13 | Contest Registration

“Will the next contestant please step forward,” the examiner called out once more.

The line moved forward at a steady pace as each new contestant was announced. Rivana, who was the first team member in line, finally stood in the waiting spot to be the next examinee.

“Contestant Bernic, age thirty-five, Bourn gate. Next!” After the announcement, an attendant motioned for Rivana to step forward and face Dalir with her back.

Nito watched the proclaimed medical expert place her hands on Rivana’s back and close her eyes. It only took a short moment before her crystal blue eyes flicked open with a look of certainty. She asked if Rivana wished to reveal her name and made the announcement in a methodical manner, “Name omitted, age twenty-six, Bourn gate. Next!”

Nito was ushered forward to receive the same examination. He walked up to the woman in her azure scholar's robe and turned so his back was to her.

“Just relax,” she told him as he felt her hands rest between his shoulder blades.

Nito took a breath and loosened his muscles like he did so many times during training the past several days. He felt an odd warmth flow into him through Dalir’s palms. It trickled through his limbs and seemed to gently wrap around each of his bones. In the next instant, the feeling vanished, and her hands dropped away.

“Do you wish to reveal your name?” She asked Nito, who shook his head in response. Then, she waved to an attendant who rushed over at her command. Nito was given the contestant token as the announcement was given, “Name omitted, age twenty-four, Bourn gate.”

The attendant pointed to the wall where those who already passed the examination were gathering, “Please head over to the registration counter and place your name on the list along with your teammates’ names. Don’t worry, the list will be kept strictly confidential.”

Nito joined Rivana, who was waiting to the side, and said, “Alright, shouldn’t we go towards the counter so people don’t see we are teamed up with Laharis?”

“That’s probably a good idea, but don’t we all have to put our names down together?”

Nito shrugged in response, and they made their way over. Once they were far enough away, they turned back to see Laharis, who was receiving his test. Dalir’s hands came off his back, and she announced him to everyone, “Contestant Laharis, age twenty-seven, Vitras gate. Next!”

“As expected of Laharis, I had a feeling he had a higher gate stage than us. That makes him the fourth one in the whole contest,” Rivana said with slight amazement. Now that they had heard Laharis’s announcement, they continued towards the counter.

When they arrived at the registration area, there were already dozens of contestants lined up in several queues. Before they could join a line, another attendant hastily shuffled over to them.

“May I see your tokens please?” He immediately asked. Nito and Rivana held up the silver coins, and he continued, “Thank you. Congratulations on being able to enter the Orchid Contest. Now, if you will please get in any of the lines and wait to be registered, an attendant will receive you at the counter. Simply present your token to them and state your name, then tell them the names of your teammates if you have any. Remember, there may only be up to three contestants per team. The rest will be handled by us.” He smiled at them and gestured towards a line.

Due to the number of lines, they were all very short. So after they both joined one, it was only a brief time before Nito stepped up to the counter and showed the receptionist his token.

“Thank you. Your name please, and your teammates’ names if you have them,” she got straight to business.

“I’m Nito, and my teammates are Rivana and Laharis.”

After recording the information, she looked up, “Alright, you’re free to leave now. Hold on to your token as you will need to present it again at the actual contest. All other rules will be given at the contest itself.”

With that, Nito thanked the attendant and rejoined Rivana. During the entire process, he had been glancing around for the group of hooded contestants, but they were nowhere to be found.

“If you’re looking for her, I saw them leave as we came over to register. I wonder why they were all cloaked like that, though. It’s not like we didn’t see their faces before,” Rivana said to him, noticing his darting eyes.

“Yeah, I figured they’d be gone. It’s not like it matters, though. Should we wait for Laharis, or should we just go back to the inn ourselves?” He asked with a slightly dejected look.

“We might as well wait for a bit. And observing the competition would be useful,” she responded.

“You’re absolutely right! Observing the competition can be extremely useful even if it’s just their mannerisms, which is why I’ll stay here while you two head back and continue practicing,” Laharis came up behind them. He placed his hands on their shoulders, causing them to jump.

“Ah, Laharis! We were just going to wait for you. You want us to leave?”

“Don’t forget, you guys have a long way to go before you’ll be ready for the contest, so it’s better if all your time is focused on improving your control of energy. Nito’s only able to hold five light orbs at once and you’re only able to maintain seven,” He told Rivana. “Also, We are going to start training your ethereal arts tomorrow.”

While Laharis drilled them on why they need to leave, a thin but toned man walked up to them. He was dressed in odd purple and red garments that were unlike any Nito had seen before, and his hair was pulled back with a flashy gold clasp that matched his earrings.

Without giving so much as a glance to Nito or Rivana, the man addressed Laharis, “Toying with the competition, are we? You must be Laharis, right?”

“Ahh… Yeah, that’s me. And you are?” Laharis looked him up and down with a sidelong gaze.

“The name’s Rasil. I just thought I’d go around and meet my rivals of the contest. Though, those other two seem to have left already,” he responded.

“Right! You're one of the other Vitras gates, I remember now. Hm? You must be from pretty far away, huh?” Laharis looked down at the open and glowing explorer compass in Rasil’s hand.

