Mavec stood before the Boar Eaters. "Ok, look. Here's the deal, see that guy over there?" He said, pointing to Warren. “I don't want you to hurt him... wait, no, I do want you to, but I don't want you to get disqualified, though that would be fucking hilarious. So anyway, don't hurt him because I don't want to deal with you dealing with the fallout... but I'll pay you gold to do shit to mess up his night. Shit in his food, have your rat dogs piss on his shoes, and I will pay you a gold for EVERY minor annoyance you commit against that man."

"Pay gold first!" The leader of the boar eaters demanded.

"What do you have in mind?" Mavec said, placing five gold coins on the table and sliding them his way.

"Boogie have goblins tussle near human. They secretly dump goblin-dog dander on him. Goblin-dog dander VERY itchy. He no know peace until he go wash in river or lake."

"Hell, yes," Mavec said, slapping two more gold coins onto the table. "Consider that a tip," Boogie called over several of his goblins and gave them instructions. Three of his goblins exited the tent for a moment and returned. They got into a scuffle, purposefully moving in Warren's direction. They bumped into him, and Mavec saw the powder spill down the back of his shirt. He raised a glass to the goblins. "Hell, yes."

Bait didn't recognize any other groups. A few looked very fancy like their pockets might contain excellent and exciting things, but no, Bait in Sha-Laial. Bait need to live here for now. No searching pockets. Others looked more rough and tumble, closer to how the cheese acolytes looked. Adventurers. One in particular stood out. He was in the most vibrant colors with an enormous hat with brilliant plumage adorning it. "Nice hat. Who you?" Bait asked. The man looked down at him; he had sharp, angular features and was thin and toned. He towered over Bait but wouldn't have stood taller than Illaria.

"San Verado, of the Sons of Marora, a pleasure to meet you," He said, doing a quick bow. "Who might you be?"

"I'm Bait of the cheese acolytes. Do you know Blackpowder goblins? I look for them,"

San Verado paused for a long moment before answering as if mulling over his answer.

"No, I've only had the pleasure of meeting the Boar Eaters and their leader, Boogie."

"K, bye," Bait grumbled and walked away and went to find Boogie. "Boogie, dis important, more important den spear or boom-boom. In travels you ever see Blackpowder goblins? Bait search for clan."

"Boogie answer first, den mock you for inferior weapon. Boar Eaters have not seen Blackpowder in many, many, many moons. Goblinmoot think dey dead. If you Blackpowder, Boogie hope they not. No goblin should be alone. Even inferior boom-boom fan."

"Bait appreciate dis, though boom-boom is better than stabby-stab," he said before he turned and scampered away to find Illaria and his fellow Blue Banner associates. "Hi," He said as he walked up beside Alvec.

"Here, Bait, we brought you something. Sea-salt cheese from Ac-Aziza," one of the men said, passing him over a small hunk of cheese wrapped carefully in brown paper and tied together with some twine. Bait quickly accepted it and unwrapped it, shoving the whole thing into his horrible little mouth. The hunk of cheese barely fit in his mouth. He munched on it loudly for a few minutes.

"I believe that means he likes it and says thank you. Isn't that right, Bait," Illaria said as she leaned over and looked at Bait. He took the cue and shook his head up and down in agreement. He still couldn't understand why Illaria was so insistent on the niceties. Wasn't him eating it confirmation enough that he enjoyed it? Why Bait gotta say it? Why he gotta tell them thank you?

Everyone continued to mill about as they waited to be called. Slowly, the teams started filtering out individually, being led toward the stadium. The sun was high overhead, just beginning its downward descent. The groups started to gather together as more groups were called up. Mavec watched Warren and the academy's artificers get called up. He was scratching at his back pretty frantically, just as Boogie said he would. It felt good to see. The room slowly emptied.

"Illaria, last chance to switch teams," her friends informed her as the Blue Banner was called in.

"Sorry, I'm good where I am," she replied. Annoyingly, it seemed like her own team would be called nearly last. Scratch that; it would be final. The Tieflings from the bell forge with bright red skin went before them, leaving the group alone.

"So let's all try to make a good impression. I can augment some displays with spells." Alvec said as he pulled a lump of coal out of his pocket. "Illaria, you'd look lovely with a rain of diamonds glinting behind you.

Stolen from its original source, this story is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.

"Not a bad idea," she said.

"I'm going to talk smack and shoot off some lightning. Straight into the sky for safety reasons," Mavec insisted.

"Alright, your teams up," one of the men said as he walked over to them. Naya took the lead, Echo walking beside her. Alvec took up a position in the back of the group. This was it, the final moment to decide. To lean on his grandfather's legacy or focus on forging his own.

