The horns were blaring, fireworks were exploding, music was blasting, and cheers were ringing out so loudly that I had to cover my ears to protect them from the noise. Everyone was in lively spirits now that it was time for the preliminaries to begin. They were hosting a big festival near the stadium. Every restaurant and store in Port Silis had been remodeled with bright colors and cheerful decorations to reflect the festive atmosphere.I watched Clein and Isaac cheer and wave as the parade of colorful floats passed by in front of the stadium. The performers wowed the audience with their daring acrobatics, while the dancers mesmerized them with their graceful movements. Magicians were casting an array of magic, the crackling of fire and the feeling of icy sculptures beneath their fingertips. It was a beautiful sight to behold.
“This is so awesome!” Isaac said excitedly.
“It’s awesome, alright... and loud!” I shouted through the ruckus.
“It’s a festival! Of course it’s going to be loud!” Clein howled.
“...Smartass.” I mumbled under my breath.
“Hahaha! I’m glad you both are enjoying the festivities. I want you to know that there’s another one after the tournament is over, and it’ll be twice as fun and big!”
“This is only the appetizer and not the main course?!” I accidentally screamed out loud. I couldn’t help but feel shocked. There’s no way you’re telling me that this event is small compared to what has yet to come.
Clein gifted me a smile and said, “Did I not say Port Silis’ entertainment is unmatched on this luxurious day?”
“You said that for the tournament,” I reminded.
“You know what I meant.”
I should’ve figured these people aren’t only forward to the tournament...
We stayed and watched the parade until they had all gone to a different section of the city. As the floats began to move to a different section of the city, the crowd that was watching on the sidelines either dispersed or trailed behind, whooping and jabbering in jubilance.
“Isaac, Laila, are you ready to watch the preliminaries?” Clein said, pointing toward the stadium.
“I was born ready,” Isaac smiled.
“Mhm,” I nodded.
“Great. Let’s get front-row seats.”
Clein led us through the front doors of the stadium and into the lobby. The white marble floor looked clean and free of scratches, enough to see your own reflection shimmering. There were many hallways inside the building, all leading in different directions. Everywhere you looked there was something different to explore - snack bars, lounges, restrooms, and even a gift store that sold attire and stuffed animals. People milled around with friends and families happily chatting and pointing at different sections. To our left was a long line of individuals of varying species behind one another. The reception table at the front was bustling with activity, two officials in a flurry of motion. The two had the heads and torsos of a human, but their lower bodies were scaly, reptilian tails.
“Here is your ticket. You are number seven on the list. Hang tight until you hear your number called to start your match. Next!” The official who just spoke had a feminine, high-pitched voice and a slender build beneath a brown tunic.
“You’re number 11. Wait until you hear the announcement, yada-yada. Get lost. Next! When’s my break time…” a male said through gritted teeth. He shared the same attire as his co-worker, and his frame was bigger.
“Do we have to wait in line, Clein? Shouldn’t we get top priority? That’s how it works, right?” I asked the man.
His gaze shifted to the line, then to us, and then back to the line. “Yes. I don’t know why there isn’t a separate line for you guys. You might as well join the queue. I noticed that some of the invited tournament participants were in the line, too. I guess they changed something this year. We’ll find out later. While you sign up, I’ll get us some seats.”
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And with that, Clein left us alone, disappearing into the crowd. I glanced at the overflowing line.
“Let’s not waste any more time, Isaac. Don’t want the line getting longer.”
Isaac shrugged his shoulders and motioned for me to go ahead. With me taking the lead, we spotted where the line ended and placed ourselves behind a tall figure; a gray demogre wearing a loincloth and a furry pelt draped across its wide shoulders like a cape. The creature turned its body and stared down at us, smirking.
“Are you little pups lost? This isn’t a daycare, you know! Haw-haw-haw!” The demogre guffawed at his own joke and wiped tears from his eyes. All I could do was roll my eyes, ignoring the beast. Isaac thought otherwise and smiled at the demogre.
“Pups? Ha! I bet I could beat you with my eyes closed!”
I mentally face-palmed and whispered, “Isaac...”
