Xerxes opened his eyes after being plunged straight through the very earth itself, and where he found himself, he couldn't have expected.
The sky stretched endlessly above, a vast canvas of crystalline blue, so clear it seemed to hum with an ethereal depth.
Wisps of clouds drifted lazily, and the air carried a crispness to it, giving Xerxes' skin a slight bite of cold as the wind brushed over him.
Staring at the azure blue sky, he saw Leiya and Thornfum, who still held Claudia, walk into vision as they looked down at him.
Leiya put out a hand. "Don't stay lying down forever, Xerxes. We're here—well, at least I think we are."
Xerxes looked around, seeing many others who were similar to him, shaken and confused by what had just happened. However, they weren't just any people; these were the faces he had seen within the Hollow Veil guild. "They're all participants for the tournament."
Xerxes took Leiya's hand, and as he brought himself up, he looked around, saying, "Where are we, Leiya, Thornfum?"
Many others seemed to share the same question, as a lot of voices called from the crowds: "WHAT IS THIS?", "WHERE ARE WE?"
Echoing throughout the entire platform's surface, a voice that was slightly high-pitched, yet demanding enough, gathered everyone's attention: "Questions, worries...my, you all seem distressed for people who are awaiting the chance to partake in my exam."
Xerxes looked around and knew he couldn't see anything, but when sensing out for the voice's presence, it was too difficult a task due to the large congestion of all the surrounding adventurers.
Clearing his mind, Xerxes thought, 'It'll be best that I listen to what this person is saying rather than trying to figure out anything yet.'
"As you all may know, you seemed to have fallen through the very earth, and no, you didn't descend to hell. Instead, you have all ascended to a marvel of dwarven creation. This creation is called the Heavens Arena."
The words "Heavens Arena" were said, and as if acting as a key to enter into something unknown and profound, the very platform's shape began to change. Pillars of earth began rising and gliding over the heads of many people.
The earth began to mould and carve its way into its very own desirable shape, until it formed a colosseum that seemed to be constructed by the very best earthen mage in history—perhaps it was.
Despite the commotion, one thing Xerxes noticed was resting within what he could tell was the 'epicentre'—a large concentration of mana. 'Airi, that mana I sense from the epicentre… as soon as the colosseum was created, I sensed it. It was a power so great that it felt equal… no, it felt greater than Yves'.'
Airi replied, "You wouldn't be wrong. Throughout the entire platform, I see threads of mana that aren't tangled or intertwined; they seem to stretch as far as the eye can see. Whatever this is powered from must be as powerful, if not more powerful, than an Aspect."
Xerxes observed Thornfum's and Leiya's faces, but still, they were oblivious to that power radiating, so he didn't press the matter further. Instead, he waited for what the voice had to say.
Emerging from the top of the arena, a man on a hovering piece of earth appeared in front of the entire crowd. Slouching on top, a dwarf rested. His hair was tied back into a smooth ponytail, dirty blonde, that dropped from the edge of the rock. His face was smooth, with no imperfections in his skin.
His eyes were glowing a strange colour, radiating a pink hue, and his features were very sharp and angular. He wore a suit in an attempt to appear professional, but by his mannerisms and overall body language, he failed in that regard.
"Many of you may know me as Daryul Sindrel. Some may know me as the former leader of the Hollow Veil Guild, but my true status now is Vaisel Mage of the great Aspect of the Baratheon Kingdom, Mazium Forbringer."
The crowd gasped after hearing this; even Thornfum seemed surprised at the announcement of his new status. "As some of you may or may not know, a Vaisel Mage is someone who works directly under the Aspect of a kingdom, and as for myself, I've decided to take on that responsibility in order to mould great adventurers for this continent."
"More than that, I want to see who can potentially assume this position after myself. If you are not from the dwarven kingdoms, do not fret—I do wish to recommend you to other Aspects who have that position of Vaisel Mage 'vacant'."
He then waved his hand. "But this isn't what you're here for, is it? You're here for combat, glory, and perhaps something deeper and more true to who you are—and today, you can prove that conviction in the Eclipse Tournament, if that isn't yet there, today it will be found or earned. And as your presenter and your judge, I do wish to see that."
"The first game will be as follows: it will simply be a 4-on-4 battle. After all, there are many of you, and I need to reduce these numbers greatly." He said with a chuckle that followed.
