The wind rushed past as Sofie and Kael galloped side by side on the backs of sleek drakehorses, their scaled flanks shimmering under the morning light. Each step of the powerful beasts thudded against the stone road, their sharp claws gripping even the smoothest of surfaces with practiced grace. Sofie's crimson cloak fluttered behind her like a banner of fire, her eyes locked forward with focus, while Kael rode with easy confidence, one hand resting lazily on the reins.
"You know," Kael called over the wind, "it's not too late to turn back. You could leave the glory to your older brother."
Sofie smirked. "Says the guy who almost fell off when his drake sneezed."
"That thing sneezed embers in my face!"
Their laughter mingled with the rushing air as the capital gates came into view—enormous and ornate, etched with gold-trimmed runes and elemental crests. Massive banners bearing the insignia of the Ascendant Rising flapped above the entrance, welcoming contenders from across the realm.
Sofie slowed as they approached, her gaze lifting.
"…It's huge," she breathed.
The city beyond the gate unfolded like a dream—floating spires wrapped in rings of glowing stone, market bridges suspended in midair, and elemental constructs soaring above in dazzling formation. The people, the colors, the scale—it overwhelmed her in the most wondrous way.
Kael clicked his tongue. "Impressed already? We haven't even reached the fun part."
They guided their drake horses through the bustling streets, passing excited spectators, guards directing traffic, and vendors shouting about flame-resistant gear and enchanted water flasks. After a short ride, they reached a checkpoint where several other competitors were dismounting.
Kael hopped down and offered a hand to Sofie, who ignored it and leapt off smoothly on her own.
An attendant in a navy uniform approached and bowed. "Welcome, contenders. You're early. I'll guide you both to the main lounge."
Their guide led them through polished halls carved from blackstone and vein-crystals, their glowing pulses syncing subtly with the elemental auras around them. They arrived at the atrium lounge, where dozens of other entrants waited—some meditating, others mock-fighting, sparks and mist flickering across the room.
Kael leaned close. "Cozy little war zone."
Sofie's expression was unreadable, but her eyes were locked on the fighters.
Soon, their names were called and they approached the registrar. They were given small obsidian tokens etched with shimmering numbers—Kael #342, Sofie #343—and their elemental cores were verified by touchstone.
"You'll be summoned to the Arena shortly," the guide said. "Please wait in the southern wing."
While Kael casually chatted with the guide—asking about tournament structure and casually flexing his Ignar lineage—Sofie slipped away, drawn by the sound of cheering. She wandered toward the Arena's viewing entrance, stepping through a carved arch that opened to a breathtaking view.
The Arena stretched out before her like a coliseum of worlds—tiered levels of platforms, elemental zones glowing in opposition, and spectators filling the top rows already. Hundreds of young fighters were gathered, sparks of aura and elemental light dotting the scene like stars.
"…So many," she whispered.
"That look means you've either never seen a battle pit before," said a voice to her left, "or you just realized how real this is."
Sofie turned. A girl stood next to her with short, raven-black hair and a red ribbon fluttering at her collar. Her light water-sigiled armor shimmered with condensation.
"I'm Reina," the girl added. "You've got fire in your eyes. I like that."
"…Sofie."
"Well, Sofie," Reina said with a wink, "stick close. I plan on making waves. And something tells me you and I are gonna end up on the same battlefield sooner or later."
With that, Reina turned and walked off, tossing her token in the air and catching it with practiced ease. Sofie blinked.
Kael's voice called from behind, "Oi! Quit making friends without me!"
She turned, shaking her head—but her smile lingered.
The waiting chamber hummed with a low, charged tension. It wasn't the kind of silence born from boredom—it was the stillness before a storm. A silence filled with quiet breathing, hushed strategy talk, and the slow building weight of expectation. Kael leaned back against the obsidian wall, arms folded, his drake-hide jacket slung casually over his shoulder. Sofie sat beside him on a stone bench, elbows on her knees, fire-gloved hands clasped together.
"You nervous?" Kael asked, his tone light.
She shook her head. "I just want to get started."
"You and me both." He tilted his head toward the arena entrance. "Feels like this place is about to explode."
Around them, competitors whispered in clusters or sat cross-legged in focus. A few sparred quietly with conjured weapons or summoned tiny displays of elemental prowess—flames dancing between fingers, shards of earth hovering like chess pieces.
Further beyond the gates, the murmurs of the crowd grew louder.
"She's here. That Reina girl from House Valloren."
"Bloodline? Pure blood elemental lineage—can shape blood like liquid steel."
"Her mother leveled a whole battalion during the Siege of Olyar. She was only eighteen."
