The battle arena of Bhūmigriha buzzed with energy. An open circle of layered stone terraces surrounded the main platform, where columns rose like ancient teeth from the earth. Onlookers from all houses filled the upper galleries—robes in shades of red, blue, green, and brown rippled like banners under the sun.
Dev stood at the edge of the arena, flexing his fingers. His knuckles cracked with tension. Behind him, Rajyashrī tightened her gloves. Maarun leaned against the stone railing above, his arm still in a sling from his match the day before.
"Don't die," Roshan muttered to Dev from the stands.
"I make no promises," Dev grinned nervously.
A loud, grinding noise echoed as a floating slab of stone rose from the center platform. Bhūmivedan stood tall upon it, arms folded. His voice cut through the murmurs.
"Let the Intra-House Trials begin. First battle: Dev vs. Pravar."
Cheers erupted. Some chanted Pravar's name; others whispered in curiosity about Dev—the boy who trained in secret, the one who supposedly found the forbidden scroll.
Pravar stepped into the arena. He was taller, broader, his muscles coiled beneath a sleeveless earth-toned robe. His footsteps were deliberate, like minor quakes.
Dev exhaled and walked forward.
The Nirṇāyakaṇā, the referee monk, raised one arm. "Combatants ready?"
Both nodded.
"Begin!"
Pravar wasted no time. He slammed his foot down, sending a ripple of stone forward like a wave. Dev leaped sideways, barely dodging it.
"Oh, come on!" Dev yelped. "Let me breathe first!"
Pravar grinned and charged, fists raised. His punches were like battering rams. Dev blocked the first two, but the third caught him in the side. He rolled, coughing.
From the stands, Maarun leaned forward. "Get up, Dev... you trained for this."
Dev found his footing and planted his palms on the ground. Earth Shield Flow!
Stone plates rose to block Pravar's next charge, but they shattered on impact.
"You call that a shield?" Pravar mocked, raising a chunk of earth and hurling it like a cannonball.
Dev ducked and skidded to the left. Dust coated his face, his arms trembled. "Okay, new plan. Stop dying."
He stomped his foot and raised a spiral of mud from beneath Pravar's feet. The tall fighter stumbled, caught off balance. Dev seized the moment, launching himself forward with a punch to the chest.
Pravar barely moved.
"Cute."
He lifted Dev with one hand and flung him across the arena.
Rajyashrī winced. Roshan covered his face.
Maarun clenched his good fist. "Come on, Dev. You're not out yet."
Dev groaned and spat mud. "Okay, this guy punches like an avalanche. Let's see if he can handle this."
He centered himself. Hands flat, eyes closed. The earth answered.
Stone Spiral Flood.
Mud and stone rose in spiraling discs beneath him. He launched upward, creating an aerial path of spinning platforms. From above, he bent the spirals downward.
Pravar looked up, confused—then shocked, as the spirals twisted toward him like a falling drill.
Dev shouted and brought his arms together.
The stone spiral slammed into Pravar, trapping him in a cage of jagged rock.
Silence.
Dust settled. Dev dropped to the ground, panting.
Then—crack!
Pravar burst through the prison with a roar. One eye swollen shut, blood at the corner of his mouth.
"Impressive," he said.
He charged again. Dev reached for his final card.
Dust Camouflage.
He slammed both hands down, creating a cloud of fine particles. The arena became a blur of brown mist. Pravar coughed, swinging wildly.
From behind, Dev wrapped him with Mud Vine Hold.
The vines tightened. The dust faded.
Pravar tried to move. Failed.
The Nirṇāyakaṇā stepped forward. "Match over. Dev wins!"
For a moment, no one spoke. Then the Bhūmigriha side erupted. Some clapped, some gasped. Maarun pumped his fist with his one good arm.
Rajyashrī smirked proudly. "Told you he had it in him."
Dev collapsed to one knee, grinning through the pain. Pravar, still bound, gave him a slow nod.
"Respect," he muttered.
As Dev walked out of the arena, bruised but victorious, Maarun reached down from the railing and grinned.
"Told you not to die."
"Yeah," Dev panted. "But I might need help walking."
They both laughed.
Above, Bhūmivedan smiled subtly. The first match had set the tone.
And next , Rajyashrī would follow.
Bhūmigriha was rising.