Xenthos was brightly decorated, with colorful tapestries, and many other decorations. Once a year, during the middle of summer, the Xentidos celebrate all the hard work they achieved. They called it the Festival of Victory. It was a sacred festival, honoring all members of the Xentidos, both of the past, and the present. The weather was perfect, and fair. Carnival games of all kinds filled the already busy streets of Xenthos. Shops, tents, gift shops, ribbons, flags, and more appeared to transform the sprawling metropolis into what all the kingdoms of Pangea were invited to participate in. And finally today was the first day. Which was also the most important day of the festival.

Keenio would hardly participate in the festivities. As a matter of fact, Keenio and Elizabeth both would regularly take contracts and missions specifically during the festival. They never were big on the already crowded streets overflowing and even more crowded than it was normally.

Even now, Keenio and Elizabeth weren't exactly enthusiastic about the festival. Theseus, and Akida on the other hand, they were the complete opposite. Especially Theseus. Especially when Theseus participated in the annual Archery contest that took place on the 4th day. He only lost once, and it was to Stilphius himself, that was 8 years ago.

The Festival of Victory was the most celebrated festival in all of Pangea. People could hear stories of tales from long ago pasts, all they would have to do is gather under one of the many story telling tents. They had a tent for each culture, and would tell stories based on which tent they would gather under. The story tellers would speak for hours, hardly taking any breaks. And they told their tales every single day during the festival. It was one of the reasons Theseus loved the festival so much. Like most people, his favorite tent was the Atlantean Tent, where he could hear the tale of Deimos over and over again. Even Keenio would find his way under that particular tent if him and Elizabeth weren't on missions.

This was like another world to Selene, but she loved the fact that even the Fae had their own tent, so people could hear the traditional stories of her people. This Festival of Victory seemed like a strange thing indeed. In Elfame, they didn't celebrate anything except the winter and summer solstices, the fae didn't celebrate anything outside of that.

Selene wandered through the streets. Alone, and hidden under her cloak. Avoiding attention, because she knew she was the only fairy in Xenthos.

"Selene!!" Veronica's voice caught her attention, "I finally found you!!"

Veronica was wearing a beautiful Yukata, imported from the small lands to the east, it was an unlined, cotton kimono, thin and soft. It had shorter sleeves, and looked perfect on her. It bore her Athenian crest, and was royal blue and gold. She carried a fan in her arms, that she flapped to beat the heat of the summer air. She enjoyed the outfits of the eastern isles, almost as much as she enjoyed her toga and fine dresses in Greece. Though she found her Yukata to be more favorable during this hot summer festival.

"Veronica!!" She smiled sweetly, "finally a familiar face!!"

Veronica smiled, flapping her fan.

"Didn't Keenio tell you to not be out here alone?"

"Yeah, but, I just had to see these decorations, we don't have these things in Avalon..."

"Life in Avalon must be dull.." she teased, "so you're people do anything for fun?"

"..nothing like this, and especially not on this scale.." she blushes, embarrassed, "it's all just religious practices, and studying magic..."

"..hmm, so this must be overwhelming for you..."

"It is... A bit.."

Veronica knew by her whimpering voice that something was plaguing Selene's mind. And looked into her eyes, using her power to see into her soul.

"Are you okay?"

Selene felt the power from Veronica's eyes. It was unlike anything she could recall feeling.

"..you're right, all I can think about is Avalon, and the threat we are facing.."

"Always so serious..." She huffed, "by the gods, you and him are so alike..." She shook her head.

"Like who?"

"Keenio..." She frowned, "when he faces a crisis, he always stays focused on it, not allowing himself to relax or enjoy the fun and entertaining things around him.."

"Really?"

"Yeah.." she shook her head, "you know right now he is still working on a project in the Palace."

She was frustrated, but Selene could see the deep love for Keenio in Veronica's eyes.

"So you're here alone too? At this festival? With so many people around us?"

"Yeah, he said he would be finished working in about twenty minutes, and that was 2 hours ago.."

They began walking through the crowd.

"I was going to meet Elizabeth and Akida by the colosseum, want to join us?"

"The colosseum?"

"Yeah, there's a tournament going on, the winner is given a special prize.. allot of people from all over the world are participating, and Elizabeth is supposed to be over seeing it. And I think Akida and Theseus are participating too.."

"Akida and Theseus?"

"Oh that's right you haven't met them just yet. I think you'll get along with Akida well, and Theseus too."

"Are they friends if yours?"

