Opening

The participants' registration was on the first floor of the Colosseum, though it was a mere formality since the list of participants was already known. As soon as we confirmed our participation, the tournament schedule was posted near the main gates.

The colossal structure could truly accommodate a million people, and inside, there were facilities for rest, food, and even small secluded rooms of unknown purpose.

With each passing hour, the number of people in the Academy grew. Alongside common folks arriving in simple carriages, richly adorned carriages bearing heraldic symbols brought wealthy nobles with their retinues.

"I can't help but wonder who governs the country when this tournament takes place," I scanned the crowd and recognized faces from textbooks: the king, archbishop, several ministers, and rulers from the south and north were also present.

"Don't be fooled by appearances. The tournament lasts two weeks, and during that time, the world's politics revolve around the walls of the Academy. All important politicians and traders from the three countries gather here to settle crucial matters. Besides, there's an ancient tradition of knightly challenge. When a dispute arises, two individuals can stake the resolution on the victory in the next bout, and the winner's claim is honored," she explained.

"Oh, are these gambling games allowed? And how do the participants feel about it?"

"They are usually not told about it, and in truth, the entire tournament is a series of duels. That's why the contestants can challenge their opponents to something. For example, once two noblemen made a bet: one wanted to marry the other's sister, while the latter wanted his land and refused to give his sister away. In the end, everything was settled peacefully, but the clash was quite intense. Such bets only add to the atmosphere and make the battles more bloodthirsty."

"Well, it might even make it more interesting."

"Yeah, for instance, you can bet a night with the defeated lady," Vina teased, winking at me, and I pondered it for a moment. However, the intense glares of the girls stabbed me in the back.

"No, no, I won't do something like that."

"Alright, alright, but at least you considered it. Hehe."

After receiving a couple of invisible rebukes from the girls, I followed Vina, who confidently led us through the corridors to the participants' quarters.

Eventually, we arrived at the balconies beneath the main stands. This area was shaded from the sun, and soft couches were arranged for selected guests.

Directly in front of the balcony, the arena began, large, about two hundred meters in diameter, surrounded by twelve bronze gargoyles that probably served as sundials. High above the arena, at the center of the fabric canopy shielding the stands from the sun and rain, hung a huge transparent crystal protected by glass plates on all sides. The crystal clearly emanated magic, but its purpose remained unknown to me.

"Only specially important individuals, participants, and their personal guests are allowed here. So, no one should bother you. Moreover, during breaks, you'll be able to interact with your supporters. Today, after the ceremony, the first-round battles will take place in random order, so you won't know who's next. Four battles will be held before lunch and four after. No one knows how long a battle can last, so we have allowed ample time. Oh, and it's also essential to note that there will be three days of rest between rounds, so there will be time to recover from serious injuries. Try not to fight to the death in the very first round. Damn."

Vina interrupted her speech and looked towards the balcony, from which three mages with distinctive white stripes on their cloaks, over their uniforms, were approaching us. The trio of mages from the Holy Flame Guild, the temple keepers whom I adored.

"I see you all came here together. What a pity that such good friends as yourselves will participate in the tournament this year, as your warm feelings may hinder fair duels," Alfred immediately tried to taunt us.

"Don't worry about that; we will fight with all our might," I spoke up before the inquisitor. "And any lack of cruelty on our part, I'm sure, will be compensated by your gang."

"Watch your tongue, commoner," Alfred menacingly swayed his staff in my direction. "I came here to wish good luck to some of you. It's a shame that I will only meet one princess in the battle; I was hoping to test my skills in a real fight."

"Yes, I see that modesty is not your strong suit. But don't worry, I'll make sure she buries you nice and deep," I retorted.

"You insolent wretch! How dare you speak to your ruler like that!" the archbishop, like a loyal lapdog, lunged at me.

"Well, technically, my apprentice is right. This is an independent territory, and the students are free to show their respect to high-ranking nobles in any manner they wish," a gray-haired old man with a beard interjected between us.

