“Citizens, provinciales, and foreign guests, it is my honor to welcome you to this first-of-its-kind event! My name is Gallio Verus, and I will serve as your commentator during the first Iron Fist Tournament!”
Even through a projection, the excitement of the crowds in the coliseum and the fire in the commentator’s voice jumped at us.
“I’m sure you’ve all been waiting on the edge of your seats for the start of the event, and so have I! But, for the sake of our uninformed friends, allow me to explain how the tournament will work.”
“This tournament is really divided into two separate events; a tournament for teams representing a nation or a Republican province each, and a tournament for individual combatants to show what they’re made of! While the team tournament is segregated from the public, anyone can join the individual combatants one – that’s right! If you think you can do better than our contestants from the official teams, come and prove your strength here!”
“The team tournament will be running from eight in the morning to two in the afternoon, while the individuals’ tournament will run from three to nine. The tournament will continue each day until we have our winners! And speaking of the winners,” the commentator said, “they will be winning fabulous prizes! Each winner will be granted a weapon or a piece of armor forged to their specifications by the legendary smith known only as ‘Vulcan,’ along with a jaw-dropping 10,000 platinum denarii!”
The crowd’s cheering grew louder with the mention of the prizes, especially the money.
“If you think you have what it takes to join, then you’re welcome to sign up and give it a try! Anyone can join as long as they do it within the week, and by the end of it, only the best of the best will make it to the knock-out stage!”
“Finally, and this is specific to those of you present within the Republic, the Consul and the Senate have decreed that for the entire duration of the tournament, anyone over the age of majority can enjoy free booze!”
At that proclamation, the audience gave their loudest, most deafening cheer as they went wild; I could’ve sworn that the ground shook a little from their intense celebrations.
“And now, with that in mind, please join me as I welcome Consul Ceazar for the opening speech!”
The crowd’s cheers slowly morphed into respectful applause as a man walked into the coliseum and onto the empty stage. It seemed that the man was someone important. He waited briefly for the audience to quiet down before he began to speak.
“Welcome to the First Iron Fist Tournament, hosted proudly by the Latium Republic. I am Consul Yulius Ceazar, the current head of the Republic. When and where the second will occur will depend on talks with the other four nations, but it is my distinct pleasure to announce that the Iron Fist Tournament will become a repeating event. Now, I will not tire you with long-winded speeches, so I ask that you give a warm welcome to the teams competing in the tournament.”
A band of musicians suddenly entered the coliseum, blowing trumpets and beating drums as they marched towards the center of the coliseum just behind the stage the Consul stood on.
“Representing the Latium Republic’s core province, the Romellus Legionnaires make their entrance!” the commentator announced, leading to wild cheers from the crowd.
A man bearing a large, red flag with the words ‘SPQR’ emblazoned on it marched into the coliseum followed by the six members of the team.
The cheers never stopped until they marched in front of one end of the stage, facing the Consul.
“Representing the Latium Republic’s Province of Brittania, the Britannia Knights make their entrance!”
Unauthorized duplication: this tale has been taken without consent. Report sightings.
Another flagbearer entered the coliseum, followed by the six members of that team.
A polite knock on the door to our room grabbed our attention from the projection of the opening ceremony.
“Honorable guests, I’ve been sent to lead you to your flagbearer! Your entrance will be coming soon!” he said.
“Stand and line up in your teams!” the Major said, making the twelve of us rush into two lines, with Nuhem and Asten at the head as the captains.
The major nodded then opened the door.
“Follow this gentleman to your line and remember that you represent Tamery. Raise your heads and walk proudly!” she yelled, getting a hearty ‘Yes, Ma’am!’ in response.
***
“Representing the commoners in the Theocracy of Tamery, the Tameryian Gale make their entrance!”
Besides us, the flag-bearer holding up a sky-blue flag with seven suns walked forward, and Nuhem and the others stepped forward behind him.
“Oooh, I can’t wait!” I whispered to Nico, who stood ahead of me.
“Patience, Kiara. The opening ceremony will take a while. Our first fight won’t start any time soon.”
“You say that, but I can see you're excited too!”
Moments of eager, hushed talk later, our turn had finally arrived.
“Representing the Tameryian Nobility in the Theocracy of Tamery, the Tameryian Suns make their entrance!”
Our flagbearer marched ahead, and we followed suit. Going from the dark entrance to the bright daylight blinded me for a second, but I resisted the urge to cover my eyes and held my pace. The crowd’s cheers were deafening, and I felt my heart thumping in my chest at the sheer number of people.
“I didn’t think being present in-person would be so wildly different from watching through a projection. The pressure is ridiculous.” Asty said.
“Try not to let it get to you. Take a page out of Aptera’s book; he’s cool as a cucumber.” Durreg said.
“I don’t think even the literal end of the world would faze this guy.” I chuckled.
“Why, thank you for the compliment, but why would I feel nervous? Anyone who sees anything less than perfection in me needs to grow a new pair of eyes. Besides, the crowd clearly adores me anyway!”
“No, it doesn’t, you should worry, and it wasn’t a compliment, you ridiculous moron!” Asty quipped at him, only to get scolded by Nico.
“Shut your mouths, all of you. Just keep walking and don’t let your gaze stray.”
Soon enough, we arrived at our spot, where we stood next to Nuhem’s line.
“Representing the city-states of the Delilan League in Iona, the Ionian Hoplites make their entrance!”
I snuck a glance behind at that to take a look at the next team. Standing at its head behind the flag-bearer was Nisos, as I’d expected. We briefly made eye contact and his surprise was evident as I winked at him before turning my gaze back to our line.
***
Eventually, when the last team had entered, the crowd quieted down as the Consul began to speak.
“Now, each captain of the teams will be called onto the stage one by one to draw lots. The number indicated on the lot will decide which group the captain’s team will be placed in.”
A large square slowly descended in the middle of the stage, only for another to emerge in its place with a table holding a decorated box atop it. The projections floating in the sky above changed to show a list of numbered groups, each holding four spots in it. For now, all of the slots were empty.
“Captain of the Romellus Legion, rise to the stage and draw a lot.” The Consul said.
A woman in her late twenties stepped out of her line and entered the stage before putting her hand in the box and grabbing a lot.
The whole crowd drew their collective breaths in silence as the captain pulled out a small iron fist with ‘2’ engraved on its back.
“The Romellus Legion will be placed in group two.” The Consul said to the cheers of the audience.
When the captain stepped off the stage and returned to her line, the Consul continued.
“Captain of the Brittania Knights, rise to the stage and draw a lot.”
***
Captain after captain went to draw a lot for their teams, filling nearly half of the spots before our turn arrived. Nuhem was currently on-stage drawing a lot for the Tameryian Gale.
“The Tameryian Gale will be placed in Group two.” The Consul announced.
“So, they’re facing the home team. That’s rough.” I whispered.
“It doesn’t matter who were up against, we’re going to beat them all and win anyway. The commoner team won’t lose until they come up against us either. Now shush.” Nico said.
When Nuhem was back, the Consul spoke.
“Captain of the Tameryian Suns, rise to the stage and draw a lot.”
Asten stepped forward and turned to the stage’s stairway at the side, all the while we held our breath for the result.
“Please, draw an easy group. Please, draw an easy group. Please…” Asty prayed quietly behind me as Asten put his hand in the box.
When he took a small iron fist out, the number on its back became apparent.
Asty gasped.