“Ha! Quite far indeed. I’ve come from Naviis,” He said with pride. “I only left because I thought the key to true strength might lie somewhere outside that bloodsoaked desert. But I haven't found a single ethereal arts school along my travels, it’s a bit surprising. I recently found this competition and figured it would be a good way to grow my strength so I may one day receive the Red God’s blessing.”

“I see… Well, I’m from further north, actually. Though, I’m here more for the prize than anything else. May the best one win,” Laharis offered a small bow.

“Of course!” Rasil clasped his hands and returned the gesture. “Then-”

As Rasil was about to continue the conversation, a scream rang out across the hall. Near the coliseum entrance, a group of three men stood over a figure crumpled on the ground. The one standing in the middle was clothed in extravagant green robes, and he wore a wicked grin on his face. The two much larger men at his sides stood stoically in noticeably plainer garbs. All three had a twisting serpent emblazoned on their chests.

“That sigil…” Laharis mumbled.

“I told you not to step ahead of me, did I not? I only brought you along to have something pleasant to look at instead these filthy explorers, don’t forget your place,” the young man in the middle sneered. “Pick her up,” he flicked his wrist, and the two at his side immediately bent down, roughly pulling the girl to her feet.

Hundreds of eyes were already fixed on the group who just walked into the hall and caused the sudden commotion. The attendant who helped Nito earlier had rushed over and was bowing to the man in the middle, “Mister Sergan, welcome. We’ve been expecting you, please come this way, if you will.”

“Yes, yes. Let’s get the formalities over with quickly,” Sergan responded to the attendant, who turned and began walking towards the podium.

The group was led around the line and up to the front where the examinations were taking place. As they passed, whispers ran through the line, and eyes remained glued to them, but no one made any movements or complaints.

A contestant near Nito voiced with a confused look, “What the hells? Why are they just being allowed to cut the line and go straight to the front?”

“You don’t know who that is? He’s the Council Head’s son, of course no one would dare inconvenience him,” another contestant harshly whispered.

Moments after the group reached the front of the line, Dalir called out, “Contestant Sergan, age twenty-nine, Vitras gate. Name omitted, age thirty-one, Bourn gate. Name omitted, age thirty, Bourn gate.”

After the three names were called out, the group was guided back to the hall entrance, exiting just as suddenly as they came. Following their leave, dozens of contestants let out relieved breaths and the line began moving like before.

“That was certainly a spectacle. You both should leave too, make sure not to run into those guys on your way back though,” Laharis said to Nito and Rivana.

“Yeah, probably best to not get involved with him. We’ll be off then,” and with that, the two made their way back through the winding cobbled streets to the Explorer Guild Inn.

◈◈◈

Sunlight spilled onto the floorboards through Rivana’s room window as the team of three stood together at the room’s center. After scarfing down a hearty morning meal, they returned to the room which had become their training space for the past two weeks or so.

Laharis faced the two, pacing back and forth, “Now that we’ve registered for the contest and spent the time up till now honing your ability to emit and control ethereal energy in its raw state, it’s about time we get into the real meat of your training. It’s time to construct your ethereal arts!” He spread his arms dramatically, looking at them excitedly, “So, do either of you have an idea of what you want your art to be, based on your strengths? I can tell you if your idea is too much for you to handle or help you come up with one if need be.”

“Well, you said casters do well applying elemental properties to their ethereal energy, so I thought about using fire since I already know how to do that. But honestly, I’m not too sure,” Rivana said.

“Yeah, just casting fire isn’t exactly an ethereal art, but that’s alright, we’ll come up with something. Also don’t forget, a good ability will likely include the use of multiple attributes at once. In your case, as long as casting is the core of your ability, you shouldn’t be afraid of incorporating a bit more. Then, what about you, Nito?” Laharis asked.

“Actually, I have thought of something. I even tried it out already on a small scale, so I think I can do it. The main thing I’ll need help on is making my energy invisible like you can,” Nito said decidedly.

“Oh? It’s good you’ve got something figured out. The only problem with that is making energy invisible is impossible. After all, how can you control something you can’t see? Even grasping the concept of something physical existing without form is extremely difficult. The way I do it is more of a trick. However, depending on what exactly you’re trying to do, we may be able to make it work the same way as mine,” Laharis explained, the edge of his mouth curving in a small smile. “Let’s see what you’ve come up with.”

____

Explorer Log:

Agrus (also known as Mountain Eaters)

Danger Level - [Gorgon] ★★★★

Appearance - A 7 and a half nanoleague tall monstrous creature; they are bipedal though they have been seen using their arms, which are nearly double the length of their legs, to support themselves; all four of their limbs are nearly as thick as an adult human; their body is covered in plating similar to obsidian in color and luster; they have four small orange eyes and mandible like jaws; their hands have three fingers on them while their feet have no visible digits

Behavior - Omnivores; they mostly feed on rock and stone, which their jaws are strong enough to crush, but there have been accounts of them attacking and consuming other organisms; they dwell in caves they create by eating through cliff sides, mountains, and hills; their plating, which is as tough as some metals, protects them from cave-ins and helps insulate their bodies; their mating habits are mostly unknown though thought to occur rarely due to their long lifespans

Habitat - Faron Fens (Kaldops mountain range) and Magra