Zalan and Rep awoke to the daylight, Nold evidently having kept his promise of taking watch for the entirety of the night. As he broke down the sand walls, the two students stretched themselves, not knowing exactly what would come next. Nold looked over the two of them, then a smile stretched on his face.

“Are you ready to compete in the tournament? We must move quickly and enter before they close the tournament to new contestants,” Nold said in an energized mood.

“How far are we?” Rep asked, looking out to the horizon for signs of an arena of some sort.

The land was barren, cracked and dry. There were little evidences of plants sneaking their way through the clods of earth, but nothing to make Rep understand which direction they should be headed. He looked back to Nold in confusion, wondering whether they were even going the right way.

“You are looking in the wrong place,” Nold said. “It is not far.”

With no further explanation, he led the way for the others to follow. Zalan kept flexing his hand, imbuing it with thin lightning and noting that the imbue was definitely invisible in the morning rays of the sun, much less when it got brighter. His nerves were all over the place. He never really thought he would be this excited for the tournament when the original plan was just to get revenge on Madam Hikma. He could just find her and confront her, but he really wanted to win. Madam Hikma was becoming an afterthought.

As they traveled, the earth became less sandlike and more rocklike, as though they were on a flat mountain. Rep and Zalan continued to scan the horizon for signs of an arena to no avail. Suddenly, Rep tripped over something in the path and turned to look back at it. The earth was sunken in slightly, snaking away into the distance. His eyes squinted at it in confusion, then turned to Nold.

“Is that a path?” Rep asked, surprised by how twisted it was.

Nold looked back at it, his eyebrow raising in interest.

“That is not man made,” Nold noted.

“What made it? A bunch of monsters?” Zalan asked, thinking of something like a game trail.

“Either that or a single large monster,” Nold suggested.

Zalan looked at the marks in the earth once more. If it was one creature, it was massive. Rep looked nervous, hoping that whatever creature it was had long left the place. They continued to follow Nold on the uneven earth.

The cracked earth suddenly dropped off, a deep canyon spilling out below them. It wasn’t very wide and could be hidden by the flatness of the earth above. But it went very far down, enough to have torches at the bottom to brighten what the sun couldn’t reach below. Within the canyon were humans. Regular people. It had been days since they’d seen strangers and Rep and Zalan were ecstatic to see signs of non-monster life. They scanned the contents of the canyon. It was filled with tents and had a single, tall, tight stadium etched into the rock with an arena in the center.

“This is the tournament grounds?” Rep asked, surprised.

“Indeed. Let us quickly find a way down. Or I may have to take you down myself,” Nold said, peering at the edges.

“Over there!” Zalan pointed, a few hundred feet away.

“Do not get too close to the edge. It looks to be unstable,” Rep reminded, but was quick to follow Zalan.

“Why is the Elemental Tournament so deep in the earth? Has it always been there?” Zalan asked Nold.

“It moved here when contestants began using Elemental powers in battle. Some attacks would go… Rather far out of the given arena. There were some unintended injuries to innocent passersby on nearby roads. Now merchants know not to go anywhere near the canyon and the events generally remain safe,” Nold explained.

“Is this a man made canyon? Can someone with an Elemental Earth Power make something this big on their…” Zalan trailed as he spotted something odd on the edge of the canyon just a few dozen feet below them. “What is that?”

They followed Zalan’s finger and squinted, trying to understand what they saw. Their eyes fell upon a slumped over silhouette, covered in the shadow of an outcropping rock. It rose and fell slightly, like it was breathing faintly.

“Is that a person?” Zalan asked, tense.

Nold leaned his head one way, interested in the sight. He jumped off the edge of the canyon, and Zalan and Rep called out in shock before he caught himself with a platform of sand he built below him. The sand platform floated him down the canyon to the figure like an elevator.

“A man. He is still alive,” Nold called up. “And… oh…”

Nold’s face showed the rare emotion of surprise, looking both interested and disturbed by the sight.

“Come down, I will assist you,” Nold waved to both Rep and Zalan.

Rep hesitated, uncertain, but Zalan immediately kneeled to climb down. When he swung his leg over the ledge, he felt something hold it up. Sand was building below his foot. Zalan slowly put more and more weight against it to see whether he could trust the particle-made platform. It felt solid. Holding his breath, Zalan let go of the edge and was relieved to not fall to his death. The platform of sand floated him steadily above the deep canyon.

“Woah,” he said as he looked down, his balance a bit off at this height. He looked up to Rep on the ledge who was biting the inside of his lip and not moving.

“Perhaps I can wait up here,” Rep murmured, eyeing Nold.

“Someone is hurt, Rep,” Zalan said to convince him.

Rep closed his eyes and nodded. He moved to climb down the edge when a sand platform built itself below his feet. Zalan was amazed by the utility of this sand power. He wondered how many other powers could hold people like this. How much Wisdom was required to hold the weight of three people simultaneously? On top of that, how much Wisdom did it take to do that without breaking a sweat?

