The wind blew quietly across the sky as the rising sun climbed above the heavens, casting light upon a world once cloaked in darkness. A kingdom of wealth, of systems and arenas, of nobles and warriors. Beautiful people—elves and humans—lived in peace. Dwarves and gnomes worked side by side. Vehicles rumbled through the streets, and the town sparkled with finely hand-carved relics.

  Daen.

  And beneath this noble town stood a vast, legendary arena—known far and wide as the arena of all arenas:

  Telkha Arena.

  But today wasn’t just any day. Today was a day of war.

  The world watched as the great tournament neared, a clash of teams from all corners beneath the great Telkha. Among them, the most talked-about:

  Valirion.

  Civilians gathered, thousands filling every seat, anticipation simmering as the battle of teams was about to begin.

  One of Telkha’s prestigious teams, Cinder’s Petals, stood ready. And among them, Vehra Jifuwara stood outside the noble walls of Daen. She waited.

  She was expecting Valirion.

  “Where are they?” she muttered.

  Soon, Makswara Jifu walked beside her, headphones hanging from his neck.

  “I don’t think they’ll be here yet. Said they went out for training,” he said.

  “They’re just being stubborn. Ignorant, too.”

  “Welp, I’mma go warm up my voice in the studio. Let me know when they get here, Elaiyarah.”

  Vehra nodded, kissed his forehead, and patted his shoulder.

  “I’ll inform you, Elaisi.”

  As Maks headed back inside, Vehra remained standing like a tall, mighty statue—hands folded in front, still and silent—hoping they would arrive soon.

  In the forest, a warm hut flickered with morning light.

  Yingli Hesky was already awake, packing her things for the upcoming fight. Jugginal Orlath, Hennah Holfen, and Myke Yarh stirred not long after, ready to return to Telkha.

  Meanwhile, Mingwara Jifu knelt before the ancient, bandaged goddess—Aiko Itto Thalulah—seeking her silent permission to leave.

  “Yo, Juggy boy,” Hennah smirked, nodding toward Ming. “Look at her.”

  “What’s wrong with her, Hennah?”

  “She looks like a kid begging for candy,” she chuckled.

  THWACK!

  Myke knocked Hennah’s head with his knuckles.

  “HEY, LYO!! I’M JUST JOKING!!” she cried.

  “Come on,” Myke said flatly. “We’re heading to the fight.”

  “How about Ming?” Ying asked.

  Myke looked over—Ming was now embracing Aiko gently. He exhaled.

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  “Now,” he said, and stepped outside. Jug and Hennah followed. Ying lingered a moment longer, waiting for Ming to stand before following her out.

  Aiko watched them leave, her eyes unreadable, before gently closing the door.

  “Hey, Myke,” Hennah asked once they reached the road beyond the trees.

  “Not now,” he replied.

  “No, listen—what if we do the usual thing?”

  Myke frowned. “Usual thing?”

  “We’re not doing the usual thing,” Ming cut in sharply.

  “Oh, come on! The usual thing is the best!”

  “What’s the ‘usual thing’?” Ying asked.

  “You know… uh—” Hennah began, but Ming swiftly interrupted.

  “No.”

  “But—”

  “NO,” Ming and Myke said in unison.

  Hennah sealed her mouth like a scolded child.

  Ying blinked, still confused.

  “…What is the usual thing?” she whispered again.

  No one answered.

  And for the rest of the walk back to Telkha, that same question looped in her mind.

  As minutes passed, Vehra felt the wind, listened to the atmosphere, and gently tapped her blade against the ground. She smiled.

  “They’re here,” Vehra said.

  “Oh finally,” Tela Lesta muttered. “Here comes Valirion.”

  Ronald Orlath crossed his arms, expecting Jug’s arrival as well.

  As Myke, the leader of Valirion, stood opposite Vehra, he bowed—respecting her as one of the Concord of Telkha.

  “You made it in time,” Vehra said.