"They're like the big brother and little sister I never had" she chuckled, "and they are amazing people.."

"Really?"

"Yeah.."

Selene agreed to walk with Veronica to the colosseum, traversing through the ocean of countless people. Make sure they stayed close.

"Caramel Apples!!" A Vender could be heard from one of the booths along the way, "fresh apples covered in creamy sweet Caramel, so sweet that they can't be beat!!"

"Caramel Apples?" Veronica smiled, "Elizabeth said you never had them before, do you want one?"

"Um, sure..." She shyly spoke, "..if you don't mind.."

Veronica smiled, and grabbed Selene by her hand, like a big sister wanting to show her little sister something amazing. And they rushed to the vender.

"Caramel-" his words were cut off, he saw Veronica and bowed, "Lady Veronica!! Would you like a Carmel Apple?"

Veronica reached into her pocket and pulled out her coin purse.

"2 please."

"Yes my lady.." he smiled, taking 2 silver coins from her, "here you go" he pocketed the coins and handed her the apples.

"Thank you.." she nodded, and handed one of them to Selene.

"Looks like I kept Elizabeth's promise for her" she grinned, "go on, try it.."

Selene nodded, and took her first bite. The sweetness made her grin ear to ear. She seemed happy now.

"You were right, they are amazing!!"

She tried to eat the apple lady like, but failed miserably,and she quickly devoured the apple whole. It was the sweetest thing she had ever tasted.

"Must have been good..." Veronica laughed, and finished hers quickly too.

They continued to make their way to the colosseum. Continuing to shift through the sea of masses. Carefully, they moved, trying not to bump into anyone, or cause any trouble.

Finally standing before Selene was a building unlike anything she had ever seen. The architecture was a marvel to her, but to Veronica, it was as ordinary as any other building in Xenthos. Selene felt overwhelmed, and could hear the noisy roar of the people inside the stadium.

"Humans built that?" Selene asked, "do all humans build large houses and temples?"

"Only important buildings."

Veronica let Selene bask on the overwhelming colosseum, her mind dumbfounded, unsure how anyone could build such a complex structure.

"This place is massive..."

"Well it's just as magnificent inside the main lobby as well." Veronica smiled, "come I'll show you, besides Elizabeth is inside."

Selene nodded, and followed Veronica into the great building.

She was right, the inside of the colosseum was just as magnificent as the outside. The floors were ordained with black and gold carpets and drapes. The walls were decorated with trophies and taxidermied heads of animals and monsters added more fldver to the extravagantly carved walls. To the left side of the building as well as the left, hallways leading to the viewing stands poked out. In the left most corner of the room stood a bar, smaller than the one in the palace, but decorated more beautifully with carvings and paintings. To the right, corner, another door made from maple and iron fittings nearly blended into the walls themselves.

"This place is... Breathtaking..." Selene gasped in bewilderment, "I've never seen such extravagant architecture.. not even here on the main land.."

Veronica gave a playful smile, and guided her to the maple door.

"Come, Lady Elizabeth should be in here.. with the contestants and other judges.."

Selene nodded, and continued to follow her, again they shifted through the crowd of people. Trying so hard to stay close together.

Finally, they made it through the door, and into another room. Unlike the front room, this one was less crowded, filled with small groups of people, training and whacking away at dummies, preparing for the tournament to come, or to just practice. After all, it was this colosseum where most members of the Xentidos would train.

"All these men and women, they don't even appear to notice us.."

"It's because they are focused..." Veronica explained, " each of them have a goal, be it participating in this tournament, or preparing for missions.. Some are even training to pass the Rank-Up Trial.."

"Rank-Up Trial?"

"A way to improve their rankings in the order, higher rankings mean better paying missions, and more perks.."

"Oh.. I see.."

"Come it's best not to stay here, we don't want to break their concentration.."

Veronica lead Selene further into the room, and up another staircase. They soon arrived in another room, smaller, quieter, and more peaceful.

This room was filled with books, scrolls, and various artifacts behind glass. It was called the Room of Knowledge. Here members of the Xentidos would read and study, looking at maps, tomes, and other books, another way for the Xentidos to sharpen their Lrady superior skills in the field and on missions.

Selene was in awe, but Veronica continued to guide her up another staircase. That opened up to the Leader viewing stands, where Keenio, Elizabeth, Veronica, and other high ranking members of the Xentidos could sit comfortably and watch whatever event was going on in the colosseum. Standing alone, over looking the colosseum ground beneath them, was Elizabeth, hunched over, as if lost in her own web of thoughts.