"But the battles ahead won't only test your combat; they will test more. They will test determination, strategy, physical, mana, and mental capacity and strength… generally everything to test how much of an adventurer you are."
"The rules of the first round are simple: either defeat your opponent or be knocked out of bounds. If you do lose this battle, then your entire team is kicked out of the tournament. And to be extra harsh, if any of your teammates are defeated within the first minute of the tournament, then they'll be kicked out of the tournament, and instead of fighting as a party of four, you will have to make do with three."
Leiya said to the rest of the Embered Flame, reflecting on her own experience, "It does sound cruel, but it's reality. We're trying to gain as much experience as we can from this tournament and reflect it on our own lives going forward. His rules are fair, even if they seem cruel."
Thornfum put a fist into a palm, grinning. "Ya', but Thornfum the Great doesn't need any handicaps. The man I am, a man of valour and determination, ain't gonna wanna fight a team with fewer than four members, so it's unfair for them."
Daryul let the commotion play out for a little while until he interjected, "You all have ten minutes to prepare. The battle will last five minutes. You are all free to discuss strategy and the other jargon. You will be free to view the battles as you wish, but if you do require medical assistance, I recommend doing that over watching the battle, as I won't wait for you. Is that understood?"
Everyone either nodded their heads in agreement or voiced their agreement, as individual parties began sectioning themselves away from others, seemingly discussing strategy, whilst the Embered Flame also followed in a similar manner.
They all took seats on the floor as Thornfum boasted, "Eh, strategy is quite long-winded. I feel like a beauty nap would help me better. Being around Claudia all the time is contagious—it's best we awaken her."
Fascinated by the idea of seeing Claudia awake, Thornfum took her off his back and placed her down. There was a specific pattern of runic markings lathered across her arm. Thornfum then retracted his fist and punched her straight in the arm.
Nothing happened, as Thornfum looked at her awkwardly. "Well, this is supposed to work. Uhh, I'll try again!" Thornfum then went to repeat the same motion, but as soon as his hand was about to reach—while her eyes were closed—Xerxes and Leiya finally saw her move.
She immediately raised her hand and grabbed Thornfum's punch. Her eyes then opened as she began to sit up from her lying position.
Her eyes were alluring and a deep purple, glowing similarly to Daryul's. She looked over at Leiya and Xerxes and gave a smile that didn't quite reach her eyes. "Before you say anything, I've been able to hear, but I suppose now it is the very first time I am meeting you all formally. It's nice to meet you, Leiya, and party leader Xerxes."
Thornfum then raised his eyebrow. "Oi, Claudia, what's with the funny business? Do you forget that the guild leader—me—has been takin' care of ya'? I think ya' still dreaming."
Using her water magic to put a bubble around Thornfum's head temporarily to keep him quiet, she nonchalantly raised a hand towards Leiya. As Leiya shook it, she did the same with Xerxes.
"Thank you both for giving me the chance. I know I am more of a liability than a strength, but while I am awake, I will assist to the best of my ability, that I can assure you. And with whatever strategy you two have created—as I assume you have—I will be able to follow along. You have to believe me."
Leiya saw how gentle and caring Claudia was, and despite her situation, despite being cursed, she still held her head level and managed a smile. For Leiya, it truly made her start looking inward into herself. Was she selfish for being so emotional, or was she justified? That, she couldn't tell right now.
She chose to hold her question, and she would seek answers after the tournament. But as long as Claudia was awake and willing to use her knowledge and prowess to assist her and Xerxes, she was ready. "Thank you, Claudia, for being understanding and ready to battle despite everything you're going through."
Xerxes nodded, sharing the same surprise at her rationality. "Yeah! I'm surprised, Claudia. I thought you might have been grumpy, in all honesty, but you're calm—that's something we can work with. But what I will tell you is what me and Leiya have learned and a brief run-down as quick as we can."
After hearing both of their abilities, freeing Thornfum, and receiving a brief run-down on particular strategies, Claudia nodded her head. "You're both extraordinary for your age—that I can applaud. Very well, then. I believe the ten minutes are over. I wish us the best."
And at that very tenth minute, once again, the party fell through the floor, landing on their feet as they entered into a colosseum that was now transformed with various terrain, as well as thousands of people within the stadium whose voices were only now audible.
Xerxes and the party looked over, and their opponents were visible. Xerxes' first opponent would be Nicolas and his party, as he looked back with a sinister grin, his sword in hand, ready to snuff out the embered flame.