"Centuries ago." The host began, "The home planet of humanity, called Earth, was invaded by entities of chaos known as the others."
The lights in the Arena dimmed.
Around the expansive stage, the air behind her shimmered, light bending as if reality itself was being rewritten. Then it formed.
A globe.
Vast. Suspended in the air like a captured star.
Oceans of deep blue stretched across its surface, swirling with soft white clouds that drifted lazily across continents bursting with green life. Forests, rivers, and entire ecosystems were etched into its surface in impossible detail.
The colors alone felt alien.
Blue. Green. Life.
All of it was a violent contrast to Terra's endless rust-red plains and the faint, unsettling glow of blue cracks on the ground.
Murmurs rippled through the crowd.
Everyone knew what it was.
A hologram.
But it didn't feel like one.
Xaden looked around him. It was in the eyes of the candidates, something like wonder; they had all forgotten the unstable weather of Terra, the dust, the trials waiting for them.
Because hanging above them was a reminder of something impossible.
A world that looked alive.
Almost mythical.
Xaden watched, interest piqued. He had never really understood how their world came to be what it was; all he knew came from rumours and words of mouth from the homeless people he had met.
'The Others...'
The scene in the hologram changed to form a massive creature of tangled black smoke that crawled forward on long, crooked limbs, its body constantly unraveling and reforming. Thin strands of shadow peeled away from it like dying embers, drifting into the air before dissolving into nothing.
At the center of the shifting darkness burned two faint orange eyes.
Murmur broke through the crowd.
"Looks freaking awesome," Leo whispered.
"That thing would rip you to shreds," Xaden responded.
Regardless, Leo puffed out his chest.
"I could totally take it on."
"Oh, you think so?" A playful voice said behind them.
They both jumped, startled, then turned to see a petite girl standing only a bit away from them with a playful grin.
"And who are you supposed to be?" Leo eyed her from head to toe.
Her grin only spread further across her face. She had big, brown eyes with bright pink highlights on her pigtails. Even her clothes looked peculiar, a sleek black splash-colored combat jacket with similarly colored cargos. Twin swords resting at her back.
"See you guys later!" She smiled broadly, then winked at him before skipping away to another part of the wide arena field, where all the contestants still stood, eventually getting lost amidst the crowd.
"Weirdo," Leo said, eyes already searching for her amidst the crowd.
"Probably just checking out her opponents," Xaden responded with a shrug, keeping her in his mind's eye. There was something about her eyes and her gestures that made him realize she wasn't just another candidate.
She also had a confidence that reminded him of the Valerion boy he had met, the likes of which he had not seen among the candidates.
The host continued.
"To survive mass extinction, we traveled here, far away from the reach of The Others." Her voice started rising, "finally arriving here on Terra. Shielded from the savage beasts that roam around, by the protection of the Vale. Continuing to survive despite being faced with innumerable difficulties."
A hologram of a man and woman appeared above the stage—both standing tall, arms crossed, bodies carved with raw strength.
The crowd, as well as the contestants, roared back to life. The sound of their cheers was so powerful, Xaden was shocked the Arena hadn't started to rumble.
"Now, once every two years, we select from a handful of volunteers, individuals capable of not only possessing great power, but also harnessing it, through a series of challenges designed to test each candidate, the successful candidates of which get to move on to train in the war college at the city."
A crest appeared on stage, featuring a silver and blue 'AW' in a stylish font.
Xaden was not blind to the glow in Leo's eye, mixed with the hard line of determination, not unlike the ones appearing in the eyes of the contestants all around him.
A chance to go to the war college was a dream for many, especially those living in the lower sectors. One must surely be a fool not to desire to attend.
All except Xaden.
Although he honestly never assumed he possessed any measure of sense whatsoever.
It wasn't cowardice or self-deprecating esteem. He had simply no desire to be part of a system that had repeatedly shown him the middle finger.
He had another goal in mind.
The reason he had followed Leo here that had nothing to do with the glory.
"Candidates." The host called, gesturing towards them in her signature over-the-top manner.
"If you truly believe you have what it takes to beat the challenges, step forward.
"Keep in mind, not all of you will survive."
A silence descended on the candidate's side. Xaden and Leo exchanged a look. They had talked about it the day prior.
Leo winked at him, nodding his head, then stepped out of the contestant's side and towards the host.
Then raised an arm to the air. Fire crawled up his arm, settling in his palm. The massive screens atop the stage mirrored his movement.
The crowd erupted.
"It appears we have our first candidate!" The host cheered.
A smile traced along the lines of Xaden's lips.
'Show off!"
He looked towards the high gallery, observing the officials now engaged in a discussion—no doubt, placing their bets on the poor street kid who just so happened to have fire in his blood.
How long would he survive in the competition without any considerable training?
Elemental abilities were among the most revered—powers with the potential to grow into something terrifying.
More candidates began stepping forward.
One.
Then three.
Then ten.
Soon, hesitation gave way to momentum as boys and girls stepped out from the line and onto the open arena floor. Some revealed flickers of power—sparks of lightning, a shimmer across their skin, a pulse of heat in the air.
Others stepped forward with nothing but clenched fists and stubborn determination.
Eventually, no one remained behind.
Every candidate had stepped forward.
The host watched them with bright, amused eyes.
"Well now," she exclaimed, slowly pacing across the stage, the fabric of her gown flowing behind her like dark silk.
"How courageous."
Her gaze lifted briefly toward the High Gallery, where the powerful observers leaned forward with renewed interest.
Then she looked back at the candidates.
"So many brave souls," she continued, dramatically wiping a tear from under her eyes, voice carrying easily across the arena.
Leo drifted back beside Xaden.
The fire had already faded from his palm.
"Think they're impressed?" he muttered.
Xaden glanced at him.
Leo was grinning like an idiot.
Xaden shook his head, but the corner of his mouth twitched despite himself.
"This is it," Leo said quietly.
Xaden looked out across the arena floor.
Hundreds of candidates.
Thousands of spectators screamed above them.
The High Gallery watched like silent judges.
Everything he had ever hated about this world was right here.
He clenched his fists.
Then looked back at Leo.
"All or nothing," Xaden said.
Leo's crooked grin widened.
"All or nothing."
The host lifted a hand.
"Very well, candidates—"
The arena floor trembled.
At first, it was subtle.
A faint vibration beneath their boots.
Then the shaking grew stronger.
The polished black panels beneath them rattled violently as a deep metallic rumble echoed through the massive structure.
The crowd above gasped.
Xaden locked eyes with Leo.
"What the—" Leo started.
Xaden's eyes widened.
Massive sections of the arena floor slid open with a deafening metallic shriek.
Candidates shouted in alarm as entire platforms dropped away beneath their feet.
"RUN—!" someone screamed.
But there was nowhere to run.
The ground beneath them quaked.
It fractured...
And then it shattered.
For a brief, impossible moment, he was weightless.
Leo's hand brushed his arm as they both fell.
The last thing Xaden saw was the arena lights spinning wildly above him.
And the beautiful host was standing calmly on the stage, looking down at the chaos.
Her red lipstick-lined lips lifted upwards.
"Go," she said.
Xaden plunged into the darkness.
"And may the Guardian be with you."