"The quinquennial combat tournament held in Sabaya has a long history. Stories have it that the tradition started during the third empire, where the first empress would regularly hold tournaments in search of able warriors to serve as her guards.

Those tournaments outlived the third empire, and the tradition was carried onward even in the fourth empire. It was not until the fifth's empire reign that it became an event that attracted warriors from all over the world, however." - Excerpt from "History of the Elmaiyan Empires" by Detlev Fedorovich.

"Registering for the tourney, huh? Just head for the grand stadium by the city center. Can't miss it," replied the therian man Cal asked for directions. "Isn't it a bit too early though? The tourney's not for another couple of weeks."

"Might as well get it done now before it's too crowded. I don't feel like waiting in line if going early can avoid it, you see," replied Cal to the helpful man. From his manner of dress, he seemed to be a local. A predatory feline breed of therian, with tawny spotted fur, albeit with a build far slimmer than Cal saw on most such therians.

"Huh. Makes sense I guess," said the therian man as he scratched his head with one paw-like hand. "I would like to tag along and register as well then, if you don't mind. I'll show you the way in return. It did get really crowded when I registered a week before the tourney last time."

"Oh, you're a fighter as well then?" asked Cal with some curiosity. Unlike most therians she knew, who tend to be bulky in built, the one before her was far more lithe. Rather short too, as he was around half a head shorter than Cal herself. She had not pegged him as a fighter at first glance.

"Vitali Sergeyvich Alexandrov, third born of house Alexandrov," said the therian as he gave what passed among their kind for a courtly bow to Cal and introduced himself. "This will be my second time participating in the tournament, madam. May I ask for your name?"

"Celeysria Ambervale, from Al-Shan," she replied amiably. She did not recall much about the political landscape of the empire, but if she remembered right the Alexandrovs were a rather prominent family, their patriarch being the current prime minister and their current head a marquis equivalent. Cal forgot what they called the title in their language. "I'm not joining in myself, it's mostly these kids giving it a try for experience."

"Ahh, your reputation precedes you, Madam Ambervale," said the therian man as he gave a deeper bow. "I am honored to make your acquaintance. The bookkeepers in town would be very glad to hear that you did not choose to join the festivities, I bet. They got enough headaches as it is already."

"They're holding wagers over the outcome, huh? Guess that's to be expected," said Cal with a nod. That there was gambling involved had not surprised her in the least. It was the norm for tournaments of this sort, even. "And what do you mean, enough headaches?"

"Oh, just yesterday we got news that the Edelstein siblings were in town. Last time they participated was four tournaments ago," said Vitali as he walked ahead of the group, leading the way towards the grand stadium. "The senior group participants are bound to have fits with them as it is. I'm just glad I'm not part of that mess- Wait. If I remember right, you mentioned that the young fellows behind you are participating?"

"Yes, I did," replied Cal with a smile on her face.

"And they are your…" asked the therian man as his voice trailed off with the obvious question in the air.

"Those two are my nieces. The other four are my students. Just having those three participate for sure, for the rest, up to them whether they want to or not," said Cal as she pointed towards Elaina and Sidonie, then to Ognar, Giselle, and Willa. "Why?"

"Nevermind what I said earlier then…" said Vitali dejectedly. "Three students of the Blood Demon of Al-Shan? Those bookkeepers are getting their headaches after all."

Around half an hour of walking later, they found themselves before the grand stadium Vitali mentioned. It was a large colosseum, much like the one Cal knew in Paradise, but arguably even larger in size, if less decorated and ornate.

By the main entrance of the stadium, there were two large booths, with signs that signaled that those who wished to participate in the tournament were to register themselves there. There were only short lines before each booth, as the tournament was still half a month away.

"You will want the left booth," said Vitali as he took his place at the back of one of the lines. "The right one is for the senior group, those over a hundred… unless your nieces are already there?"

"No. All of them would be in your category then," she replied. Cal had asked her nieces, and they were quite eager to try themselves in the tournament. Even Fheeri wanted to join, just to see how far her training had taken her. As for Cal's three blood mage students, she had instructed them to join, although they all seemed eager for it anyway.

The registration itself had not taken long, and before fifteen minutes passed, all of them had received a token that stated their participation in the tournament, with a letter and a number on each. Perhaps it was a matter of fortune, but most of them had different letters on their tokens, which meant they wouldn't meet each other until further down the line.

All except Sidonie, who had the same letter as Vitali, that is.

"Well then, gentlemen and ladies, I wish you all the best of luck, and hope to see you on the tournament stage in two weeks," said the therian man as he bid his farewells with the group.

Cal replied in kind, before she told her students and nieces that they could freely use their remaining time until the tournament. To her students she added that they shouldn't neglect their regular training, and that she looked forward to their performance.

The group dispersed into smaller groups afterwards, and Cal left on her own. Partly it was to take a good look around the city, maybe find some souvenirs if she was lucky, and to taste the local delicacies. She also remembered that Vitali mentioned the Edelstein siblings arriving in the city, and Cal wondered if she should look for them to chat.