  “We were trapped in the forest, but luckily—” he gave Ming a sharp glance before turning back to Vehra, “Ming managed to save us just in time.”

  “Good,” Vehra replied calmly, relieved.

  “We’ll begin the friendly match any minute now,” she added, as they all began walking toward Telkha.

  As Valirion entered the arena, a wave of cheers erupted. The citizens of Telkha praised their arrival—some even offering gifts in honor and respect.

  Makswara: “Well, well, well! It seems Valirion has finally arrived—and so have we! Live from the Arena Outskirts!”

  Sheyla: “Where WAR is your GAME!! WOOOOHOOO!”

  Makswara: laughs “Chill, bruh. They're on their way to Telkha.”

  Sheyla: “I can’t! You know why?”

  Makswara: “Yeah, I do. Because today—on Deyra, the Sixth Day—we witness the clash between the most prestigious team, Valirion, and one of the Concord who manage the Arenas across the realm of Manalta: Cinder’s Petal.”

  Sheyla: “Wait—hold up. Is it Cinders Petals, Cinder Petals, Cinder’s Petals, or Cinder’s Petal?”

  Makswara: “You’re asking me? I was confused too. But let me enlighten all of y’all—

  It’s Cinder’s Petal. Singular. Possessive. Clean.”

  Sheyla: “Aahh, I see. Then let’s talk history!”

  Makswara: “Really? You think anyone tunes in for a history lesson?”

  Sheyla: “Shush! My history-nerd brain is activated. Lemme yap a bit!”

  Makswara: sighs “Go on then, hahaha.”

  Sheyla: “So technically speaking, Valirion and Cinder’s Petal have more in common than you’d think—especially their team members.”

  Makswara: “Alright, I’m listening—”

  Sheyla: “No, you’re not!”

  Makswara: “I AM, though!!”

  Sheyla: “Okay, okay! So—one of them shares noble blood. Like, ancient noble blood.”

  Makswara: “You mean... Jifu/wara?”

  Sheyla: Ding ding ding! “Yuhhh! Plus—they’re known to be versatile fighters across both F-division and M-division. Fighter and Marksman.”

  Makswara: “Oh, and did you know Jifu/wara’s line is connected to the Goddess of War?”

  Sheyla: “Don’t you dare say her name!”

  Makswara: “Haha, don’t worry—I won’t. But Thalulah herself might be listening to our broadcast right now... or maybe she’s roaming near your house. So hey—better lock your doors~”

  Sheyla: “AHAHAHA yeah buddy! Anyway—it looks like Valirion and Cinder’s Petal have entered Telkha! And I cannot wait for the battle to begin!”

  Makswara: “Yup. And to all our listeners—

  Keep your eyes open. The war is about to begin.

  We’ll be back right as the game kicks off.”

  As Valirion stand inside the lift, quietly, Myke's leg clacking on the floor. Ying noticed his nervous, rarely showed. As she glance at Ming, where she spectating her blade's sharpness, Jug and Hennah as usual, planning and finally back to Myke.

  Ying then reach her hand to Myke's, calming him down, and his leg slowly clack. "We're on it, okay?" Ying softly said.

  "I know," he response yet he didn't let his hand go of her.

  As they arrived and entered, silence descended after the clash—though the Telkha arena still roared.

  A brutal battle had erupted between two teams of five, each fighting to destroy the Hyshen core. Speed, strategy, and mental warfare—not mercy—would decide the victor.

  “Ying, get in that lane!” a Myke shouted.

  She surged forward like a commander on the front line. Swift, precise, lethal. She might have looked fragile, but few were fiercer.

  She tore through enemy defenses, weaving between a hail of projectiles that exploded around her. Her movements were a blur—a whirlwind of steel and grace, dismantling the opposition with unrelenting force.

  The enemy base, once towering and defiant, now crumbled beneath their assault. Its defenses shattered like glass.

  Victory, it seemed, was within reach. Yet Ying knew, it's just a beginning of war.