"The race will now commence!" General Calina announced from the platform.

A large runic symbol appeared beneath our feet and glowed intensely. The area around us started to morph and converge from the castle's inner grounds to a dirt ground centered in between two medium-sized walls. Banners wisped side to side and confetti fell from the sky. Both sides of the walls were packed with people roaring and cheering as we entered the area. The noise they made was almost deafening.

"Welcome contestants!" General Calina's face was overlayed on a screen above the entire raceway showing her beaming smile. Her voice was echoed throughout the stadium.

"Today marks the Physical Altitude test showcasing our most able knights-in-training! Let's give them a warm welcome as they race for their place in the next competition!"

If the crowd wasn't loud before their chants made my ears ring. Mimi's cat-ears were planted backwards as she held her hands over them.

"The entire raceway has different booby traps and obstacles to over come." Her voice continues to emit throughout the entire area. The screen blinks from her face to show a map.

"You'll be racing from the Arena District, where you're currently located, through the Mage Districting and back to the Capital District. We'll be accepting only 10 racers before the competition concludes.

The entire crowd beneath the stadium explodes in confusion.

"Only 10?! That's insane!"

"There's like 200 of us! How does that even make sense?!"

Despite their pleas General Calina continues her announcement. "Let's get on with the race!"

Only 10, huh?

I look over to Yuumi and she looks enthused, touching her hands onto the ground and arching her back in a runner's position.

Mimi is also at the ready, she raises her heels and stands firmly on her toes.

"On Your Mark,"

I brace myself and flex my leg muscles ready to take off.

"Get Set,"

The rest of the crowd chants grow intensely in anticipation for the racers to fly through the arena. The other racers get in their ready positions.

"Go!"

A loud horn goes off along with a explosion of confetti into the arena.

The participants start rampaging through the arena to the opposite side where an open gate is located. Dirt clouds start to form in the area as we all start a desperate sprint to be first.

Looking to my left a man elbows an unsuspecting competitor as he tumbles onto the ground. Someone in front of me falls from a girl shoving him with ferocity; I jump over the individual and continue to sprint to the front of the line.

Noticing no dirt trails in front of me, I peer to back and gasp.

I'm in front of the entire crowd!

"WOO HOO!" I jump into the air and sprint forward.

"Wow look at that,"

General Calina's voice could be heard on the loud intercom.

"Looks like Momoko Miwa blazes a trail ahead the rest of the competition, but where's her team?!"

Eh?

I look to my sides and about face to the following competitors still running backwards.

"MIMI! YUUMI!" I beckon to the approaching party as they continue to race after me.

Slowing my pace, I disperse into the crowd and find them near the edge of the runners.

Mimi's brown attire comes into view as she's seen squirming away from a broad man trying to grab her. Yuumi grabs the attacker's hand and twists it throwing him onto the ground.

"T-thank you." Mimi takes a deep breath relieved.

Now racing alongside them, I steady my pace to their's.

"And where the hell did you run off too?" Yuumi glares as she continues to run forward.

"Sorry, guess my training with Aiyoma and her dad was a bit too good." I give a nervous chuckle.

A hand catches the edge of my eye and I duck forward. A man with jet-black hair reaches for me as I barely dodge him. He continues to run to the side of me and I kick his shin in retaliation.

"GAH!" He stumbles and gets pushed to the back of the crowd.

Are these people serious? Don't they know someone could get hurt from all of this?

Nearing the narrow hallway the participants start to flood in. The walls are a reddish brick stuck together using cement. The corridor was so tight that some of the contestants ran shoulder to shoulder as they pushed and shoved to get ahead. The ceiling above us rumbled as the crowd was still cheering us on.

"Momoko look!" Yuumi signals ahead of us and points to a mirror-like portal.

The racers start to advance through the purple reflective gateway. My skin tingles running through the door as I feel weightless.

A bright light is seen and I dash forward to end this unusual sensation. My hand touches the light and my eyes adapt to the new terrain. Straying forward the ground beneath me feels solid, there's large structures around us with red-colored lanterns creating a lit path for us to take. The buildings are a mix of Asian Dynasty and Medieval; They all have papered windows and clay walls that are supported by large wooden logs.

Mimi and Yuumi come through the doorway after me and we continue running forward.

"Where are we?" Mimi looks at the new setting frantically.

"They said that we'd be going to the Mage District… Guess that's where we are." I run forward taking a left turn following the candles.

We seem to have been in an alleyway as the main road has buildings that look rather peculiar in the front. The clay fronts had wooden doors with unique handles. Some of them didn't have handles at all. The lanterns continue to light a path that's straightforward however they stop and break to the left indicating a quick turn to be made.

"What're they doing?" Yuumi points to a group that breaks off into a small alleyway ahead of us.

"Do you think that's a shortcut?"

... There's only one way to find out.

. . .