The older cadet smiled “There is none.”

Both the boy's shoulders visibly dropped.

“Hahaha oh, the look on your two’s faces. I'm sorry boys, but tradition is tradition, it's your first year, so you got to be teased a little bit. Do you think the academy wouldn't tell you everything? it's a massive tournament that the whole empire watches of course everybody knows everything about it already.”

I considered her words. It was true that the Imperial Academy's tournament was watched by the vast majority of the empire. Additionally, Any changes that were enacted this year were foreign to her as they were to me.

“Well I guess that's true it's still sucks though,” I said with only a slight crestfallen tone.

“Well, anyways boys good luck in the tournament I hope to see you two competing.”

“We will, good luck to you too,” Wren said enthusiastically.”

Both the boys turned and headed towards the third-year registration table. Behind the table was a middle-aged woman with large bags underneath her eyes. She was slouched over a large stack of papers and looked to be half asleep.

“ I think she's dead.” Wren hadn't quite learned the difference between a whisper and a shout. The sound that emerged from his throat was enough to make the woman stir.

As she woke up rubbing her eyes she gave both boys a death glare. After seeing this I nudged my friend.

“Oh my God she's a zombie Alex are you sure it's safe”

I tried to give him a look saying” You're not funny” but failed miserably as I cracked a slight smile.

The woman looked even angrier. Wren was about to make yet another comment but this time he was stopped after I firmly stomped on his right foot. Wren let out a painful high-pitched screech more like a bird than an 8 year old boy. He blushed but then shut his mouth.

“Boys can I help you or are you just going to mock me.” The woman said in a half awake tone.

“Sorry ma'am my friend is a bit **cough**, well him anyways I was hoping to get two registration forms for the third year tournament.”

“Sure you keep an eye on him I smell trouble all over him.” After the woman handed over the forms she quickly went back to sleep.

“Ma'am ma'am”

“Dude she's asleep she really is an old lady, you would think that her cultivation makes you look younger and sleep less but yeshhh”

I glared at Wren. ren smiled running his hand through his auburn hair. “ Okay, maybe that one was a bit too far.”

“You think geez too think I'm stuck with you for 10 more years.”

Both the boys continued their playful banter as they filled out the form. When both had finished Wren put down his pen and turned over to me.

“ You done.”

“ Yeah, I'm almost finished just give me one more second.”

I finished and turned To face my friend. Both along with the hundreds of other students began to walk to the exit of the academy.

“So are you nervous at all.”

“ No, I feel good mom got me some nightly training with one of her lieutenants. In fact, after I get home and eat dinner I have one last session.”

“Well I'm happy you are but I’m not, my mom's gotten me training for a couple of months but. I know I can't win with you participating. But beyond that, I feel pretty good. ”

“Hey, Wren don't say that. If you got lucky with the arena and were able to ambush me. That could give you the opportunity to land a blow that could kill me in one go which would let you win.

In response, he gave me a look that could pierce the heart of a basilisk.

“I know you're trying to be nice but don't **sigh** I can maybe match you in those circumstances when you hold back and don't use your affinity. But the moment you turn on your flames I'm cooked”

“Literally.”

Wren's sour expression split into a far more jovial one. “Well, my carriage is that way.”

“All right see you”.

Before leaving wren slapped his fist against his open palm. “Oh wait before I forget did your parents get the invite mine sent.

You could be reading stolen content. Head to Royal Road for the genuine story.

“Yes they did they're very happy to get it. If I don't see you before then I'll see you tomorrow in the tournament box.

“Still sucks that I can't see you before the opening ceremony but traditions are traditions. Wren rolled his eyes at the thought.

“Anyways see you I got to catch my train. See you tomorrow.

“See you tomorrow.

As Wren walked away I noticed the other cadets headed in the same direction. They were all equipped with rings bracelets and other fine pieces of jewelry. Emblazoned upon the shoulders and backs of their uniforms were complicated and ornate family crests.

The people I walked with were far more mundane. The uniforms were well-maintained and certainly clean. But the people themselves had a far more rugged edge compared to the nobles. The family crests were simpler in design and size. Additionally, the crest only appeared on their shoulders. I was one of the few exceptions to this rule, With my mother's position as a Knight my family's crest was placed on the back of my uniform.

I walked towards Academy Station. For the poorer students. The train was the primary way for them to get to school. I had to take it because District 13 would be far too long of a carriage ride otherwise. Over the hubbub of the many students waiting for their train a clear voice could be heard.

“ Students departing for District 13 please board The train on platform 4.”

