"The Games," an anchor announced over amplifiers, "has been an integral part of our festivities for years now. They were first introduced as a way of testing our best kshatriyas for combat, and have evolved to test kshatriyas from across planets as well."

The anchor paused for dramatic effect, and, once he got cheers from the crowd, he smiled and continued. "There have been many a debate on whether these Games need to have further incentive and be more competitive than its present level,"

Shyra frowned and glanced around her. What's going on? This was never part of the speech.

"And so," he announced jovially, "this year there's been a slight change in the way the Games are played."

Everyone on the ground raised their eyebrows at each other as the audience broke into conversation immediately. The anchor waited for the murmurs to die, then cleared his throat and spoke again.

"I know that such a change hasn't been implemented for decades, and the last time a major change was done was to include variety in the events. As we all know, that decision led to a larger diversity in talents displayed, so I hope that this change will improve our structure of awarding the title of the greatest kshatriya from now on."

Shyra leaned forward slightly and bounced on her feet. What was this change going to be? How would it affect everyone's chances of winning the Games? Was it something that was going to work in her favor, or against it?

A white screen appeared in front of them, taking up a huge portion of the end of the Arena. On it appeared a list of names, pictures, and facts listed down scientifically. Everyone gasped and pointed at the list, and Shyra's confusion grew with the passing second. Was that... the competitors on the screen?

"As you can see, this screen has listed all of our competitors, and matched all of them in teams of two."

Now that he mentioned it, Shyra couldn't unsee the competitor matched next to her.

"These are the teams for the first round of the Games. These teams would compete with each other for a round, and based on their performance a few competitors would be eliminated. But then... that's when the real fun starts," he said with a mischievous hint in his voice.

"The current teammates will be shuffled up, and new teams will be formed at every consecutive round. So by the end of all the rounds, each competitor will have played with and against each other. The final round will be a face-off between the last two competitors. The winner will be sent back with the highest honors and all the perks that come with winning the Games."

The audience took a collective breath and held it, waiting for the competitors' reactions. The kshatriyas in the Arena looked around them, scuffed their feet on the grass, and pondered the sudden change. But they all knew that the only option they really had was to participate in the current Games or give up and go home.

So they shrugged in unison and nodded in the Royal family's direction. The Emperor nodded back with a benign smile, one that Shyra noticed out of the corner of her eye as she was still avoiding the Prince.

"Everyone is in agreement then!" the anchor announced in a jovial voice that was beginning to annoy Shyra. "Once the Emperor gives the go-ahead, the screen will once again display the list of our teams and information about the first round that'll take place now."

There was a collective shuffling sound as everyone turned toward Emperor Soren. He turned his head and whispered to the advisor standing next to him. The advisor nodded and pulled a lever behind him.

The huge screen once again lit up with all the six competitors' names and faces. This time, however, there was an additional box next to the list. It stated that the first challenge was to cross a deadly obstacle course filled with rotating blades and deep sand pits. Shyra immediately ran through the training she'd taken for these types of challenges.

A guy came running up to her with a goofy grin, and she remembered with a groan that she was supposed to be working in a team.

Ugh! These Games are hard enough without those idiots messing it up and making it harder!

The guy extended his arm with gusto and a cheery greeting. "Hello, Princess Shyra! I'm Tuhin, kshatriya of the planet Ronin, and I'm your teammate for the first round."

"Hello Tuhin," Shyra said with a mild smile, shaking his hand gently. She found the custom odd, being used to inclines of the head and long bows of greeting. She was skeptical of the young kshatriya's ability to compete, and she seriously didn't want to lose because of him.

"Ugh! Why!" she groaned to herself as she followed Tuhin to the starting point of the obstacle course. The lack of preparation time was another thing that frustrated her, and she was seriously about to complain about this injustice when the anchor announced that they had to begin when the countdown ended and the shot was sounded.

"Princess," Tuhin said, pulling her sleeve. "I know that you would much rather play the Games alone, or probably with a better partner, but trust me when I say that I'll make for a very competent competitor."

Shyra pursed her lips when she realized that he was aware of her irritation, so she smothered her embarrassment with a warm smile and a nod. Tuhin cheered up considerably, and they took their positions at the starting line.

"I see all the teams are at the starting line now, so let's get this started," the anchor said and raised an arm with three fingers up. He folded a finger along with the robotic countdown that rang out, and pulled out a shot, and raised it in the air. Shyra's body tensed as his finger curled around the trigger and pulled.

All of them sprang forward at once, racing forward to get to the obstacles first. Shyra and Tuhin were the second team to make it to the choppers, and Shyra began walking through them when Tuhin pulled her back.

"It's a team challenge for a reason, Princess," he yelled over the loud metallic choppers. "We need to work as a team and waltz through the choppers together."

Shyra huffed and sighed, but took his outstretched hand. He led her through the wooden planks covering the path. Shyra danced after him, syncing her movements with his to avoid the choppers spinning rapidly around him. Luckily, both of them seemed to be trained in dance, and they made rapid progress through the choppers.

To her surprise, they made it past the first team, who were struggling to cross individually. They burst through the maze of sharp metal with a final flourish and ran through the grass to face the rest of the challenges.

Tuhin and Shyra worked together to face the challenges as a team and supported each other to come first in the race, while the team that came last was eliminated

Shyra had rarely felt so exhilarated in her life and profusely thanked Tuhin for his help.

"No need to thank me, Princess," he said with a smile. "The next time we face each other will be as opponents, so you'd better be at the top of your form if you want to win."

Shyra raised her eyebrows at his cocky attitude and responded with a smirk of her own.

"Today was a wonderful opening to this maasa's Games," the anchor announced. "The second challenge will be carried out tomorrow, where another team will be eliminated. And on the final day, the remaining two competitors will face off against each other. Thank you, everyone. You may disperse."

Kshatriya: A monicker used for a class of people, it means warrior