“Oh? Are you sure about that?” The demogre snickered. It seemed ready to burst into boisterous laughter any second now until a new person joined the queue. He had sun-kissed skin and a long-sleeved muscle shirt that clung to his toned physique, emphasizing his chiseled features. His man bun comprised silky black hair, and his eyes were a menacing shade of hazel, enough to make any predator run away. I had to shake myself out of my daydream by slapping my cheek to stop myself from getting lost in the sight of his muscular abs.
He had a hand resting on a sheath placed on his hip. “Are you moving up or not? Stop holding up the queue. Or else.”
“A-Aren’t you the previous winner of the Port Silis Annual Tournament?!” the creature stuttered, his shoulders trembling.
The man raised his chin and glared at the demogre. “I won’t ask you again, demogre.”
“Sorry! I’ll move up!”
The frightened creature quickly moved up a few faces ahead and was now actively avoiding eye contact with us. Despite the situation, Isaac was intrigued by the man and paid no attention to anything else.
“That talking demogre said you’re the previous winner. Is that true?”
“...”
“Ah... the silent type, eh?”
“...”
“Well, just know that the victor of this tournament will not be you, but either me or my sister!” Isaac boldly announced.
That seemed to get a reaction out of him as he is now glancing at me and Isaac. “Hoh? What a bold statement. I hope you aren’t all talk. It’d be nice If I could find a worthy adversary here...”
“You are number 28,” said the female official. “Please wait until you hear your number called by the announcement and you’ll be guided by personnel. Next!”
It was now my turn to enroll in the tournament. I sauntered up to the counter and handed her my badge.
“Oh? Representatives of Igni Town? It’s been a while since this occurred. You are number 29. Please wait until you hear your number called by the announcement and you’ll be guided by personnel to your destination. Good luck with the preliminaries! NEXT!”
She handed me a slip of paper with the number 29. Before I thought of walking away, I remembered what the female had just said.
“Preliminaries? I heard that if you were formally invited or are representatives of your respective city, you’ll instantly qualify for the main tournament?”
The woman looked up from a book she was glancing at and smiled. “Oh, that? The rules have been changed by the king! Everyone, and I mean EVERYONE, will battle it out to enter the main tournament. You’ll know more about it later. Bye-bye!”
The serpent lady shooed me away and motioned for Isaac to step up.
“...Thanks, I guess,” I grumbled. I was hoping to cruise through this whole thing, but now I have to get through the preliminaries. I don’t know how strong my opponents will be, but I’ll have to try my best.
I heard rapid footsteps approaching from behind as I shuffled aimlessly through the vast lobby. When I turned around, Isaac abruptly stopped and waved the piece of paper that had our numbers on it.
“Hey, Laila! What happens if we were to fight in the preliminaries?”
Oh, that’s right. Now that the situation has changed, what do we do when that happens? Do we just fight like normal?
I scratched the back of my head and answered vaguely. “I don’t know. We’ll figure that out later. Right now, we should wait until our numbers are called. They said someone would lead us to the arena.”
Just as I was about to walk away, Isaac held up a hand in front of me. “Hold up. I just realized. Are the fights randomized? What are the rules?”
“I don’t know man... We’ll ask one of the officials later. They would know something.”
Once Isaac finished his questioning, I followed one of the participants, hoping they would lead us to the correct place, and sure enough, they did. Up ahead was a sort of sitting room with cushioned chairs and pristine tables spread out neatly. In the middle was a large screen similar to a television that had aerial footage of the arena. However, instead of functioning like your regular old tv, the footage was holographic. Maybe this was done through some kind of magic? Port Silis seems rich enough to possess the resources to make this happen.
“Look. That may be the waiting area. How about we go talk to some of them?” I proposed.
Isaac narrowed his eyes and inspected the room. “Collecting information about our enemies beforehand? Smart idea.”
“I didn’t think about it that wa-“
Isaac was already gone and chatting with a group of people. I sighed and glanced around the room, thinking of whom to mingle with, until I spotted a blond sitting alone on a couch. She would do just nicely as my first target.