As they descended the mountain path, the village unfolded before them like a small but vibrant oasis of activity. Wooden houses with sloping roofs, colorful stalls, and groups of people walking animatedly brought the place to life. The smells of freshly prepared food and spices floated in the air, mingling with the sounds of laughter and the hum of the market.

"Wow! Look at all this, Elliot," Towan exclaimed, his eyes scanning every corner. "There’s so much stuff! What do you think they're cooking over there?" He pointed to a stall where a man was turning what seemed to be skewers over a charcoal fire.

"I don’t know, but it smells amazing," Elliot replied, trying to contain the excitement he was also feeling. "Though it seems more chaotic than I expected."

"Chaotic, but exciting," Towan said, his gaze stopping on a group of kids playing near a fountain. "Look at that! They’re using Essentia to move the water. Do you think we could learn to do something like that?"

"We didn’t come here to learn tricks, Towan," Elliot responded with a slight reproach. "But I have to admit, it’s impressive... their control is pretty good for their age."

The two of them continued walking behind their master, who seemed used to the bustle. At that moment, a man selling amulets caught their attention.

"Young ones, young ones! Don’t you want to protect yourselves from evil? These amulets are blessed by the mountain monks."

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"Ah, sure! Because a piece of wood is going to stop a wolf or those things we faced earlier," Towan joked, laughing as he kept walking.

"It could work... if the wolves were superstitious," Elliot said with a small smile.

The master turned his head slightly and spoke in a low voice, enough for both to hear. "Although some believe they’re just ornaments, those amulets can have power if they're well-made. Don’t underestimate local craftsmanship."

"Really?" Towan asked, now more interested. "What about those over there? Are they any good?" He pointed to a stall filled with carved necklaces.

"It depends on whether they were blessed properly or not," the master replied with a slight shrug.

The conversation paused as they reached the center of the market, where a large bulletin board stood out among the stalls. Among the event posters and service announcements, one stood out particularly: a poster promoting the dojo tournament.

Elliot stopped and pointed at it. "So the tournament is more popular than I thought. They’re advertising it even in places like this."

Towan grinned with excitement. "That means it’s going to be even bigger than we imagined! Can you imagine how many people will watch us? It’s going to be amazing!"

"It also means there will be some really strong competitors," Elliot remarked, crossing his arms. "We can’t relax, Towan."

"Relaxing isn’t in my plans!" Towan replied, giving his brother a light tap on the shoulder. "Though, now that I think about it, do you think we’ll have time to practice here? Look at all those open spaces!"

The master stopped and observed the two with a slight smile. "If you finish your shopping quickly, we might find a place to train. But don’t get too excited. We’ve got a long journey ahead."

Both brothers nodded in unison and rushed toward the stalls, ready to explore and complete their task as quickly as possible