Nold lowered their platforms to his level, joining the platforms together to create one big slab of sand. Zalan and Rep gasped at the sight right beneath the open lip of the canyon.

There was not just one man down here. There were multiple. Around eleven young men and women were incapacitated and hidden down the side of the canyon. Their skin was dry and some of them looked like they were trying to cover themselves in blankets and fabric despite the warmth outside. They looked like fighters by the light tunics on their backs and weapons at their sides.

“What happened?” Zalan asked, feeling uneasy.

“A robbery as people neared the canyon?” Rep asked.

“Unlikely,” Nold shook his head. “They still have their weapons at their side, and some look to have Artifacts on their fingers. A robber would never leave such valuables behind.”

“Then what happened?” Zalan asked.

“I do not know. They do not look to have participated in a battle, but they seem in great pain. I suspect it has something to do with the tournament,” Nold ventured. He didn't sound disturbed by the fact. Merely pointing out a possibility. He almost seemed amused.

“Can you help them down?” Rep asked Nold.

“Too many,” Nold rejected immediately.

“Then… Can we go to something like the organizers and get them help? Is there a doctor that normally attends or something?” Zalan asked.

“We are running out of time to enter the tournament,” Nold said with urgency.

“We cannot leave them,” Rep protested.

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“They will be fine for a few more minutes. We came all this way, it would be a waste to be disqualified for—”

“Nold, you can check in for us and we’ll get help,” Zalan said. He wasn’t even considering Nold’s suggestion. People were hurt. Mom would be disappointed if he did anything but try to help.

“I cannot enter contestants they do not see,” Nold said.

“But you’ve got a reputation, right? They’ll probably make an exception for you,” Zalan said.

Nold thought about it with the hint of a smile, the mention of his reputation appealing to him. He nodded, accepting the plan. Rather than sending them back up to the top of the canyon, Nold began descending the platforms to the canyon below.

From their vantage point, Zalan and Rep could get a full view of the contestants practicing, the arena they would be intended to fight in, and the general tournament grounds. Bleacher-like seats were carved into the walls of the canyon, with some additional layers of canyon wall in front of viewers to protect them from errant Elemental blasts.

The arena itself was a large gray circle with symbols etched in it that Zalan couldn't make out from the distance. There seemed to be a deference given to the arenas, a small berth surrounding them. Incoming fighters ran some last minute practice with friends or mentors, mostly only practicing without use of their Elemental Power. Zalan remembered that they were supposed to keep it hidden to better surprise opponents.

There were dozens of them, but for the reputation the tournament held, Zalan expected a lot more. Maybe it was simply overhyped? That seemed odd, considering Poppyville had a whole festival dedicated to it.

People began to look up at the incoming trio, most with an air of annoyance. The display of them floating down to the rest made them seem especially arrogant to the other attendees.

“Another modest entrance, Instructor Nold?” someone called up, sounding antagonistic.

This drew more people's attention to the scene above. Nold didn't reply, but he couldn't prevent a smirk from making its way onto his face. Rep covered his face, turning away.

“Embarrassed? Or nervous?” Zalan asked.

“That man who called up to us is Heron. He is the head of Journey House. He may be disappointed to learn that I came to this tournament with Nold rather than himself,” Rep murmured.

Rep and Zalan suddenly grabbed each other's shoulders for balance as their sand platform split off from Nold's. Nold was drifting down to a spot with a series of registration tables made out of the earth and Rep and Zalan were drifting toward a massive tent with red ribbons attached to the corners. An infirmary, Zalan presumed.

When they reached about a foot from the ground, the sand crumbled to nothing and Zalan and Rep jumped to the floor and ran inside to find medics.

“Hello?” Zalan called inside as he threw the flap aside. “There are people who are hurt, can anyone here help them?”

The infirmary was filled with dozens of empty cots, a single doctor sweeping and cleaning the inside before it was inevitably filled with losing fighters. The doctor looked up from her broom and cast the duo an annoyed look.

“Already? What petty fights have already broken out? The tournament has not even begun!” she told them, huffing.

“These people are at the top of the canyon. They looked to have been ambushed,” Rep explained.

“At the top?” she asked, appalled. “Then why are you telling me?”

Rep and Zalan threw each other a confused glance.

“You’re the doctor, right? Where else are we supposed to go?” Zalan asked.

“That is right! I am a doctor! One of the few. So what makes you believe that I would be more qualified to bring people down to the infirmary than the hundred able-bodied fighters outside itching to have a chance to show off their Strength?” the doctor asked.

Rep and Zalan then threw one another an embarrassed glance.

“We’ll bring them down! Just make sure there are beds available to them,” Zalan said, rushing to leave.

“Tell the others to bring them to Doctor Quill. They will know who you mean,” Doctor Quill called after them.

Rep and Zalan ran from the tent to a nearby group of contestants practicing some rudimentary forms and punches. Before they could call out to them, Nold appeared before his students so quickly that it felt like the wind came with him. He was waving his arms to catch their attention.

“They are about to close entry. You need to go over there right now,” Nold said.

“Doctor Quill said it would be better to bring the injured to her tent. We need to bring them down,” Rep pointed to the top of the canyon.

