“I’m more excited for this than I am for my own matches,” said Aurin with a big grin on his face. He, Luna and Shamtile were walking towards the town square, where a large crowd had gathered. Innogon, true to form, was riding on Luna’s back. “Are you nervous?” Aurin asked.

“Yes,” admitted Luna. “This doesn’t feel the same as tower battles. You know I’m not good with large crowds.”

“This is nothing compared to the stadium. Don’t stress too much. Just do what you do when we battle and you’ll be fine. Remember how well you did against Hunter last year? You’re much better now than you were back then.”

“You’re right, you’re right…” muttered Luna as Innogon hopped off her back and started to walk alongside the two tamers and Shamtile.

As the duo and their Minakai approached the crowd, they spotted a young man with an Arium emerging. “Fancy seeing you two here,” he said.

“Hi Jimmy,” said Luna. “It’s been a while.”

“Glad to see you’ve still got your Arium,” joked Aurin.

Jimmy laughed awkwardly. “Yes, no more mugging for me. Thanks again for getting him back safely last year.”

“Don’t mention it,” said Aurin. “Are you in the tournament this year?”

“I was until a few days ago. I got knocked out in the top sixty four, so that’s unfortunate. I was hoping we’d get a rematch. That said, you’re in the top sixteen so I guess that answers how that would have turned out.”

“He’s not that tough,” jabbed Luna, making Aurin scowl.

“Focus on your own fight,” Aurin retorted.

“Oh, you’re going to fight in the square?” asked Jimmy. “Come to think of it, I didn’t see you in the tournament listings. How come?”

“It just wasn’t for me,” said Luna cheerily. “I still love battling, but I’d rather do it for fun than professionally. I’m more interested in Minakai medicine.”

“Ah, the herbs and fruits? Yeah, some of those are fantastic. Have you ever heard of a Solee Berry? I used one on Arium once and he started punching twice as fast. It was incredible!”

“Oh yes! I have one too, but I haven’t used it yet. I’m waiting until we try and push above the thirtieth floor so it isn’t wasted on a bad run.”

“You can’t predict these things though,” said Aurin. “You could use it on floor twenty and then be ejected the very next floor.”

“You just want to use it for yourself,” said Luna. “You still think you can use it on Dolissile, and he’ll be able to burst through the walls.”

“It’s worth a try,” said Aurin. “I want to see what’s outside of the walls and if we’re really in another dimension.”

Jimmy laughed and then glanced over his shoulder. “You should jump in quick, there’s somebody waiting for a battle.”

“I don’t kn—” Luna began before Aurin steered her up to the front of the crowd.

A tall redhead was standing there, tossing her summoning stones impatiently. “Ah, somebody brave enough to step up?” she said upon seeing Luna.

“Yes,” said Luna, giving Aurin a dirty look.

“My name is Catriona,” she said. “Yours?”

“Luna.”

“Okay, Luna. Here are the rules. We each have two Minakai to use, we’re not allowed to use items, but you can switch Minakai mid-battle if you want. Is that good with you?”

“That’s good with me,” said Luna, putting on her glove and placing a light blue and a green summoning stone within.

“Perfect,” said Catriona, raising one of her own summoning stones. “Somebody call the beginning of the battle.”

“Fight!” shouted Aurin immediately.

Luna summoned Tadpool to battle, while Catriona summoned a Debaba. A demonic nature elemental plant that looked like a brimmed sack. It had two long vines with snapping claws attached at the end; it would pull you inside to devour you if it got the chance.

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“Agh!” exclaimed Catriona, upon realising Luna had the elemental advantage. “Never mind, eat that Tadpool!”

Tadpool conjured a hailstorm to distract his opponent, while Debaba sucked air into its sack and blew the storm right back at Tadpool. It was for nothing as Tadpool hardened his head and charged at his opponent, squashing the plant.

Debaba reached up a claw to grab Luna’s Minakai but before it could even touch Tadpool, the claw was frozen in a solid block of ice. A final kick ended Debaba with very little effort from Tadpool.

“Just my luck,” scoffed Catriona, while Luna smiled brightly at her; she liked that she was always underestimated. “No matter, try this one on for size.”

Heidi summoned her second—and last—Minakai to battle; a Flaround. It roared and breathed a jet of flame into the sky, impressing the crowd with its might. Aurin could see that Luna didn’t look worried; she was back in the zone again.

