Ashes and Thrones

The Hall of Eclipse had never felt smaller.

Not now — not with the sky wide above and the Coliseum of Crowns stretching into shadow and firelight.

Shu stood in the darkened corridor beneath the stone stands —
cloak wrapped tight, heart pounding slower than it should've.

Above him, the roar of the crowd sounded like thunder inside a cave.

Twelve kingdoms had gathered.
Twelve banners hung in the windless air.
Twelve thrones floated high above the arena — each one bearing a monarch, a seal, a silent judgment.

Every prince's name would be called today.

Every mistake remembered.

The others shifted restlessly beside him —
Valt bouncing on his heels, Zac humming under his breath, Daigo still as a statue.

Only Free was completely still — his eyes half-closed, arms folded.

When the instructor stepped forward, silence followed.

His voice boomed across the stone corridor:

"Round One. Prince Valt of the Sky Kingdom. Prince Xander of the Earthfire Realm. Step forward."

Valt grinned.

He looked at Shu and whispered, "Wish me luck."

"You won't need it," Shu muttered back.

Valt winked and walked toward the light.

On the opposite side of the platform, Xander moved like a glacier — slow, precise, silent.

They met in the center ring — twin opposites.

Sky and earth.

Lightning and fire-forged stone.

The arena itself was a circle of smooth, black stone — obsidian polished by centuries of battles.
A barrier shimmered faintly around it — golden lines woven with magic to absorb damage, deflect stray spells, protect the crowd.

Above it all, the sky held its breath.

Valt cracked his knuckles and dropped into a loose stance. Lightning snapped quietly across his fingers.

Xander didn't shift. Just stared him down.

They knew each other too well.

"Begin," said the judge.

Valt moved first.

He blurred left — faster than any normal eye could follow —
and reappeared behind Xander with a bolt already charged in his palm.

Xander didn't flinch.

His foot slammed into the stone —
and a jagged wall of earthfire erupted between them, heat warping the air.

The lightning struck it and scattered into sparks.

The crowd roared.

Shu stayed quiet, watching from the shadowed arch.

He could feel the tension in Valt's movement.
The pressure in Xander's silence.

This wasn't a friendly match. Not today.

Valt attacked again —
sliding across the ring like the wind had hands, spinning into a second strike.

Xander twisted his arm —
stone cracked beneath his heel, throwing Valt's footing off.

Not enough to land a hit.

But enough to make him stumble.

They moved like they were dancing.