Kain and the others lined up in a row and made their onto the arena stage behind Ezra who was carrying a large black banner with their school insignia on it.
The air buzzed with excitement and anticipation, a palpable energy coursing through the stadium as students from various colleges entered one by one, each team proudly displaying their own colors and crests.
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They all climbed the stage behind their respective captains who were also carrying the banners of their college.
Due to their college’s ranking, Dark Moon was located to the right of First Celestial Academy in the center.
The captain of First Celestial Academy had blonde hair and green eyes, and a striking resemblance to Soren—Cassian Lysander. Soren’s older cousin who impressively was the captain of First Celestial Academy despite only being in his third year.
Kain couldn’t help but notice the brief moment of tension between him and Soren as their respective teams passed one another on their way to the stage.
Putting the potential family drama that had nothing to do with him out of his mind, Kain looked around the arena.
The arena itself was a spectacle, a sprawling venue filled to the brim with spectators. The stands were a kaleidoscope of vibrant fan shirts, with flags and banners waving like a sea of colors under the bright midday sun.
The atmosphere was electric, with the excited chatter of thousands of voices blending into a deafening roar, punctuated by the occasional cheer as fans spotted their teams and favourite contestants.
‘I hope they’re watching right now.’
Kain had been sending orphanage money for a while now, especially after the business took off. But he knew that the orphanage director would be hesitant to spend it on anything considered non-essential. Therefore, a while ago Kain had purchased a television and had it delivered to the orphanage.
To ensure that it wasn’t refused he’d even called ahead to let him know him important it was that everyone in the orphanage be able to witness his debut on the national stage.
The crowd erupted into applause and cheers as Princess Elena, who only looked to be in her mid-twenties despite being well into her forties, and the beloved younger sister of the current king, stepped forward to give the opening speech.
She was dressed in a regal yet modern outfit that blended traditional elements with contemporary style, her long blonde hair cascading over her shoulders.
With a confident smile, Princess Elena raised her hand to calm the crowd, her voice resonating clearly through the arena’s sound system. “Welcome, esteemed competitors, loyal citizens, and distinguished guests! Today marks the beginning of an extraordinary event, where courage, skill, and the bond between beast and tamer will be tested like never before!”
Her words ignited a wave of enthusiasm among the spectators, who responded with cheers and applause.
“Each of you has worked tirelessly to reach this point, training day in and day out, forging connections with your beasts, and honing your skills,” Elara continued, her gaze sweeping across the assembled teams, but lingering slightly longer than average on the faces of Soren and Cassian.
Her sweet smile also dropped to induce a more solemn atmosphere.
The crowd quieted, their attention fully captured as Elara continued. “You, the future leaders of our great empire, stand before us as the next generation of protectors and guardians of the Celestial Empire.
“Each battle you engage in here is a testament to your courage and dedication. You are not only competing for glory; you are preparing to safeguard the values that our ancestors fought for—the values of justice, integrity, and compassion. In this arena, you will demonstrate that you are ready to carry the torch of leadership, to stand as symbols of hope for our citizens.
To act as the shield empire’s shield against its foreign enemies—whether they be man of beast.”
“Remember, true honor lies not in victory alone, but in how you conduct yourselves in the face of adversity. Treat your opponents with respect, and learn from every encounter, for each of you has the potential to be a beacon of light in times of darkness.”
With a determined gaze, Princess Elara concluded, “As you embark on this journey, carry with you the knowledge that your actions here today will resonate far beyond these walls.”
At those words that almost felt like a pre-emptive chastisement, some of the more malicious thoughts and plans of the hot-blooded participants calmed down.
“You are the future of our empire, and it is your duty to protect and uplift those around you. Now, let the games begin, and may each of you shine brightly!”
The crowd erupted into applause, the sound washing over Kain and his team like a wave.
Everyone made their way down from the stage to their respective waiting rooms. Unfortunately, for some schools the quality of the waiting rooms were not all equal. However, as a member of a top 5 college, this was of no concern to Kain.
Dark Moon College was naturally places in one of the few rooms with a full floor-to-ceiling window overlooking the arena—similar to the private suites in certain sports arenas back on Earth.
There were dozens of matches that would need to occur each day, many of which may take a long time if the school are evenly matched.
However, although it may be unpleasant to hear for some schools, most of the attendees in the audience and those watching at home really only cared about the colleges within the top 10, particularly those within the top 5.
Therefore, majority of the matches that did not have one of the top 10 colleges participating would occur at a nearby smaller stadium without television coverage.
Likely to further excite the crowd, the opening match of the main arena was arranged to be the First Celestial Academy against a much weaker opponent who wasn’t even within the top 40 colleges.
However, despite being aware that the match will probably be a one-sided beat down, the roars of the audience still increased in volume due to the appearance of the home team.