"We welcome you all to the first phase of the Trials of Ithea! " the announcer said, eliciting a chorus of shouts from the audience.

"The participants of this first phase will be none other than the candidates themselves. Luciana Vonner, Ithea's very own princess!"

The cameras focused on Luciana, who stood somewhat bewildered, and her image was magnified on the massive screen suspended above the arena. The announcer's voice boomed, and she could hear the cheers of the crowd as they chanted her name and waved banners emblazoned with her name.

Some even held up cut-outs of her face, adding to the spectacle. The energy in the air was electrifying, and it was understandable for the candidates to feel a mix of excitement and nervousness, especially since they had never been in front of such a large and enthusiastic crowd before.

"We have the one and only Jalon Barr, the teen sensation!" announced the broadcaster, "Give a warm welcome to the face of teenage fashion! " said the announcer. Jalon confidently stepped forward and vigorously waved both of his hands in the air. A group of teenage girls in the stands erupted in excitement, screaming his name and behaving as if he were a mythical god. Jalon seemed to bask in the attention, clearly enjoying the spotlight and wanting his fellow candidates to witness his ease with large crowds.

"Don't be fooled by that smile, people; Jalon is a skilled swordsman and alchemist, so keep an eye out for him; appearances can deceive! " said the announcer.

"Last but certainly not least, we have Norval Greensmith! When it comes to scholarly work, intellectual genius is unrivaled. Guys, give him a hand of applause!" the announcer urged. Norval did not take a step forward; instead, he smiled and waved as the throng applauded him.

"All right, now that we've introduced you to the locals, it's time to meet the foreign players. We have Eadmer Todd, the Northern Prodigy! " said the announcer.

Eadmer took a step forward into the crowd. He was the shortest of them all, and he swung his tiny hands around, eliciting sweet applause from the crowd as if they had just seen a small puppy. "Once again, don't be fooled by his stature. This child is a dangerous opponent with the best-undefeated record in Seolara! " said the announcer. Eadmer gave Luciana another awkward glare before returning to his place in line.

"Now next we welcome a holy monk in our midst. Please put your hands together for Wardric Waller,"

Wardric stepped up and bowed to the crowd with his enchanting smile. He didn't seem to have not one violent bone in him. "A Yulcite mage and the crown of his monastery, he is a well-taught Yulcite mage and one of the most skilled," the announcer complimented him.

"And last but not least, the lone wolf himself, Vandrad Stanier!" The audience erupted with some people even howling like wolves. "They call him the lone wolf, the self-taught mage from the sacred mountains of the south," Vandrad stepped forward and gave the crowd two quick waves of his hand before stepping back into line.

"Lorth has never witnessed a wizard as potent as he is, let alone one who is self-taught. You can all see his leather grimoire and the red ruby, signifying that he has achieved a level of mastery that few attain. Not to mention, he has accomplished all of this at such a young age without the guidance of a master Lorth mage. Let's give it up once more for the lone wolf!" The announcer's words were met with a roaring applause from the crowd, and their cheers continued.

Luciana found herself at the opposite end of the line, relieved that she wasn't standing right next to Vandrad.

"Now, we also want to acknowledge the panel of judges present. They have traveled considerable distances from IAA, Seolara, Yulcite, and Lorth to oversee these trials. Let's give them a warm welcome," the stadium screen shifted to show a group of individuals seated in the upper tiers behind a long table, and they reciprocated the crowd's applause.

"Now, let's go over the rules for the first round. While this tournament won't directly determine the next champion of Ithea, it holds significant influence in that decision. The points earned in this round will carry forward to the rest of the trials.

The judges will award points based on factors such as skill, creativity, strategy, offensive and defensive capabilities, and more. If a match ends in a draw, where neither fighter can continue, the winner will be determined based on the accumulated points. A win can be achieved through knockout, opponent's submission, or if the opponent is knocked off the ring and cannot return before a ten-count," the announcer explained.

"We have an expert medical team comprising of the best Ithean medical Alchemists and Seolaran doctors to help with any injuries one might succumb to during the fight so don't worry about anything, it is a no-holds-barred fight!" the crowd erupted once again.

"The matchups have been set. There will be three bouts, with each international contender facing an Ithean candidate. Remember, everyone, this is just the initial phase to showcase the combat skills of our candidates. Their opponents are here to test and push them to their limits. Keep in mind that after these trials conclude, the candidate with the highest points will be crowned our next champion."

The display started showcasing the candidates' names and faces on one side and the international students' names and faces on the other side. It eventually stopped, highlighting Norval's name and face. On the opposite end of the screen, it revealed the name and face of Wardric Waller.

"And there you have it, folks! In our first match, we have the intellectual Norval Greensmith going up against the holy monk Wardric Waller. The match is set to begin in fifteen minutes so let's give the participants time to prepare!" The announcer said.

Norval swallowed nervously as he and his peers walked back into the lobby.

"I told you were going to face the Yulcite, he is quite a tricky one," Jalon said. Norval did not look intimidated in the least. In fact, there was a certain brightness in his eyes, like he was excited to fight him.

