Azure River City never seemed to sleep.
Even early in the morning, the streets were already crowded.
The sound of merchants advertising their wares mixed with the rhythmic clatter of horse-drawn wagons.
Above it all, colorful banners fluttered in the breeze.
MARTIAL HIGH ENTRANCE TOURNAMENT
The words could be seen almost everywhere.
Kael quietly followed Gareth and the others through the bustling streets.
Unlike everyone around him, he wasn't looking at the shops.
Nor was he watching the martial artists proudly displaying their weapons.
Instead...
He was looking up.
"So many buildings..."
Ben chuckled.
"You've said that three times already."
"They're taller than trees."
"...That's because people built them."
"I know."
Kael nodded seriously.
"I just think it's impressive."
---
After walking for nearly half an hour, they arrived at a massive public square.
The square was enormous.
Thousands of young men and women had already gathered there.
Some meditated quietly.
Others sparred with companions.
Some stretched their bodies.
Others simply observed the crowd.
At the far end of the square stood a magnificent white stone building.
Its entrance was supported by twelve towering pillars carved with dragons, tigers, cranes, and countless weapons.
Above the entrance hung a black plaque.
Martial High Registration Hall
Kael looked at the building for a long moment.
"...This is where I register?"
Gareth nodded.
"It is."
"From here..."
"Everything depends on you."
---
The line stretched almost halfway across the square.
Lily looked horrified.
"That's so long..."
Ben laughed.
"It'll move."
Kael looked from one end of the queue to the other.
"...Do we simply wait?"
"That's usually how lines work."
"Oh."
---
The merchants remained with him for a while.
Eventually Gareth looked toward the registration line.
"We should leave."
Kael turned.
"So soon?"
The merchant captain smiled.
"We still have business in the city."
"We'll be here until the tournament begins."
"If you need us..."
He handed Kael a small wooden token engraved with a wagon.
"Come to the Eastern Merchant District."
"Everyone there knows the Blue River Caravan."
Kael accepted it carefully.
"...Thank you."
Ben suddenly stepped forward and wrapped one thick arm around Kael's shoulders.
"Don't let those fancy martial artists scare you."
Clara smiled warmly.
"And remember to eat."
"You fight better with a full stomach."
Kael nodded.
"I'll remember."
Lily looked down for a moment before holding out something wrapped in cloth.
"...Here."
Kael accepted it.
Inside were several pieces of sweet honey cake.
"You liked them."
"So..."
"...I asked Emma to make some before we left."
Kael blinked.
"...For me?"
She nodded.
"You'll probably get hungry waiting."
For a few moments...
Kael simply looked at the cakes.
Then he smiled.
One of the rare smiles that reached his eyes.
"...Thank you."
Lily beamed.
---
After saying their goodbyes...
The merchants disappeared into the sea of people.
Kael watched them leave until they were no longer visible.
For the first time since leaving the mountain...
He was completely alone.
"..."
He took a slow breath.
Then quietly joined the end of the registration line.
---
Time passed.
The line moved steadily.
Applicants talked among themselves.
Many introduced themselves.
Others openly discussed their achievements.
"My father is an elder of the Iron Mountain Sect."
"I've reached the Third Layer of Martial Qi."
"Our clan has entered Martial High for six generations."
Boasts.
Stories.
Rumors.
Kael listened quietly.
He didn't understand half of what they were talking about.
---
Standing directly behind him was a freckled young man carrying a spear nearly twice his height.
He smiled awkwardly.
"...First time?"
Kael nodded.
"Mine too."
The young man scratched his head.
"I'm Rowan."
"From Cedar Village."
"Kael."
They shook hands.
"...You're not very talkative."
Rowan laughed.
"I'm nervous."
"I keep wondering if I'll embarrass myself."
Kael thought for a moment.
"...Then don't think about embarrassing yourself."
Rowan blinked.
"...Is it that simple?"
"I don't know."
"I've never done this before."
The two quietly laughed.
---
Ahead of them...
Several applicants suddenly became excited.
"Look!"
"It's Jian Yu!"
The famous disciple from the Sky Hawk Pavilion calmly walked through a separate entrance reserved for invited candidates.
Many eyes followed him.
Some admired him.
Others viewed him as a rival.
Kael glanced over.
"...He's popular."
Rowan looked surprised.
"You don't know him?"
"No."
"That's Jian Yu!"
"...I heard that yesterday."
"...He's famous!"
"I've also heard that."
Rowan stared at Kael for a few seconds.
"...You really don't care, do you?"
Kael looked genuinely puzzled.
"...Should I?"
Rowan suddenly laughed.
"I like you."
---
The line continued moving.
Eventually...
Only a dozen applicants remained ahead of them.
At the entrance stood several Martial High instructors wearing black and silver robes.
Each carried themselves with quiet dignity.
Their eyes carefully examined every applicant.
Some instructors occasionally whispered to one another after observing certain individuals.
Others simply recorded names.
One elderly instructor yawned.
"...Another three thousand applicants today."
His younger colleague sighed.
"And tomorrow..."
"...Even more."
---
It was finally Rowan's turn.
He nervously stepped forward.
One instructor smiled.
"Name?"
"Rowan Ashwood."
"Age?"
"Eighteen."
"Weapon?"
"Spear."
The instructor handed him a small bronze token engraved with the number 2478.
"Keep this."
"It identifies you throughout the tournament."
Rowan bowed.
"Thank you."
He stepped aside to wait for Kael.
---
"Next."
Kael approached the registration table.
The elderly instructor looked up.
"Name?"
"Kael."
The brush paused.
"...Family name?"
Kael blinked.
"My..."
"...family name?"
The instructor looked up again.
"You do have one, don't you?"
Kael thought for several moments.
Finally...
He slowly shook his head.
"I don't know."
The instructor frowned.
"You don't know?"
"My grandfather never mentioned one."
The nearby instructors exchanged curious glances.
The old man studied Kael carefully.
"...Parents?"
"I don't know."
"Clan?"
"I don't know."
"Sect?"
"I don't know."
The instructor placed his brush down.
"...Young man."
"What exactly do you know?"
Kael answered honestly.
"My name is Kael."
"I lived on a mountain with my grandfather."
"He asked me to come here."
Silence.
The younger instructor coughed to hide a smile.
The elderly instructor sighed before rubbing his temples.
"...Very well."
He wrote simply:
Name: Kael
He handed Kael a bronze token.
2480
"Don't lose it."
"It represents your identity during the Entrance Tournament."
Kael accepted it with both hands.
"...Thank you."
As he turned to leave...
One instructor quietly watched him.
Unlike the others...
His attention wasn't on Kael's unusual background.
Instead...
It rested on Kael's hands.
The calluses.
The balanced footsteps.
The relaxed breathing.
The natural posture.
Nothing about the young man suggested nobility.
Or wealth.
Yet...
Everything about him suggested years of disciplined training.
The instructor narrowed his eyes slightly.
"...Interesting."
He quietly made a small mark beside Kael's registration.
No explanation.
No comment.
Just a tiny observation that no one else noticed.
Including Kael himself.
Holding his bronze token, the quiet mountain youth stepped back into the bustling square.
The tournament...
Had officially begun.
End of Chapter 15