor.
Sunlight streamed through the stone arches, the shadows created by their interweaving drifting across my face at regular intervals as I ventured deeper and deeper into the arena.
I could already hear voices in the distance.
When I reached the end of the corridor, it opened onto a large arched doorway leading into the noisy stadium.
Most of the other competitors had gathered there.
The moment I stepped onto the packed dirt of the field, the deafening roar of the spectators assaulted my ears.
Looking around, something immediately caught my attention.
I hadn't noticed it at first, but most of the competitors seemed to be over thirty years old.
I hadn't realized it before, but sending teenagers to represent an entire nation was particularly foolish. It was moments like these that reminded me just how close to collapse my uncle truly was.
The thought brought a bitter smile to my face.
I glanced toward the silver-haired boy who was gesturing wildly while speaking loudly.
He was inexperienced too. If the most powerful nation in the Tower had sent him, then he must possess an ace up his sleeve he had yet to reveal.
It would be better to stay cautious.
As the stadium continued to fill, the noise grew louder and louder.
Tens of thousands of spectators already occupied the stands. The banners of the various nations fluttered high above, stirred by the currents of air flowing over the stadium. Richly dressed nobles settled into the upper boxes while ordinary citizens crowded into the lower seats.
For them, this tournament was probably nothing more than a spectacle.
An opportunity to watch the future rulers of the Tower clash.
For us, it was different.
I surveyed the competitors.
Some were still joking around.
Others nervously checked their equipment.
Several had closed their eyes to meditate.
Each of them hid their anxiety in their own way.
Suddenly, as if by instinct, my gaze was drawn toward a platform among the stands. The arrival of a sudden silence among the crowd accompanied my eyes as they landed on an old man.
Aldric Valen stood there, motionless.
Once silence completely settled over the stadium, he spoke.
"Welcome."
His voice was neither particularly loud nor particularly deep.
Yet it reached every corner of the stadium with unsettling clarity.
As though the walls themselves had decided to repeat his words.
As though the air willingly carried his voice directly to every spectator.
"I am pleased to see that no one attempted to flee during the night."
A few nervous laughs erupted from the stands.
Aldric waited for them to fade before continuing.
"Every year, men and women from every corner of the Tower gather here to prove the worth of their nation."
The old man smiled faintly.
Then he raised his cane.
The tip gently struck the ground.
Tap.
The air seemed to vibrate.
An invisible wave swept across the stadium.
I felt the hairs on my arms stand on end.
Around me, several competitors instinctively straightened their backs. Even Isaac interrupted his conversation.
Then the sky above the arena lit up. Thousands of glowing particles appeared in the air. They floated for several moments before converging toward the center of the stadium.
The spectators gasped in amazement. The particles gathered together.
Then merged.
Finally, a gigantic translucent window materialized above the arena. It was so vast that it covered almost the entirety of the visible sky.
***
TOURNAMENT OF THE NOBLE BLOODLINES
Registered Participants: 23
***
Applause erupted throughout the stands.
However, I noticed that the competitors remained silent.
Unlike the spectators, we all knew the show had not yet begun.
The most important part was still to come.
Aldric waited a few seconds before continuing.
"As announced yesterday, the matches will take place in teams of two."
Murmurs immediately spread throughout the arena.
Some competitors exchanged glances.
Others sighed.
Most simply appeared resigned. After all, it was now far too late to protest.
The old man continued.
"The teams have been determined according to the Tower's criteria."
That sentence provoked several grimaces.
No one truly knew what "the Tower's criteria" actually meant.
And that was probably intentional.
"Some pairings will seem logical to you."
Aldric's smile widened slightly.
"Others much less so."
A few nervous laughs echoed through the arena.
A strange sensation had appeared in my chest. Like an invisible pressure.
I knew that feeling.
I had felt it in the forest.
I had felt it when I saw the hooded figure.
Aldric raised his cane once more.
The luminous window changed.
***
TEAM ASSIGNMENTS
***
Dozens of names began scrolling.
The spectators applauded.
The competitors, meanwhile, stared at the names with almost feverish attention.
To my left, a knight in his forties suddenly turned pale.
To my right, a red-haired woman let out a sigh of relief.
Further away, several people were already searching for their partners. I raised my eyes toward the list.
The names moved too quickly to read properly.
Then they slowed.
More.
More.
Until they finally stopped.
Dozens of teams appeared simultaneously.
The stadium immediately exploded into discussion.
I began searching for my own name.
It took me several seconds to find it.
***
TEAM 12
Kael [Britain]
■■■■■■■■■■ [■■■■■■]
***
I frowned.
The line was incomplete.
Around me, no one seemed to have noticed.
Every other team already had two names.
A slight chill ran down the back of my neck, and the pressure in my chest intensified.
As though something was waiting.
As though something was watching.
Then the window flickered.
The entire stadium seemed to hold its breath.
Even Aldric stopped smiling.
The letters beneath my name then began to disappear.
Slowly.
One by one.
As though someone were erasing them directly from the luminous surface.
***
TEAM 12
Kael [Britain]
***