Part 2 - Once again, Night

Chapter 21 - The Tournament's Lobby

As we watched her unlock the gate with a simple tug, I couldn't shake off the feeling that, behind Aelith's easy smiles and laughter, this island—this place—was hiding far more than it let on. The thick fog, the forgotten village, and now this looming, ancient gate... Something here felt deeply wrong, and I was sure we had barely scratched the surface.

"Come quickly~!" Aelith called out in a sing-song voice, her tone carefree as she floated ahead.

As we all stepped through the gate, there was a loud, resounding slam behind us. I jumped, immediately whipping around to see Aelith grinning mischievously.

"Oopsies," she said with a cheeky smirk, clearly enjoying our startled reactions.

"Jeez, that door's way too heavy for me to just shove open," Konota grumbled, crossing her arms with a huff.

Luna glanced at her, offering a soft compliment, "I'm sure you could. You're absurdly strong, Konota."

Skylar chuckled, giving Luna a playful pat on the head. "Wow, didn't know you were the 'butter-up' type."

Luna's face flushed slightly as she looked down, mumbling, "I'm not... it's just true."

Before Skylar could tease her further, Aelith zoomed past us, her light blue hair streaming behind her like a ribbon. "Now, now, let's get you all settled in your rooms! We've got something special prepared for each of you! Trust me, it wasn't easy~" she said with a grin, clearly proud of her handiwork.

As we continued walking, the fog began to lift, revealing a stark contrast to the desolate village we'd glimpsed earlier. This place was pristine, like a hidden paradise. The streets were bustling with people going about their business, and the buildings were sleek, modern, connected by a web of power lines. It looked like a self-sustaining town, but something about it felt... enclosed.

My gaze shifted upwards, and sure enough, towering walls surrounded the entire settlement. Beyond those walls, the thick fog loomed like a curtain, isolating this place from the rest of the island. The air felt strangely heavy, like this town was a bubble separated from the reality outside.

"Ah! Before we head to your rooms, let's take a quick detour to the stadium arena! You have to see it!" Aelith's voice was full of excitement, and without waiting for a response, she zoomed off again, leading us onward.

We soon arrived at the stadium located at the heart of the town. As I walked in, I couldn't help but gasp. 

It was massive. The seats encircled the arena in a perfect ring, elevated about ten metres above the ground to keep spectators safe from whatever chaos would unfold below. The entire structure radiated a sense of grandeur, like it had seen countless legendary battles.

As my eyes travelled upward, I noticed five seats perched above the rest, each one regal and separated from the common spectators.

"Those seats," Luna said, her voice quiet but intense as she pointed toward the high platform. "That's where the Prodigies will sit, right?" Her eyes seemed to harden, and for a moment, I saw a spark of fierce determination in her usually calm demeanor. "I'll prove it to them... and to my sister... I'm not the same weak person anymore." Her voice carried more conviction than I'd ever heard from her before.

"You'll do great, I'm sure of it, Luna," Lyra said with a warm smile, giving her a reassuring pat on the back.

...

After that, we were all sent off to our rooms to get ready for the opening ceremony of the tournament. The building was something like a giant hotel made only for the participants for the tournament.