"But, Rector! Showing disrespect to the king!"

"He bowed, which is a form of greeting. Besides, this is their domain, the participants of the tournament, and we are just guests here. So, it's best not to press the boy too hard."

Muttering to himself, the archbishop returned behind the king. Then Alfred stepped forward.

"Don't worry; if I get the chance, I'll beat some good manners into this commoner," he licked his lips in front of the king and bowed to him again.

"I'm counting on you," the inquisitor coldly replied to his son and, along with the king, proceeded further to their section of the balcony.

The entrance to the balcony was singular, but the seating areas were divided to keep important guests separate from outsiders. For the participants, three sections of seats were allocated closest to the entrance, making it easier for them to descend to the arena. Alfred and his companions hurriedly moved to the neighboring room. We had a good view of all the important guests who arrived for the tournament.

We saw King of Leran pass by, dressed in lavish attire, accompanied by two people in dark gray and black-violet cloaks pulled low over their faces. Walking past our section, he friendly waved his hand to his daughter, displaying behavior that sharply contrasted with the previous king.

Next, a large, muscular man in fur-lined armor, wearing a crown, walked by. Passing our section, he bowed to us, recognizing me and Asura. Following him was a woman of the same age with silver hair, clad in similar armor and carrying an enormous two-handed sword on her back, accompanied by a gray-haired man with a bushy beard, presumably the king's personal guard.

A little later, a tall woman with long black hair and tanned skin, standing over two and a half meters tall, walked past us. Following her came a figure wrapped in a black cloak with a red trim.

"Oh, I think now everyone is here. It's time to start the tournament," the Rector turned around and disappeared somewhere on the staircase.

"Knock-knock. Can you hear me? Then let's begin," a familiar voice came from somewhere above. Although she couldn't be seen, it was undoubtedly Levris. This wasn't Kurone's mischief.

"I welcome you all once again to our Academy. I greet the rulers, noble nobles, and all who have come today to witness the colorful battles of my finest students," I looked towards the voice and noticed the Rector's face appearing on the glass plates around the crystal under the dome.

"I wonder what this device is," ignoring the Rector's lengthy speech, I turned to Vina... Or so I thought. But that rascal had disappeared somewhere along with Kurone.

"I think they are in a box on the upper levels, and the sound is traveling through copper pipes to different parts of the arena, so the sound spreads evenly across all the stands. It's quite a simple but clever device. And that screen at the top is truly something," Aileen was studying the contraption under the Colosseum's dome with interest.

"Are you familiar with this device?"

"Well, we have something similar in the empire. Two magical crystals, one of which can recreate the image seen by the other. But such a large crystal is quite rare, it requires a lot of mana, and dragons probably helped build it."

"So, you mean it's an enchanted object?"

"Well, something like that. It works on a principle similar to the fake magic you created for the children during the play; two items are charged with similar magic and can interact with each other. Besides, I think they can display not only the commentators' faces but also what happens in the arena for those sitting in the back rows."

"Everything here is so well thought out. But my goodness, can't they make the speech shorter?"

The speech had been going on for fifteen minutes, and it seemed like the Rector had no intention of stopping.

"With me to commentate on the battles will be Professor Levris, an expert in various fields of magic, and the renowned warrior Rumy, knowledgeable in most forms of combat."

The image on the screen changed, showing all three commentators. Levris was nervously waving her hand in the frame, while Rumy was absentmindedly playing with her hair. So, that's where this chaotic golem went.

"Now, I invite the brave participants to come to the edge of the arena so that I can introduce them to the audience."

Shrugging our shoulders, we made our way to the edge of the balcony, and then something strange happened.

"No, seriously, what kind of greeting is this? He probably decided to bore everyone to death!" Instead of the Rector's address, a familiar, melodious voice sounded: "C'mon, Verny, tie him up; stop tormenting people."

I looked at the screen and saw the familiar trio bursting into the room with the commentators.