Their hostel in Alabaster City was simple and small. The Harpy House, as the establishment was called, was specifically built for visiting Summoners and even had a space to battle on its roof. Elem and Aja slept on a bunk bed in a private room but shared their kitchen and bathroom with the other guests. Elem didn’t mind. He was used to Sekuheim’s bare lodging and as long as the room was clean he wouldn’t complain.
Aja suggested they’d take their first day easy and start with exploring the city but Elem didn’t want to waste any valuable time. As a compromise they decided that they would shower and take a quick nap before heading out.
On the monorail ride towards their hostel, Elem had spotted a large billboard advertising Alabaster’s prime summoning school. Wedged between a Cyclops Cola sign and ad from Alabaster Office of Tourism, glimmered the face of Arissa the celebrity Master of the ‘Ultra Gym’ School. The image was a far cry from what Elem traditionally associated with Summoner Schools; a pink haired woman blowing a kiss, headed by the text ‘The Ultra Gym brings Ultra Power!”. Unconventional or not that would be their destination.
His father had always exerted an air of modesty and stoicism, but Elem wasn’t in a position to cast judgment on Masters with different styles. Arissa may have presented a cutesy image but she was an extremely powerful duelist with four dangerous Summons at her disposal. The opportunity to learn from someone like that was a chance Elem couldn’t pass up.
After freshening up, Elem and Aja went into town. The Ultra Gym, which Aja loudly opined was a ridiculous name, was located in another neighborhood. Not wanting to repeat their initial confusion with the city’s public transportation network, they decided to take a forty five minute walk.
They hadn’t walked for five minutes before they were already accosted by an old lady who threw herself around Elem’s arm.
“Greetings child. Are you in need of a fortune?” she asked, gesturing at a tiny storefront on the other side of the street. “I can see the two of you are looking for something more than an address. My Summon has psychic abilities- it can tell you what you need to hear. Are you interested my dearest?”
“Maybe some other time,” Elem answered politely as he gently jerked his arm free from the lady’s clasp.
“Alright,” the lady’s old voice cracked like an old door. “I guess I have to wait a little longer.”
Saying that Alabaster was a bustling city was an understatement. The massive city’s streets were an bombardment to the senses. Pedestrians streamed through its avenues like schools of fish, most of Alabaster’s buildings appeared layered with a mosaic of colorful neon advertisement, and the scents of delicious street food filled the air while mixing with the stench of overflowing trash containers.
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Although Elem tried to stay focused on his mission, he couldn’t help but enjoy the walk. They crossed Alabaster City’s Ivory Park, known for its sculpture garden, and later even passed the legendary Duel Tower, the location of the eponymous Duel Tower Tournament.
“Why go to the Ultra Gym, if you can visit the freakin Duel Tower?” Aja said while she jokingly pulled Elem towards the tower’s entrance. “How about we just walk in and take the challenge? We might even make it all the way to that Dimitri guy.”
Of course Aja’s suggestion was nothing but a silly joke. Participation in the Duel Tower Tournament was by invitation only. The tournament organizers would locate and select Continent’s strongest Summoners who would then fight their way up until they reached the tower’s highest level.
Elem’s jaw dropped as he looked up to the tower. The glass panes making up its exterior were so smooth and reflective that the building looked as if it disappeared into the skies.
“One day we will,” he said confidently. One day he would ascend tower himself and face the champion, but before that he still had a long way ahead of him.
After crossing the Duel Tower, it wasn’t long before they reached Alabaster’s famous Summoning School. The Ultra Gym was located on a busy shopping street, and with its pink neon sign, could have easily been mistaken for just another luxury store.
“Can I help you? a man resting besides the building’s entry asked when they tried to get in.
Elem gave the man a look before answering. He was large and muscular wearing a tight black shirt that accentuated his heavily tattooed arms- Elem figured he had to be some sort of security guard.
“We are here to sign up as students,” he answered.
“Oh are you now?”
Elem nodded. “Anything wrong with that?”
“Nothing at all,” the man answered. “The name is Fawkes, I am one of the instructors here. You do know that we currently have a year-long waitlist right? To be more precise, It's a year before you can take the entry exam. Most don’t make it but it still takes us a long time to go through all the applicants.”
Elem and Aja exchanged a disturbed glance. They didn’t have a year to waste. A year-long delay would be disastrous for their development as Summoners. They had to find a place to train now. Elem took a deep breath, there must be something he could do. He had to talk his way in somehow.
“Isn’t there something we can do?” he asked. “We can help clean this place after practice, or we can cook? Anything that would speed up the process.”
“Nice try kid,” Fawkes laughed as he shook his head. “But I am afraid you’ll have to wait this one out.”
“Let’s just go.” Aja told Elem. “We can find another place to train, this city is big enough for alternative paths. And otherwise we’ll just leave Alabaster altogether.”
But Elem couldn’t afford to give up this easily. If he wanted to become a legendary Summoner he had to overcome challenges like this, and there would be many more ahead of him.”
“You’re making a mistake,” he told the Ultra Gym’s instructor. “Not only am I strong enough to pass the exam right now. I would be an asset to your Summoning School. But you don’t have to take my word for it; I will prove it to you in a duel!”