Luna raised her hand and banished Tadpool back to the ranch, and summoned Angree in his place. Angree immediately bolted forwards and picked up the Flaround, which was too shocked to retaliate. He slammed it into the ground, he kicked it, he pummelled it, then grabbed it by the tail. He began to swing Flaround around and the crowd stayed back, not wanting to be hit by a flying dog. Angree released his opponent who soared through the air and smashed straight through the window of a nearby bakery.

Suddenly, Luna’s assured look of victory was replaced by a horrified stare. All eyes were on her, including those of the enraged baker who ran out to complain. She rushed over to apologise, while Aurin, Shamtile and Luna followed.

After handing over large amounts of her silver for the damages, she walked away in embarrassment. “I don’t believe it!” she whined as Aurin tried to contain his laugher.

“At least you won the match,” said Aurin, trying to show her the bright side.

“It just goes to show that even if most of your training is to help train me and climb higher in the tower, you’re far more capable at battling other tamers than before. Do you see how easily you dealt with—”

“Catriona?” said Luna.

“Exactly,” said Aurin, but Luna grabbed his shoulders and turned him around. Aurin could see the tall girl approaching them.

“That was quite the finishing move,” said Catriona with a laugh. “Although should we count windows and broken glass as an item?”

“Do you want to call it a draw?”

“What? No way, you won fair and square. Flaround was done no matter where he landed. You’re a good tamer, I’m surprised you’re not in the tournament.”

“I’ve heard that a lot lately,” said Luna. Aurin could have sworn he detected a hint of regret flash across her face before disappearing.

“If you don’t mind me asking, how come?”

“I’ve always wanted to become a Minakai medic. I use the raw ingredients from the tower, which are useful themselves, and turn them into more potent forms like ointments and potions. There’s nothing like seeing an injured Minakai perk right up, not to mention that it helps you ascend the tower far more easily.”

Catriona nodded. “I understand. I suppose there’s no reason you couldn’t do both? Being a highly ranked tamer in the national scene would open up many doors for you in the future.”

“Or smash many windows,” said Aurin.

“That too,” giggled Catriona. “All I’m trying to say is that I think you could be both a great professional Minakai battler while at the same time growing as a medic.”

Luna stood silently, looking at the ground. Aurin and Catriona glanced at each other, unsure of whether they should say anything to break the awkward silence.

“I’m…going to go,” said Catriona tepidly. “Again, that was a great battle. Maybe I’ll see you both around soon. Good luck with the tournament, Aurin. You’re in the top sixteen, right?”

“I am,” confirmed Aurin. “Thanks.”

“Thank you, Catriona,” said Luna, still deep in thought.

“Shall we go somewhere?” asked Aurin.

“Where?”

Shamtile and Innogon both tugged at Aurin’s trousers so hard that had he not been wearing a belt, he’d be very humiliated right now.

“These two want milkshakes, so we’ll go to the café and just hang out for a while.”

Luna nodded slowly but didn’t say anything as they walked across the square. It was unlike her to be so reserved. Aurin knew exactly what was going through her head right now, but he was also keenly aware that there was no way he could have done what Catriona had managed to do.

“Four milkshakes, please,” said Aurin to the waitress. “One banana, one strawberry, one chocolate and one vanilla.”

Shamtile reached for Aurin’s wallet, but he batted his Minakai’s hand away. Every time Shamtile tried to hand over silver coins, Aurin found himself short on funds.

“Did I make a mistake?” asked Luna, finally speaking. “In not entering the tournament, I mean.”

“You didn’t make a mistake at all; you just didn’t know what you wanted. There’s nothing wrong with taking some time to process things and find the right path for you.”

“It’s way too late to enter the tournament now. It’s already down to the final sixteen. When you get to the top four, you’ll be off to Ludonia for who knows how long.”

“Wait a second,” said Aurin, looking puzzled. “You’re coming too, right?”

“I am?”

“Of course. I wouldn’t want to go without you there. I’ve already spoken to your parents about it, did they not say anything?”

Luna’s eyes were wide in shock. “No! Why did nobody tell me about this?”

“I suppose we all figured somebody else had told you. Yeah, I’ve thought it all through already. We’ll go a week early and get to enjoy the city for a little while, we’ll each battle a few random strangers to test our skills, then I’ll win the tournament and defeat Tobias.”

“I admire that confidence,” said Luna with a sly grin; she was back to her usual self already. She grabbed Aurin’s hand. “Thank you.”

“Of course,” said Aurin, smiling at her.

“Agh!” exclaimed Luna, wrenching her hand away from Aurin as milkshake spilled all over the table.

“Who did that?” asked Aurin, eyeing the two guilty-looking Minakai, who pointed towards each other and started yapping and screeching.