It was quiet.
The night before.
The hustle and bustle from the afternoon and morning was gone.
The build-up was done. Lights holstered, covering the academy.
Arenas built. High profile guests accommodated early.
One final night.
But still...
The academy didn't sleep.
Dorm lights remained on.
The only noise cascading the air, being the howling wind.
It was tight. The air.
Anticipation. Nerves.
Fear.
The gates and transports pod would open, bringing live spectators; along with the viewers at home.
Billions of people could be watching potentially.
It wasn't just an 'Academy' tournament.
It was a showcase to the world. To the other 'worlds'.
Eldris was here.
Especially this year.
Most believed they had found him.
The 'one'.
To put Eldris back into contention.
The one who get them a 'wish'.
The person in question; leisurely reading in his room. Calm. Composed for the upcoming 'spectacle'.
Tak tak
The wind clattered on the windows. Restless. Just like everyone was.
In the Elite Dorms, Selle Varn leaned against the frame of the window.
She watched the lights flicker below. Behind her, the lounge room buzzed with a quiet energy.
Fayl sat. Upside-down on one of the coaches, legs draped over the headrest.
"So, anyone planning to sleep?" he asked, voice lighter than the weight behind his eyes.
Nobody answered.
"Jacob?" Aelana asked.
"Training." Naeva responded. "Or floating. Who knows."
"Does it bother anyone?" Fayl said. "That tomorrow we're being broadcasted to every major power on Eldris? And probably beyond?"
Selle turned.
"Price of being Elite. We're the ones to represent Eldris..."
Caelun watched quietly.
There was only one training at this time.
In a dimly lit training hall.
Thud Thud
The punching bag rocked with the rhythm of his pain. Not sharp strikes. Relentless ones.
His knuckles had split three minutes ago...
He didn't care.
That voice rang in his ear.
"Second again."
"Your sister-"
That voice that had plagued him.
Never truly acknowledged him.
Loathed him.
He was gonna be there, watching...
Slip
His hand dropped. Shoulders hitting the hall.
Sweat dripping from his skin. Covering his vision.
He slid down the wall, knees dropping beneath him.
His vision was trembling.
"...worm."
His throat tightened.
He wanted to scream.
Truly.
But he didn't. He sat there. Fists clenched. Blood drying.
He had a chance. A chance to finally...be acknowledged.
Elsewhere, whispers floated through the ones still awake.
"Hey...what do you think happened to that Silent? The one from the first day."
"...Him? Why'd you care. Didn't he get kicked out on the first day?", the boy chuckled.
"...I don't know. That day was just too shocking."
"Mmm. But I feel like tomorrow will be more shocking."
"Tomorrow...."
Somewhere beneath the stars, workers were finishing the platforms.
The stage was set.
A gigantic stadium. Rings of stone and barriers around. Glowing lines running across the floor, with multiple seats circling all around.
It was like a Colosseum.
Hanging in the air.
Alive.
Cameras, fitted onto robots floated.
They captured the whole scenery.
Every breath.
Every trembling hand.
It was a spectacle to say the least.
And it was going to get much louder tomorrow.
Tomorrow, it would be chaos...
-----
Chaos was an understatement.
Students scrambled.
"Have they started broadcasting?"
Staff moved with urgency.
The atmosphere had shifted from the previous, nervous silence.
Uniforms were all crisp, mirroring tense expressions.
Pods marched in near the front gate.
Hundreds of everyday people, slowly filling into Sector 2.
Food stalls were everywhere; the food spread through the air like incantations. It smelled amazing, a blend of concoctions.
It was a whole experience for those visitors off world and those who'd never been to the luxury of the lower sectors.
"Mom...let me get this."
"Not now sweetie, we have to go to our seats."
Banners waved, showcasing the sigil of Eldris, in all of its glory.
In that hum of festivity, those at home were spoiled also...
The commencement of the event was well awaited.
Those in higher sectors clutching their phones, remotes, all trying to get closer.
This event was big for everyone who lived on Eldris.
For one day, the class system didn't matter.
They all looked at the young, talented individuals who would try earn them glory across worlds.
The broadcast had started.
Massive screens flickered to life across the campus; in lounges, cafeterias, even the dorms.
A crystal clear projection of the central arena paired with echoing audio that carried every word, it was everything.
Lights powering the whole ambience.
In that chaos of footfall and noise, the viewers of the broadcast heard one voice.
A smooth voice.
It was carried, packed with charisma.
"Welcome... to the Eldris Showcase!."
A beat.
Then cheers, rumbling like a storm across every sector.
"This is the day you've all been waiting for - a spectacle of talent, a glimpse into the future of the interplanetary tournament, and a celebration of our young rookies, rising through the ranks.
My name is Ayling - I'll be your host throughout the coming days of battle, brilliance , and maybe.... a little madness."
Laughter echoed lightly through the broadcast feed. His voice came again, confident and clear.
"Now.. let's begin."
The crowd roared louder with each word.
"Who do you think will win the bouts later on?" one asked in Sector 5, resting in a bar.
"I heard that Jacob fella was good...they was playing his face on the news the other day."
"Jacob? He's good and all, but that hot-head what's his name? Kalen? He's got fire."
"Wasn't he that stain on the Voss family?"
"God knows. Still got my money on him."
"Let's bet", the other man said, cheekily.
"You're on."
They shook hands.
It was that type of atmosphere. A day to ease and unwind.
Multiple days in fact.
It was practically a holiday, the royals decreeing it in fact.
Speaking of royalty....
On the broadcast, the roar of the crowd surged.
It wasn't because of Ayling.
A distant hum split in the air.
Then came the shimmer.
From above, a sleek aerial vessel surged through the clouds. It's frame plated in silver, trimmed with deep crimson. The banners of House Elyndor swayed along its side.
A pair of golden phoenixes glowing with a gentle pulse.
"That's them!" someone shouted.
"That's the royal vessel!"
All across the sectors, heads turned, cameras shifted.
Murmurs turned into gasps.
The camera bots zoomed in, capturing their arrival from every angle.
Back in Sector 5, the two pair of men chuckled. "Now it's really a party."