The air in the preparation chamber was thick with tension, a palpable mix of fear, anticipation, and barely contained aggression. Aiko stood before a rack of weapons, her eyes scanning the array of lethal implements laid out before her. The choice seemed impossibly weighty--There were an arrangement of many culture's most prized and deadly instruments of violence.

Saxun's words still rang in her ears, delivered just hours ago to the surviving candidates:

"Your second trial will test not just your physical prowess, but your tactical acumen and moral fiber. In the Arena of Frost, you will face each other in combat. Only 10 of you will emerge to continue your training. The rules are simple; incapacitate your opponents by any means necessary. Death is not the goal, but it may be an unfortunate consequence."

The headmistress's cold smile reminded Aiko of Queen Marna Vasca's own from the court. "Choose your weapon wisely, candidates. It may well determine your fate."

Now, as Aiko's hand hovered over the weapons, she found herself questioning everything. How had they come to this? Forced to fight each other for the right to continue through with their education... to endure blade on blade without failure.

She thought of Lina, of Mei, of the tentative bonds reformed in the days since their return from the tundra. Would she be forced to raise a weapon against them or would they forgive each other for what transpired?

Her fingers closed around the red basket hilt of a slender broadsword, its balance reminiscent of the training blades she'd used under her father's tutelage. The familiar weight brought a small measure of comfort, a connection to home, and reminder of the skills that had kept her alive so far in this far-off land's trial.

A motion to her left caught her attention. Nikolai stood nearby, his face a passionless camouflage as he methodically examined a set of throwing knives that glistened in the faint light of goat horn sconces. Their eyes met briefly, not daring to interact more than that as the boy studied their opponent's way of handling their weapon. Aiko hoped that they would not meet in combat, he seemed much more dangerous than he appeared or let on.

On her other side, Mei was hefting a long wooden staff, her small frame belying the strength in her arms as she tested its weight. The quiet girl's face was set in grim resolution, a far cry from the hesitant companion of their tundra ordeal that marked her as weak in Aiko's mind before.

A loud clang drew Aiko's attention to where Sven was experimentally swinging a massive war hammer. The burly Svetlan's face was split in a ferocious grin as if he relished the challenge ahead, possibly even wanting to dish out his previous anger after being ignored by the group. Nearby, Finn paced nervously, a crossbow clutched in his trembling hands as he knew he was much weaker than the rest.

And Lina... Aiko's heart clenched as she saw her friend struggling with a bow, her injured ankle still not fully healed from the trek. Their eyes met across the room, and Lina offered a weak smile that didn't reach her eyes. Aiko felt guilt, Lina still saw her as a friend even after leaving her to die of frost merely hours ago.

Before Aiko could move toward her to offer an apology, a harsh buzzer sounded, signaling the end of the allotted preparation time. The massive iron doors at the far end of the chamber began to grind open, revealing a blinding white light beyond.

"Candidates," Saxun's sharp voice echoed through hidden speakers, "enter the arena. Your test begins now."

With a collective intake of breath, the survivors moved forward, emerging onto a vast circular field enclosed by towering walls of ice. The ground was a mix of snow and pale bare rock, dotted with ice formations that could serve as cover or obstacles. Above, a domed forcefield shimmered faintly, protecting the rows of spectators that ringed the upper levels of the arena.

Aiko blinked against the intense glare, her eyes adjusting to taking in the sights of the second-largest coliseum she had ever set eyes upon. She wondered if similar engineers had built the Vascan Searing-Bowl, noticing the way the edges sloped to create a large arched V toward the opposite side of the entrance.

The other prospects spread out, some clustering in small groups, others immediately seeking solitary positions among the ice-field. The tension in the air was electric, a storm waiting to break that would decimate what little camaraderie they had...or bind them forever in its traumatic passing.

In the stands, thousands of Svetlan citizens watched with bated breath. Massive screens hung at intervals, displaying close-ups of the candidates and biometrics gathered by the institution so far. Aiko caught a glimpse of her own face, stern and decided, broadcast for all to see.

A booming voice filled the arena, a commentator whipping the crowd into a frenzy:

"Citizens of Svetlan! Behold the future of our great nation! These young warriors have survived the merciless tundra, and now they will prove their worth in glorious combat!" Aiko could not see him, yet knew he most likely had done a backflip while speaking due to his cadence.

The roar of the crowd was deafening, bloodlust and excitement mixing in a cacophony that sent chills down Aiko's spine; not of fear, but of surging adrenaline from the sheer volume of their cries. This was merely entertainment for them, she realized. Their current struggle, their potential deaths, nothing more than a spectacle.

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A countdown appeared on the screens, and Aiko tightened her grip on her sword. Her eyes flitted around, assessing potential threats and allies. She saw Lina limping towards a nearby ice formation, seeking cover. Nikolai had taken up a position on high ground, his throwing knives at the ready. Mei stood in the open, her staff held in a defensive stance.

As the countdown reached zero, a piercing whistle cut through the air. For a split second, nobody moved. Then, chaos erupted into bloody beginnings.

Sven let out a war cry and charged towards the nearest group of candidates, his hammer swinging in wide, devastating arcs. Bodies flew as the massive weapon connected, and screams of pain mingled with the cheers of the crowd. 2 had already been fully incapacitated as loud buzzers signaled the students' inability to continue.

