"How can this be? Does he not have to step into the martial arena ten times to get ten points?"
As if expecting such a question, Nalt threw his arm around Mel's shoulder and kept going.
"Yeah, he has to step into the arena ten times, but he doesn't have to fight ten times. Look, let me give you an example; watch the arena to our right!"
"Which one? The guy with the longsword?"
"Exactly, let's watch him. The one in amber clothes with the sword is Sim, the heir to a rich merchant family. Everyone knows how good he is at fighting."
"And who is he fighting?"
"Him? He's my friend. He's not bad, but his family doesn't have the money to back his cultivation. Basically, he can't push his potential all the way. Watch closely; see what he does!"
Mel locked his eyes on the ring where the fight was about to start; he opened them wide, determined not to miss a single thing.
"I give up!"
The exact second the referee signaled the start of the match, the boy with the old shortsword surrendered. Not wanting to risk staying there for even a second, Nalt's friend hurried down the stone steps. Seeing this, the boy with uneven bangs called out to him.
"Florin, hey, Florin!"
Hearing his name, the boy spun around; seeing Nalt, he started walking over.
"Close one; if I had stayed another second, he might have swung his sword!"
Unlike his words, a smile was on Florin's face. He had one hand tucked into the sash of his rough, homespun clothes, while the other kept a tight grip on his beat-up sword.
"You really know how to survive. Let me introduce you; this is my friend, Mel!"
Florin looked the robust boy standing next to Nalt up and down for a second, then held out his hand to shake.
"My name is Florin; it's great to meet you. Where did you guys run into each other?"
Mel looked a bit confused by the boy's warm and casual style; Nalt answered for him.
"We met during the Botanical Division Trials!"
"With a body like that, you want to be an Herb Gatherer? I get why Nalt chose it, but you look like a martial cultivator!"
Florin had a big mouth, but Mel just stayed quiet.
"An Herb Gatherer, you say? I think you'd better keep your mouth shut. Today, Mel matched a century-old legend; he made all ten buds of the Ten-Budded Phantom Orchid bloom!"
"What did you just say?"
"You heard me. Most likely, Mel is going to become a Botanical Master. Listen to me and watch your step!"
Along with Florin, a few other people nearby heard the talk, but a second later, they looked back at the rings. It seemed they didn't believe the idle chat of three boys in tattered clothes.
"Ignore them; tell me, how did you do?"
Florin spoke, two big teeth sticking out of his mouth. He looked just as plain as Nalt.
"I made eight buds bloom, but the best part is this: every single kid from the common ranks got at least six points in the first trial!"
Florin's face stretched even more; he had to use his hand to push his dropped jaw back up. The people around them turned toward the three of them again, but this time, they didn't ignore it.
"Kid, what kind of nonsense have you been barking about for the last hour? Ten buds blooming, or every peasant getting at least six points in the first trial. Have you lost your mind?"
A big guy stepped forward and yelled at Nalt, but the boy with uneven bangs didn't back down an inch.
"If you don't believe me, go ask the guys over there. They're nobles, just like you; maybe you'll trust their word!"
The man in the brown vest nudged the boy next to him and sent him over to where Nalt pointed. The boy slipped through the heavy crowd like a snake, coming back in under two minutes.
Covering his mouth with one hand, he whispered into the ear of the well-dressed man. In that exact second, the man's arrogant look shattered.
Slowly turning his head toward Mel, and ignoring his slouching posture, he started to speak.
"Young friends, your uncle here was caught up in the heat of the fights and spoke without thinking. When you have time, come by my shop in the main plaza; let me give you a few items as gifts. Just ask for Big Joe's Emporium; anyone can point you there!"
Finishing his words, he walked off with his friends, while Mel kept the quiet, solid posture he had kept from the start.
"Heh heh heh, look how fast he tucked his tail like a whipped dog!"
Florin let out a loud laugh right where he stood, and Nalt joined in right away. The two friends laughed hard, slapping each other on the back.
"Nalt, what is going on here?"
Mel looked like a lost duckling pulled out of the water; finally, he opened his mouth to say a few words.
"I'll tell you everything, but first, let's watch the fights. We've got plenty of time until tomorrow; you're staying at my place tonight, no arguments!"
"Look, right there! This kid is in our group, and so far, he's won three fights in a row. A guy just like us, from some far-off town!"
"His name is Edgan; he's a real mystery. In the first three rounds, he took down the noble kids one after another. One of them was Sim, the guy I fought earlier."
When Mel looked at the ring Florin had practically run away from, he saw a familiar face. With his flowing hair and proud posture, it was definitely Edgan, the guy he met at the city gates.
"How is that possible? Everyone knows Sim reached the second level of the Discovery Realm at his age. How did this guy beat someone who can circulate nature's energy through his flesh?"
Nalt yelled in shock; he couldn't figure out what was happening, but the answer was coming fast.
"So what? Can't my brother beat your so-called hero? What does it matter if he's at the second level of the Discovery Realm? You all saw it; my brother didn't even pull his sword!"
Walking over to the three of them with her hand on her hip, a pretty girl spoke with one eyebrow raised. It seemed Nalt's words had pissed her off.
"Marvina, you're here too?"
Just as the girl was about to keep chewing Nalt out, Mel's voice rang out; right then, the angry look on Marvina's face melted away completely.
"Mel, what a surprise! What wind blew you over here?"
When the young girl rushed forward and threw her arms around Mel, the other two boys stood there with their jaws almost hitting the floor. Marvina was stunning, and hit with a sudden hug like that, none of them knew how to act.
"After the Botanical Division trials ended, my friend and I came here to watch the fights, but I never thought I'd run into you."
While Mel was explaining why he was there, a loud cheer went up from the next ring over.
"He beat him in one hit again!"
"Who is this guy?"
"The winner is Edgan!"
When the referee called his name, Edgan bowed to the guy he just beat on the floor and started walking down the stone steps.
"Brother, get over here!"
Marvina called her brother, who was heading back to his spot, over to where Mel and the others were standing. Even though the long-haired youth didn't recognize the voice at first, he found them fast thanks to Mel; the Botanical Division record-holder stood out right away with his tall, strong build.