The crash of a slammed door echoed through the hallway, abruptly pulling Caelum from his slumber. Hurried footsteps and agitated voices rose from the other side of the wall, breaking the usual calm of their residence. Intrigued and slightly worried, he got up, sensing that something important had just occurred.

He had barely put on a shirt when a sharp knock sounded at his door.

"Caelum, move your ass and come see this!" Kaela's voice, sharp as a blade, resonated through the wood.

He opened the door to find his friend, eyes blazing with anger, a crumpled paper in her clenched fist.

"What's going on?" he asked, already feeling the tension rising.

"Those bastards changed the rules," Kaela spat, roughly unfolding the paper. "A new trial, out of nowhere. Guess who suggested it?"

"Let me guess," Raven chimed in, emerging from his room with a sardonic smile. "Our dear Solarian friends decided to spice things up a bit? How generous of them."

Dorian appeared in turn, hair disheveled and gaze still clouded by sleep. "What exactly are we talking about?" he asked, stifling a yawn.

Caelum grabbed the paper from Kaela's hands, quickly scanning its contents. His face hardened as he read.

"Shit," he muttered. "A trial based on Solarian traditions. They really got us."

"Got us?" Kaela flared up, a dangerous gleam in her eyes. "This is pure cheating! We should go tell those pretentious pricks what we think!"

"Calm down," Caelum intervened, placing a hand on his friend's shoulder. "Rushing in won't help us. We need to think strategically."

Raven let out a joyless laugh. "Strategy? Against people who change the rules as they please? Might as well try to teach a fish to climb trees."

"Not necessarily," said Dorian, his brain finally seeming to kick into gear. "I might have an idea. In my research on ancient cultures, I found interesting parallels between certain Solarian rituals and..."

"Cut to the chase, Dorian," Kaela interrupted, impatient. "We don't have time for a history lesson."

Caelum felt the tension rising in the group. He knew he had to act quickly to channel this energy productively.

"Here's what we're going to do," he said firmly. "Dorian, dig into that lead. Raven, use your contacts to gather more information about this new trial. Kaela, you and I are going to train. If we have to face a Solarian challenge, we might as well be physically ready."

His companions nodded, each finding a new purpose in his words. They quickly dispersed, determined to prepare as best they could for this unexpected new challenge.

Caelum spent the following hours training with Kaela. The intensity of their session reflected the frustration and worry they felt about this sudden change in rules. Kaela's flames burned brighter than ever, pushing Caelum to tap into his energy reserves to maintain his shields.

"Do you think we have a chance?" Kaela asked between two assaults, sweat beading on her forehead.

Caelum dodged a fireball before responding. "We have to believe we do. It's all we have for now."

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Meanwhile, Dorian had locked himself in their residence's library, surrounded by piles of books on Solara's history and traditions. His eyes frantically scanned the pages, searching for the slightest clue that could give them an advantage.

Raven, for his part, had slipped into the streets of Selenopolis, his ears alert and his natural charm in action. He was collecting snippets of conversations, rumors, anything that could help them understand the situation.

In the late afternoon, the group gathered again to take stock. The atmosphere was tense, each feeling the weight of this new challenge on their shoulders.

"So," Caelum began, "what do we have?"

Dorian was the first to speak, his eyes shining with excitement despite the obvious fatigue on his face. "I found something interesting. The trial they added seems to be based on an ancient Solarian ritual called 'The Trial of the Burning Sun'. It's a test of strength, endurance, and will."

"Sounds charming," Raven muttered. "And what exactly does it involve?"

"Participants must traverse a maze of mirrors under a scorching sun," Dorian explained. "The mirrors concentrate heat and light, creating extreme conditions. The goal is to find the exit while overcoming physical and mental challenges."

Kaela let out an admiring whistle. "Well, at least it sounds interesting. But how are we supposed to prepare for that?"

"I might have an idea," Raven chimed in. "I heard some participants are training in the city's steam baths to get used to the intense heat."

Caelum nodded, thinking quickly. "That's a good start. Kaela, your mastery of fire could give us an advantage. Dorian, keep researching. There must be traditional tricks or techniques to overcome this trial."

As they continued to discuss their strategy, a sudden commotion outside caught their attention. They rushed to the window to see a crowd gathering around a man who was gesticulating vehemently.

"That's a Lunaris councilor," Dorian whispered. "He doesn't look happy."

They went down to mingle with the crowd, catching snippets of the councilor's harangue.

"...a flagrant violation of the spirit of the tournament!" he was shouting. "Solara is abusing its influence to gain an unfair advantage. We cannot let this pass!"

The crowd murmured its approval, indignation spreading like wildfire. Caelum exchanged a worried look with his companions. The situation threatened to escalate quickly.

Suddenly, a calm but authoritative voice rose above the tumult. "My dear friends, I understand your concern."

The crowd parted to let through a man wearing the insignia of an official tournament organizer. His face displayed a mixture of fatigue and determination.

"I assure you that this decision was not taken lightly," he continued. "The addition of this trial aims to enrich the tournament experience for all participants. Each nation will have the opportunity to propose a trial based on its traditions in the coming days."

This announcement was met with mixed reactions, some seeming appeased while others remained skeptical.

Caelum felt a hand on his shoulder. It was a middle-aged man, his face marked by years but his eyes shining with intelligence.

"You're one of the participants, aren't you?" he asked in a low voice.

Caelum nodded, intrigued.

"Be careful," the man whispered. "This tournament is more than just a competition. There are stakes you don't even suspect."

Before Caelum could ask him for more details, the man had disappeared into the crowd, leaving him with more questions than answers.

The group retreated to a quiet corner to digest everything they had just heard and seen.

"Who do you think that guy was?" Raven asked, his face betraying a rare expression of concern.

"No idea," Caelum replied, "but his words remind me of what we discovered in the ancient temple. Something bigger than this tournament is going on."

Kaela punched her open palm, startling Dorian. "No matter what's brewing. We'll show them what we're capable of in this damn Trial of the Burning Sun!"

Despite the gravity of the situation, Caelum couldn't help but smile at his friend's determination. "You're right, Kaela. We're going to face this challenge, and all those that follow."

As the group dispersed to prepare for the new trial, Caelum remained alone for a moment, lost in thought. The hubbub of the city below seemed to have transformed into an ominous buzz, as if Selenopolis itself sensed the challenges to come.

In a dark corner of the room, the reflection of a mirror caught his attention. For a brief moment, Caelum thought he saw a hooded figure, a black veil-shaped medallion faintly glowing at its neck. But when he blinked, the image had vanished, leaving behind only a feeling of unease.

The tournament had just taken on a new dimension, and the stakes had never been higher. Caelum clenched his fists, determined. Whatever secrets this competition held, he and his friends were ready to face them.