The stadium was packed. People from all walks of life sat in the wooden stadium. Dock workers and members of the noble families intermingled as vendors hocked their wares. There were hushed whispers and loud shouts as bets began to roll in. A man stood on the grass with a finger pointed at his neck, arcane magic amplifying his voice. "And now, for the Cheese Acolytes."

Naya nearly flubbed her step as she spun round to face the group, mortified.

"That's not the name I wrote! Bait! What did you do?!"

"Ace's High was dumb, Cheese Acolytes better," he said.

"Oh, spirits, can we still change it?" Naya asked.

"We've already been announced; I think it might be a bit late for that. I say we just lean into it. If anyone asks, it was to humor Bait," Illaria said. "You still be wanting to go first, Naya?" she asked, a hand resting gently on her sword.

Naya shook her head and spun back around.

"Echo, let's do this," she said as she drew a blade and pointed forward. "Charge." Echo ran ahead; at the same time, Naya herself sprinted after him. She spoke the word that activated his collar. Naya jumped up and balanced on his back as he began to enlarge. "I'm Naya, and this is Echo, and we're going to win!" she shouted.

Echo barked loudly in excitement.

The two of them made a lap around the stadium, and Naya leaned over with one hand, reaching out to the people on the first floor she was now level with. She slapped their outstretched hands and eventually followed the announcer's directions to exit. She leaped off Echo just before he started shrinking back to regular size.

"A warm welcome for Naya and her wolf, Echo!" the announcer said, his voice magically ringing through the whole crowd.

As she exited, Bait walked into the center of the field, drew his musket, fired it off into the sky twice, and said. "Hi, I'm Bait. Cheese acolytes best acolytes,” before walking off.

Mavec and Piquora strode in with purpose up to the announcer.

"And there you have it, folks, a second goblin competitor! One with a penchant for gunpowder and cheese! A round of applause for Bait!"

Mavec practically bull-rushed the announcer. "Warren! You're a thief, a cheapskate, and a coward! Before this tournament ends, I, Mavec, will show everyone your true colors!" he shouted before both he and Piquora launched bolts of azure lightning thundering through the sky.

The announcer, a man in his 50s, fluffed his coat and spoke again. "Well, that certainly was electrifying. Doesn't everyone just love a grudge match? Give it up for Mavec!"

Illaria stepped forward, Alvec right behind her. Her swordplay may have been excellent, but it lacked a certain flashiness Alvec could add to it. He quickly made a spark of arcane fire and pressed it against his cloak. He immediately faded out of sight as Illaria began her sword dance. He only had a few seconds of her distracting them to get into place and ready his display. He quickly armored himself and activated his defensive aura.

"Illaria of the Blue Banner Armies Coffin Flotilla," the announcer stated as she brandished her blade in quick, clean strikes against an imaginary foe. As she started, Alvec crouched low down, still unseen, and as she moved towards the end of her blade work, Alvec aimed to the sky and squeezed the coal before casting the spell. A brilliant display resembling diamonds spraying into the sky shimmered behind her. The bright red of her hair seemed to reflect off the shards, casting a shimmering red in with the brilliant, clear sparkle. With that, she did a fancy spin and moved towards the exit.

"Give it up for our second fighter from the Blue Banner army, Illaria! A strong showing for them this year," the announcer shouted.

Alvec wasn't as sure what to do for himself. His magic wasn't as flashy as Mavec's, but he had a plan. Rem stood beside him, a scroll lying on the ground before him. Rem tapped his paws onto the scroll as if he were hunting it. Suddenly, a Skeleton rose from the scroll and lunged at Alvec. He rolled with the onslaught, bringing his shield up to intercept. He pivoted, forcing the skeleton past him, sliding off his buckler. Without missing a beat, Alvec whipped the dagger from its sheath with his tail and passed it into his waiting and ready hand. He jammed the blade into the base of the skeleton's skull and let the spell stored within go. The electricity blasted through the creature, and it crumbled to dust as Alvec resheathed the dagger. “Alvec Snaptail and Rem, owner of ACE equipage. If you need magical equipment, clockwork, alchemy, and, dare I say, guns, we have what you need." With that, he headed for the exit.

"A fox that can do magic, a wizard who can tussle, what a strange pair! Give it up for Alvec and Rem!" As he went to rejoin the group, the cheers from a small section caught his attention. Edis and Nora were there with other members of their boarding house, cheering for them.

"For our final announcement, I know the church has been buzzing about this rumor for weeks. I am honored to inform you that this year's festival will be overseen by TaeCol! Thats right! The TaeCol! Legendary Paladin of the church of Kushang. A fearsome protector of the weak and champion of the just. Please give him a warm reception." The announcer gestured towards a small box built into the stands with fewer people. One of them was a graying man wearing full plate armor. He waved to a thunderous applause. As Alvec rejoined his group, he noticed something in his pocket. A letter marked with the Reynore's family crest.