"I thought I already told you guys, I have a plan to defeat him. He won't catch me off guard, you wait and see," Norval said, clenching his hands into fists as he looked to hype himself up.

"Well, bro, we will be in the stands watching. Good luck, you're gonna need it!" Jalon said, walking back into the arena. Luciana punched him in the shoulder as they walked away, "Shut up you. Good luck Norval, I know you can do it!" Luciana said, Norval waved both of them goodbye.

As the clock above him counted down from fifteen minutes to zero, Norval began jogging in place, his eyes fixed on the time display. The rhythmic sound of the glass vials on his utility belt tapping against each other offered a strangely calming rhythm.

Six minutes remained, and he could feel the knot of anxiety tightening in his stomach. Sweat trickled down his face, not just from the jogging but from the nerves he had suppressed. His hands trembled involuntarily, yet he was resolute and prepared for the fight ahead. He had a strategy that he believed in, one that he was certain wouldn't let him down.

The blaring sound of a horn signaled the start, and the overhead lights turned green. It was go time. Norval left the holding area and stepped into a corridor that led to the arena. The fighting stage was elevated about ten feet above the ground. Its surface was made of concrete slabs neatly arranged in a hundred-meter square. At the center of the arena stood the announcer and an umpire. Norval walked towards a staircase that led him onto the platform, his footsteps blending with the chants of the roaring crowd.                                                                                                         

From the opposite end of the arena, Wardric Waller stood amongst his elder monks. They seemed to be talking to him in a chastising manner.

"Listen, boy, I was not in favor of this tournament thing, but we are here and if we have to compete in it, we have to compete to win. Do you hear me?" A monk said, juggling a necklace bead around his hands.

"Yes, master. I will do my best, I will not let down my monastery," Wardric said, slightly bowing to the man.

"We don't want your best, we want you to win. We want you to prove once and for all that the Yulcites are superior to these low-life Ithean alchemists, do you understand me?" the monk said. "Yes, masters,"

The monk leaned in closer to Wardric and whispered into his ear, "And remember what I showed you. It is every alchemist's weakness, you must use it if you want to win this fight!" the monk said, his face curving up a smile in the end. Wardric felt a vile rush under his skin as the monk stuck his face closer to his. "But, master, that is a dishonorable act. I cannot do that in a fight, it might shame the name of our monastery with a move that low," Wardric said.

"Then if you lose to this Ithean fool, you will never set foot back into our monastery," the monk said. He joined the other monks that lagged behind him and they walked back into the lobby.

Wardric's gaze was filled with a mixture of anxiety and determination as he faced his opponent. The sound of his name being called by the announcer pulled his attention to the arena, and he moved forward, ascending the steps that led to the platform. His steps were deliberate, and he walked to the center of the arena, his eyes fixed on the challenge ahead.

Norval had been sizing up his opponent as Wardric approached. The loose-fitting robe concealed much of his body, making it difficult for Norval to gauge his physical build. However, he could tell that Wardric was slightly taller than him, though not to an overwhelming degree.

They met at the center of the arena, where Wardric offered Norval a respectful bow. Norval returned the gesture with his own nod of acknowledgment. As the announcer stepped forward to shake their hands, a hushed anticipation rippled through the crowd, eager to witness the upcoming clash.

"Get your bets on people, the first match of the day is set to begin. Let me hear you!" The crowd erupted into cheers and some shook banners with Norval's face on it. Others chanted his name and others threw their food in the air.

The umpire got closer to the two and put both his hands on either one of their shoulders as he spoke to them, "Now listen up, I know this is a fight and it can get extreme, but I want you all to respect each other alright? It is no holds barred, but do not attack your opponent with the intent of killing him, only attack with the intent of knocking him off the arena, landing a hit, or rendering him unconscious, do understand these rules?"

"Yes," Norval said. Wardric on the other hand swallowed heavily and looked to his feet as heaved his response, "Yes,"

Norval's eyebrows elevated in suspicion. Something seemed off about the monk that day, he was not his usual calm and friendly self.

"Alright, both of you fall back to your corners, you will remain there until I give you the instruction to commence the fight!" the umpire said, releasing his hold on their shoulders and backing away. His gloves had some powdered substance coating them so when he lifted his hands off their shoulders, it left an imprint on them, but none of the boys seemed to care about that.

Taking his position on the platform, Norval positioned himself behind the blue line that marked his designated area. As he glanced across the arena, he saw Wardric similarly positioned behind a red line on the opposite end. The umpire's nod confirmed that they were both at the legal distance, ready to begin the match.

Amid the building tension, Norval's gaze swept over the crowd, and his heart skipped a beat when he spotted familiar faces. Jalon and Luciana were there, their cheers providing him with a boost of encouragement. His eyes widened as he saw his younger sister waving a flag with his name on it, and his brother's presence nearby was equally unexpected. However, it was his parents who captured his attention the most—his mother's unwavering support and his father's inscrutable gaze.

Suddenly, the blaring horn pulled him back to reality. Without hesitation, Wardric launched into an offensive, displaying incredible agility and movement as he closed the distance between them with an impressive aerial maneuver. Norval's focus sharpened as he prepared to counter the incoming assault.