The arena shook with noise as the two teams faced each other.
— AND NOW! — roared the commentator. — THE FINAL SEMIFINAL! WOLF'S EDGE VS. BURNING SAND!
The gate on the left opened wide. Wolf's Edge entered calmly, compact, focused. Arok led the way, his arms hanging loosely at his sides, as if this were a regular training session rather than a battle for the finals.
On the other side, the arena shook beneath the footsteps of Burning Sand. Kiyoshi led his team with a slight smile. The sand beneath their feet was already reacting, tiny grains rising with every step.
— START!
The first few minutes belonged to Burning Sand.
Zahim and Ishra moved aggressively, forcing Wolf's Edge to retreat. Sand crept under their feet, restricting their movements and turning the terrain into a treacherous trap. Lya closed the space, and Kiyoshi controlled the battlefield from behind, almost effortlessly.
— INCREDIBLE! — shouted the commentator. — WOLF'S EDGE IS BEING PUSHED BACK! COULD THIS BE THE END OF THEIR RUN?! WILL THEY BE ELIMINATED IN THE SEMIFINALS AFTER TEN YEARS?!
The stands were buzzing.
***
Far from the arena, Valdor stood by the river, leaning against the stone barrier of the bridge. The water flowed calmly, as if the world were unaware of what was happening a few streets away.
He looked at his reflection.
Silver hair.
The image returned with brutal clarity.
Her voice.
Her gaze.
Hours of training, conversations, silence spent together.
Struggles. Magic. Learning patience.
— That's impossible... — he muttered to himself.
He shook his head.
— It's not her. It can't be true.
Inhale.
Exhale.
— I'll find out after the tournament.
He turned around and headed toward the treatment room.
He hadn't taken more than a few steps when the nurse spotted him.
— You! Get into bed. Now.
He did not protest.
The healing magic enveloped him in a soft light. He felt the tension leave his muscles, his wounds close. He saw warriors from other teams beside him. Members of the Forest Shield. Other fallen semifinalists.
But his thoughts were elsewhere.
***
Arena.
Wolf's Edge was being pushed back further and further. Every step backward cost them effort. The crowd sensed a turning point.
— THIS COULD BE THE END! — yelled the commentator. — BURNING SAND IS IN COMPLETE CONTROL!
Arok stopped.
He smiled.
He took a step forward.
Then the second one.
His eyes flashed.
An aura exploded around him, violent and heavy. The air trembled, and the shape of a huge dragon began to form above his silhouette. Powerful wings, a massive silhouette, silver eyes looking down on the arena.
Silence fell over the stands.
In the treatment room, Valdor suddenly opened his eyes.
— … — he just narrowed them.
— AROK IS MOVING FORWARD! — shouted the commentator. — IT'S THE SAME FORM AS IN THE FIGHT AGAINST THE FALLEN CROSSES.
Kiyoshi stood still.
He smiled slightly.
The sand around him trembled, rose, and began to swirl. The lines of grains intertwined, wrapping around his body. Bandages of sand formed layer upon layer until a sand mummy was created. The armor pulsed, alive, ready to attack.
The yellow eyes looked straight at the dragon.
Arok saw only them.
They stood facing each other.
Their teams lined up behind them, ready to rush into battle at a moment's notice.
"Arok!" shouted Kiyoshi.
"Kiyoshi!" replied Arok.
For a split second, the world held its breath.
And then they all started moving at the same time.