Kael scoffed. "They're acting like she's already won."
Sofie's eyes scanned the stone ceiling. "…Blood control. That's rare, even among water derivatives."
"How amusing," came a voice from behind.
Reina had arrived without a sound, her red ribbon dancing with each step. Her pale eyes flicked between Kael and Sofie, amused.
"But strength alone doesn't guarantee survival here," she added. "Some of us are smart and stylish."
Kael grinned. "I like you already."
Reina rolled her eyes, then turned to Sofie. "Hope we don't meet too early. You've got something sharp burning under your skin."
Sofie met her gaze. "Same to you."
Reina gave a quick nod, then walked off toward the summoning corridor, her presence cool and precise—like a blade dipped in moonlight.
Just then, a low chime echoed through the lounge. The walls pulsed once with a deep violet glow.
Just then, a low chime echoed through the lounge. The walls pulsed once with a deep violet glow.
A voice rang out from unseen speakers:
"Contenders, report to the Sorting Hall. Ascendant Rising Preliminaries will now commence."
Dozens of heads lifted. Feet shuffled. The tension rippled into motion.
Kael stood, rolling his shoulders. "Well, here we go."
Sofie took a deep breath as the doors to the Sorting Hall creaked open with slow grandeur, revealing blinding light and distant roars from the upper stands.
As they stepped through together, the crowd watching from the upper tiers caught sight of them—and the buzz was instant.
"Wait… isn't that Kael Ignar? That's House Ignar's heir!"
"The son of Varion, the Fire Monarch?!"
"And that girl—that's the daughter, Sofie Ignar.
"Both fire users. No way this is a coincidence. One of the Monarch's heirs is stepping into the arena."
Murmurs became ripples. Ripples turned into waves.
"All this talent gathered here… and they show up?"
Reina, already halfway down the hall, glanced over her shoulder, lips curving upward. "Well, things just got interesting."
Kael shot Sofie a grin. "Told you we'd turn heads."
Sofie didn't reply, but the flame that sparked across her fingertips glowed just a bit brighter.
The Sorting Hall was a massive, circular arena etched with ancient elemental runes. High above, tiered stands wrapped around the structure, already brimming with spectators. Holographic displays shimmered overhead, showing contestant names and elemental affinities.
A referee in black robes floated above the center platform, a sigil rotating slowly behind his back.
His voice boomed through the chamber:
"Welcome to the Ascendant Rising Preliminaries! Today's battles will determine the brightest sparks in this generation of warriors!"
The crowd exploded into cheers.
The referee raised his hand, summoning a floating panel. Names shuffled across its surface like cards in a deck.
DING.
Two names stopped.
"First Match: RYDEN VELLIS vs JIN LUNAR."
A roar swept the stands.
"Let's go Ryden!"
"Jin's gonna melt him!"
"Vellis bloodline for the win!"
Two figures stepped onto the arena floor.
The first was tall and armored in sapphire scales—Ryden Vellis, a descendant of the Vellis clan, known for their water element.
The other, leaner and wrapped in silver robes, bowed stiffly—Jin Lunar, a silent prodigy from the Lunar Crescent school, his affinity unknown.
The referee's voice sliced through the noise.
"Rules are simple: one-on-one battle. No killing. Ring-outs and knockouts are valid victories. You lose consciousness, you're out. First match—BEGIN!"
An explosion of water and smoke shattered the silence as Ryden dashed forward.
Up in the waiting tier, Kael leaned against the railing, watching the fight with one arm slung over a nearby chair.
"Alright, not bad form… though he's clearly open on the left—oh hello." His eyes flicked toward a trio of girls across the room, all clearly competitors but currently whispering among themselves.
Kael smiled. "Ladies, the name's Kael Ignar. Just thought I'd say good luck to future losers." He gave a two-finger salute.
Sofie, standing beside him, sighed hard enough to fog metal."Kael, please stop being a problem for five minutes."
One of the girls giggled. "You're really the Monarch's heir?"
Kael grinned wide. "In the flesh. Flame-blooded, ego-inflated, soon-to-be undefeated."
Sofie pressed a hand over her face. "You're unbearable."
Behind them, the arena roared again as Ryden slammed Jin with a rotating spiral of wind-blades—until Jin flipped mid-air and landed a precise strike with glowing fingers to Ryden's chest.
Ryden collapsed.
"Winner: Jin Lunar."
The crowd went wild. Chants, stomps, clapping—tension only building.
As Sofie tried to sink into her seat to hide from Kael's antics, a large screen flickered above, showing the next contestants being drawn.
Her name wasn't called yet… but the fire inside her chest started to simmer.