Nold stared up, pursed his lips in annoyance, then looked back down to Rep and Zalan.

“I will bring them down. You two need to go register now,” Nold insisted.

“I thought you said you couldn’t bring them all down,” Zalan asked suspiciously.

“Not all at once, but I will make multiple trips,” Nold answered quickly. “Now go! Hurry!”

The ground slanted beneath them as Nold used his Elemental Sand to push them to the registration table. In the same movement, he jumped in the air and quickly soared to collect the injured people above. When Zalan and Rep confirmed that he was actually adding people to his sand platform, they rushed to the registration area.

A tall, frankly judgemental looking man eyed them with scorn as they approached the table. His arms were folded and an eyebrow raised toward his bald head.

“Oh, splendid, Nold’s boys have finally arrived! They granted the humble Umdarr an audience,” he applauded them sarcastically

“How do we register?” Zalan asked.

“Even more splendid. I remained open overtime only to have to cure you of your incompetence,” Umdarr said, overselling his annoyance.

“We would like to register,” Rep said.

“And now they talk to me like I share their incompetence,” Umdarr said snidely.

“Look, we just want to register and we can get out of your hair,” Zalan said, growing annoyed.

“My hair!” Umdarr slapped a hand on his bald head. “I do not believe I deserved that insult.” He sounded like he was actually offended this time.

“It was not an insult. Where my friend comes from, it means something much more innocuous,” Rep assured him quickly. Zalan nodded in agreement.

Umdarr eyed Rep, trying to get a read on whether he was being messed with. But he didn’t say anything. The slow procession was driving Zalan mad and Umdarr seemed to enjoy frustrating the two of them.

“Can we register or not?” Zalan snapped.

“I think it would be a more compelling tournament to not enter anyone from Nold’s group this year,” Umdarr shrugged innocently and both Rep and Zalan sighed in frustration.

Zalan grew angry and dug in his pocket for a gold coin and placed it on the table. Umdarr’s eyebrows rose, the amusement sinking away from his face.

“What is this?” Umdarr asked.

“A bribe,” Zalan said, too annoyed to be coy.

Offense returned to Umdarr’s expression.

“You think I take bribes?” he sounded appalled. “I run this tournament! I am only swayed by fair fights in combat.”

Umdarr flicked the coin back to Zalan.

“What does it take to register?” Zalan groaned.

“I am only joking,” Umdarr said. “Instructor Nold seems to try and do something more extravagant every year. Entering on platforms from the sky and refusing to speak to the other instructors. I apologize for dealing my frustrations out on you. Registration costs only two silver per entrant.”

Zalan put the same gold coin back on the table.

“Do you not have any silver?” Umdarr asked, looking annoyed as he dug out change from his pockets. The pockets clinked loudly, he had many coins within.

“I don’t,” Zalan said honestly. “Keep the change, just let us register.”

Umdarr looked up, his expression growing warmer toward him.

“Very well. Your esteemed mentor already gave me your names, but I need to confirm your Levels. Which of you is Rep?”

Rep stepped forward and tapped his fingers together to reveal his stats. But he covered the bottom part of the list to obscure which Elemental power he had. It showed:

LEVEL: 05

STRENGTH: 06

WISDOM: 06

EXPERIENCE: 75

“Very well. And you?” Umdarr nodded to Zalan. Zalan wasn’t sure why, but decided to cover his Elemental power as well before showing Umdarr:

LEVEL: 05

STRENGTH: 05

WISDOM: 07

EXPERIENCE: 04

“Excellent. Thank you. I will need you both to come with me for a preliminary meeting for all combatants to the tournament,” Umdarr nodded to the two of them.

He rang a loud bell next to the tables, signaling that entry was officially closed. A cheer went out across the canyon in anticipation of the first matches. The practicing fighters began to all head in the same direction.

“Can we come after we check on the infirmary?” Rep asked, not trusting Nold to take everyone.

“No. The rules may have changed this year due to unforeseeable circumstances. Everyone needs to hear it at once. Come along,” Umdarr said.

“What kind of unforeseeable circumstances?” Zalan asked.

“I do not wish to explain this twice. Come to the meeting and have your questions answered,” Umdarr replied, leading the way.

They were brought to a nondescript tent filled with fighters, more coming in as signaled from the bell. All fighters, Zalan and Rep included, were eyeing one another warily, trying to size everyone up before the first fights went down. Umdarr stood atop a small stool and called for the attendees attention. They looked up to him.

“Contestants! Thank you all for coming. I have important news to share regarding the tournament. There were not enough contenders for Level 6 to 10 Bracket of the Elemental Rage Tournament. The numbers we expected simply did not show up. For what reason, we do not know. This has never happened before. So, rather than only have a few bouts, we have joined the Level 10 and Level 5 brackets together into the Level 10 and Under bracket,” Umdarr explained.

Confusion, then shock began growing on Rep and Zalan’s faces. All of their expectations to be the strongest in their bracket was dashed away. It was possible they could be knocked out in a single punch.