Finn, panic evident on his face, loosed a volley of crossbow bolts wildly, forcing several candidates to dive for cover. One bolt found its mark in the shoulder of a girl Aiko hadn't met, sending her sprawling to the ground as she wailed loudly.

Aiko found herself moving on instinct, years of training from her father taking over like a second brain as she deflected a sword thrust from an attacking candidate. Aiko retaliated with a swift kick to his midsection, sending him stumbling back. Part of her wanted to press the advantage and slit his throat, to eliminate a threat instantly like her training suggested she do next, but she held back, unwilling to cause unnecessary harm.

An influx of movement caught her eye, and she turned to see Nikolai engaged in a deadly dance with two other candidates. His throwing knives flew with exactness, finding gaps in his opponent's defenses. One went down clutching a bleeding thigh, while the other fell back instantly, crumbling while uselessly gripping the open gash that was now his throat.

Mei was holding her own against a much larger opponent, her staff a blur as she parried blows and struck with unparalleled grace. The quiet girl's face was a mask of concentration, her movements fluid and cultivated despite the violence of the encounter.

As Aiko maneuvered through the chaos, deflecting attacks and disabling opponents where she could, She began to question herself. How could she survive this without compromising her principles? How could any of them emerge from this crucible with their humanity intact?

A scream of pain cut through her thoughts, and she turned to see Lina cornered by two aggressive candidates hailing from either Tykar or Atlantia, Aiko had no time to decipher. Her friend's bow lay broken at her feet, and she clasped her injured ankle, abject fear evident on her face.

Without hesitation, Aiko sprinted towards them, her sword flashing in the harsh arena lights as she crossed the gap in what felt like a micro-second to the dazzled crowd. Aiko caught the first attacker by surprise, the flat of her blade connecting with his temple and sending him tumbling to the ground with a stinging pang. The second turned to face her, a mace swinging towards her head with full murderous intent.

Aiko barely ducked under the blow, feeling the breeze of its passage ruffle her curly hair. She swept her leg out, catching her opponent's ankles and sending him falling to the floor. A swift axe kick to the face separated him from his weapon, and she stood over him, sword pointed at his throat.

"Stay down," she growled, before turning to Lina. "Are you alright?"

Lina nodded, her eyes wide with a mixture of gratitude and shock. "Aiko, I... thank you."

Before Aiko could respond, a new commotion drew their attention. Sven had cornered Nikolai, the Svetlan's massive hammer bearing down on the smaller more intelligent boy. Nikolai's knives seemed pitifully inadequate against the onslaught, and Aiko could see terror breaking through his usually stoic facade.

Without thinking, Aiko moved to intervene. She knew Nikolai had made ruthless choices in the tundra, knew he might well turn on her given the chance, but she couldn't stand by and watch him be crushed by the northerner.

As she approached, Sven's hammer came down in a devastating motion. Nikolai managed to roll aside at the last second, the weapon smashing into the ice where he had been standing. In that moment of recovery, Aiko struck out her blade.

Her sword whipped upward, scoring a line across Sven's unprotected back. It wasn't a deep cut, but it was enough to get his attention. The burly Sven roared something in Svetish, whirling to face this new threat as his native tongue was writhe with venom.

"You shouldn't have interfered, Vascan," he snarled, his eyes wild with battle lust.

Aiko stood her ground, sword at the ready. "I'm a Buritian...I will make you regret your choices here on the field."

Sven's response was a bellowing laugh. "little girl. I'm here to win, whatever it takes...No shit-skin runt from the sands is gonna make me start losing now--I'm a fuckin' Saxun for god's sake!"

He charged in, his hammer translating a deadly force towards her head that caused the crowd to reach orgasmic levels of enjoyment at the spectacle.

Aiko waited until the last possible moment before ducking and sliding on the icy ground, passing between Sven's large legs just before he could connect his mighty blow. As she came up behind him, she struck out with the pommel of her sword, catching him in the back of the knee with a loud thump.

Sven stumbled painfully, off-balance for a crucial moment. It was all the opening Nikolai needed. A knife flew from his hand, burying itself in Sven's left shoulder. The big Svetlan screamed in agony, his hammer falling from now nerveless fingertips.

As Sven fell to his knees, Aiko found herself standing side by side with Nikolai. Their eyes met, a moment of understanding passing between them. Whatever had happened in the tundra, whatever might happen after this, right now they were at least truly allies.

"We need to end this," Nikolai said, his voice low and urgent. "Before more people we know turn on each other."

Aiko nodded, her quick mind already reaching the same conclusion. "We need to rally the others. Show them there's another way...We can all make it to the next round."

As they formulated a plan, the battle raged on around them. The arena was a chaos of clashing weapons, screams of misery and defiance, and the constant vociferation of the bloodthirsty assemblage. The screens above showed a constantly updating tally: 35 candidates still active, 7 incapacitated or eliminated.

Aiko's eyes scanned the battlefield, picking out familiar faces amidst the melee. Mei was still holding her own, her staff a whirlwind of defensive moves. Finn had found a defensible position and was sniping at targets of opportunity with his remaining crossbow bolts. And Lina...

With a startled gasp, Aiko realized she'd lost sight of her friend in the chaos. Fear gripped her heart as she searched frantically for a glimpse of red hair among the combatants...But found none.