In a shadowed corner of the Capital, away from the bright lights and cheerful music of the Carnival, two figures stood close, hidden by a thick cloak of silence. The alley was narrow, and the loud chatter of the streets seemed to vanish as if afraid to touch that place.
"I must say," one of the figures said with a low voice, amused, "this city knows how to throw a party."
The second figure, taller and with a voice like cold steel, replied, "Yes. Lights, music, color... they really do love their comfort."
The first figure chuckled. "So it is time for me to join them, all these colours and music she will sure enjoy them, really"
The second figure didn't laugh. "Not yet. Let the Carnival continue. Let the people smile. It's always better to join once it is showtime"
They both stayed quiet for a moment.
"Waiting is pain in the ass. I can't wait for her to start" asked the first.
"She will soon," the second replied. "We just have to wait. After all, good things take their time"
With that, they vanished into the shadows once again.
---
Back in the tournament grounds, the cheers of the crowd echoed like thunder. It was now time for Lila's first match. The announcer's voice rang out, "Next match! Lila of the Rising Heroes... versus... Ayra of the Wind!"
Lila stepped onto the field, her heart pounding with excitement. Her grip tightened on the sword at her waist. Across the arena stood a girl who looked to be about her age. Ayra had sharp eyes and a confident smile. She carried a long spear, and her hair was tied back tightly. The air around her shimmered slightly , the sign of strong wind magic.
The referee raised his hand. "Match... begin!"
Ayra moved first. With a small jump, the wind gathered beneath her, lifting her gently into the air. She hovered above the ground, spear in hand, watching Lila from above.
Lila smiled. "Flying, huh?"
She reached out, drawing in the energy of both fire and water. Steam hissed around her as her magic gathered. She didn't rush. She watched carefully.
Ayra made the first strike. With a strong gust of wind behind her, she flew down quickly, spear aimed straight at Lila. Lila sidestepped at the last moment, barely avoiding the blow. She swung her sword in return, but Ayra used the wind to push herself back into the air.
"Smart," Lila muttered, eyes focused.
Ayra circled above, trying to find a weak point. Lila stayed grounded, patient. When Ayra dived again, Lila used a blast of steam to blur her position and shift to the side. Ayra's spear scraped the ground, missing again.
"You're fast," Ayra said, smiling. "You're not bad either," Lila replied.
They continued their match, exchanging blow for blow. Ayra would attack from the sky, using wind to twist and turn midair, and Lila would defend and counter on the ground using bursts of fire or water to shift her position or block the spear.
Once, Ayra managed to graze Lila's shoulder with her spear tip, drawing a thin line of blood. Lila winced but didn't stop. Instead, she narrowed her eyes and changed her plan. She let Ayra come down once more but this time didn't dodge. She raised her sword and infused it with water. At the last second, she shifted the blade, using the flat side to clash with the spear. The water dulled the impact, and Lila pushed forward, catching Ayra off guard.
She followed with a burst of fire at Ayra's feet, disrupting her wind balance and forcing her to land. That was what Lila had waited for.
Now both were on the ground. Lila charged, swinging with sharp, clean strokes. Ayra defended well, but without her aerial advantage, her movement was slower. Lila pushed harder, using water to cool her blade, then fire to heat it back up — a trick that made her swings unpredictable.
Finally, with one strong swing, she knocked Ayra's spear from her hand and brought her blade to her opponent's shoulder. The referee called out, "Winner — Lila of the Rising Heroes!" The crowd cheered loudly, and Lila stepped back, offering her hand. Ayra smiled and took it. "Good fight." "You too," Lila said.
As they left the stage, many in the audience began to whisper and talk about Lila. Her calm style, her mix of magic, and her respectful attitude left a strong impression.
Back with her team, Lila was smiling wide, even as she wiped the sweat from her face. "That was so cool!" Fizzle shouted. Sera clapped. "You were amazing out there." Lila laughed. "She was tough, but I learned a lot." As they waited for the next match to determine who would be their next opponent, the announcer's voice rose again.
---
"Next match , Val versus Kenzo!"
Lila turned to watch. A woman stepped onto the field, wearing a long cloak. Her face was hidden, and she didn't speak a word. Her opponent, Kenzo, looked fast and confident. He held a sword crackling with lightning.
The moment the match began, Kenzo dashed forward, lightning sparks flying off him. His speed was incredible. Slash after slash, he struck at the cloaked woman. She dodged everything, just by inches, her body flowing like wind, her hands empty.
Lila and the others leaned in, amazed. Kenzo roared and pushed harder, every attack louder and brighter. But no matter what, he couldn't land a hit.
Then, it happened. The woman stopped moving.
Kenzo's blade came down — and in the blink of an eye, he was on the ground. His sword rolled across the field. The crowd went dead silent. No one had seen what happened. Even the announcer stammered. "Uh... winner — Val"
The cloaked woman simply turned and walked away.
Lila blinked. "What just... happened?" Zora frowned slightly. "That was... something else." As he started to wonder about the women and what happened in his mind. Lila couldn't hide her smile. "I hope I get to fight her someday." "You're crazy," Fizzle said, half-laughing, half-worried. But Sera was smiling too. "If we do our best, we might really meet her in the finals." Lila nodded. "Let's keep winning then."
And so, with hearts full of fire, wind, and courage, the Rising Heroes moved one step closer to greatness... unaware that in the shadows, darker forces had also begun to move.