I stood up and walked over to the train. I had to rush to get a seat. District 13 although not a poor District by any means was heavily crowded. This of course meant that the train was particularly full. It also didn't help that the Imperial Military Academy attracted a certain crowd. Said, crowd lived in District 13 which was mostly the military operations District. Thus the rush for the seat. I particularly wanted a seat because I was one of the very few who got off at the very end of the train line at the wall.

I was lucky tonight. I was able to grab a seat with a window. As the train left the station with a puff of Mana. Its ruined engraved wheels could be faintly made out through the reflection of the window. I looked back at Nevermeyer beyond being the name of the city it was also the name of the massive world tree that sat at its heart.

Nevermeyer served many functions for the people of the Empire. The tree served as the home for the Imperial family. The grounds and dorms of the Imperial Military Academy. It also housed the Imperial Senate and Hall of Guilds.

But beyond its cultural importance, Nevermeyer could not be physically ignored. It stretched High into the sky reaching well above 30,000 feet and its branches cast Shadows all over the entirety of the city, Its trunk was around 5 miles wide. To say it was massive was an understatement.

As the sun set, it's the last rays caught in the branches of the great tree. As the train continued to trundle towards District 13 the tree lit up like a torch. I watched the world go by my thoughts on the tournament.

I was ready or so I thought, I'd prepared for many months. Although I might be two years younger than my peers. I could hold my own against them. In fact I feel like, I've got a good shot at winning. But that begs the question do I want to win? Most young cultivators in the Empire, would kill to make it into the final bracket let alone win the tournament. But for me, that answer is still unclear.

Winning the tournament would benefit my cultivation massively. With the rewards, I would easily push to the middle of the foundation realm if not farther before next year. This in turn would get me an even better advantage in next year's tournament and the following ones. Additionally being so young and having such a strong base would help my cultivation for decades to come. But I still didn't know if I really wanted it.

But in the end I didn't have a choice. I had to win. I let out an internal sigh. My dad's words came to me. “When you're writing a wave you're not thinking about its movements or how to control it you're just writing the damned wave so just let it go and enjoy yourself.”

I smiled at my dad's strange wisdom. Thinking about it now he definitely said some strange things. I continued to watch the world go by as the train continued towards the edge of the city. Usually during the long ride, I would do my homework but I had none as the semester was over. Eventually about an hour and a half after I left the academy the train got to its final stop.

“Passengers this is our final stop please exit the train and we hope you have a good night.” I stood giving it one last glance at the great tree before exiting the train and walking home. My home wasn't far from the train station. Much like the station, my home was right next to the city wall. This was not because my family could not afford the nicer city more inner District. No, it was because Mom was one of the captains of the city guard.

This meant she needed to be by the wall twenty-four-seven. That of course also meant her family needed to live by the wall.

I reminisced about a time before District 13. I didn't mind District 13 it was just utilitarian there was little joy in the architecture. But I wasn't able to think much about the district infrastructure before my belly cut me off.

I rubbed it.

“It's okay boy I'm going to get you fed soon. I’m sure Dad has something to eat” As I made my final journey home I wondered about what dad made.

“Dad I'm home”

“Okay Alex I'm already at the table come sit”

I dropped off my bag at the front doors slipped off my shoes and walked over to the table. I sat down and began to eat.

“So how was school?” Instead of answering I just nodded as my mouth was already full. “Good good anyways about your training.”

Suddenly Dad's jovial tone turned hard. “I told Kurt to head home. After all, you need your rest more than another night of training.”

I began to protest still with food in my mouth.

“Don't talk with your mouth full young man you know better than that.” Beyond the fact one More Night of training isn't going to get you anywhere. You need to wake up early and have your preliminary match so you need your rest.”

I swallowed before protesting. “But what about mom.” I will have a word with your mother when she gets home.

“But”

“Alex you heard me. We've been pushing you hard.” My Dad smiled.

“No matter what happens we're proud of you.”

I nodded but deep down didn't feel like it was true. “K, finish up your dinner and head to bed you have an early morning tomorrow”

I finished my dinner in silence. When I was done I stood up and dropped off my silverware in the sink before heading upstairs.

“Love you, son.”

“Love you too Dad.’

I entered my room and got changed into my night clothes. As I lay in bed I couldn't help but think about tomorrow. I was excited and confused. Excited about the festival for this was the first year could truly participate but confused about my emotions when it came to the tournament. But not even my weary mind could keep me from my slumber. As I thought about the future I fell asleep.