"Elizabeth!!" Veronica sounded, "I brought you a guest.."

The first thing Selene noticed wasn't Elizabeth's white armor, but the shimmering Excalibur that rested in its sheath at her waist. Selene always admired the sword, almost as much as she admired Elizabeth's focus.

"..oh.. Veronica, Selene.." she straighted her back and turned to them, ".. it's good to see you both.. but where's Keenio?"

"He's still focusing on that project he's been working on."

"He never rests does he.." Elizabeth smirked, and looked at Veronica's clothes, "I must say, it's been a long time since you've dressed up.."

Veronica waved her fan again, and smiled.

"It's a special occasion, wait till you see how Keenio and I look at the ball tonight! The outfit you picked out looks perfect on him."

"I sware, you're the only person who can make him dress formally," she chuckled, "you really have him trained.."

"Trained?" Selene broke her silence, "you have to train for these festivals?"

"No.." Veronica laughed, "..what Elizabeth means is that, I can make Keenio dress up, even though he hates it almost as much as he hates Ahriman."

"..oh I see .." Selene chuckled, "you mean he won't be wearing armor today?"

"Hell no!" Veronica laughed, "he promised not to wear armor till tomorrow when we go to Avalon."

"Wow you made Keenio promise something like that.." Elizabeth broke out in laughter, "I thought I would never see the day.."

Veronica smiled, in that moment, she felt so proud of herself. Keenio would almost do anything she asked of him. Not because he was obligated to do such things, but because he wanted to, because he knew it would make her happy. And Keenio loved seeing Veronica happy.

"So what are we doing up here?" Selene asked, removing her hood, "what is our purpose from being up so high?"

"You'll see soon," Elizabeth smiled, " for now though, just relax, and take in this breathtaking view..."

As Selene looked down, she could see the stands beginning to fill with thousands upon thousands of civilians. Tribes and races from all over Pangea came. To Elizabeth, this was the true purpose of the Festival of Victory. It wasn't just Xentidos members, but your average every day citizens from many countries and city states. It was moments like these that made Elizabeth feel relaxed, and at ease, and she was excited to share this moment with her friend Selene.

"Wow!! So many people!!"

"That's right.." Elizabeth smiled, "this is what the Festival is all about, bringing all races together, without conflict or malicious intent. Here, all there is is union and companionship.. just as Stilphius intended, just as Deimos himself intended..."

"You Xentidos members are so rooted in the stories of Deimos.." Selene nodded, "my mother would tell me stories about him, stories that sounded more like fairy tales or fables. They can't possibly be real can they? The stories about his heroism? They had to be exaggerated right?"

"No..." From behind the girls a familiar voice called out, "all the stories you heard, every single tale, were real..."

The three of them turned around.

"Oh Keenio!!" Veronica smiled, "and you kept your promise too.."

Keenio blushed ever so slightly as Veronica gave him a deep lingering kiss on his lips. Elizabeth and Selene laughed teasingly.

He was wearing actual nobility clothes, with black slacks, and a long button up shirt, with a red vest that mixed well with his slacks.

"I feel ridiculous in this..." Keenio huffed, "how come I can't wear my jerken at least?"

"Because it doesn't look kingly.." Veronica teased, "besides you look handsome all dressed up like that.."

"She's right Keenio, you look good in dress robes like that," Elizabeth added, "makes you look more approachable, and less angry all the time."

Selene was again confused, in Avalon, teasing any member of the royal family like this was an instead death sentence. The ways of the Xentidos was something, Selene didn't think she would ever be used to. The way they address their king, was so informal, however, she found herself liking these customs.

As they continued teasing him, Selene began to chuckle, breaking her quiet demeter. She found herself slowly coming out of her shell, in such a fast progression.

As Selene's laughter grew, Elizabeth, Veronica, and Keenio smiled and began laughing as well. Showing how close they were to each other, and how strong their bonds truly were.

Then, with the sound of drums, it was time to begin the tournament. One by one the 10 registered contestants made their way out, among the participants were both Akida, Zalpa, Theseus, and a few other familiar faces, along with some, not so well known faces too.

The stadium fell silent as Keenio addressed them. Name by name, he named their homes, small backgrounds. And then ended his speech by telling them the rules for the tournament.

"Out of all 10 of you, only one will prevail. This tournament will be a series of one on one contests. The only rules is to not kill your opponents, and to refrain from harming anyone in the audience." He announced, "as you all know, you each drew lots for this first round, and the brackets were then decided based on your draws and match number. I'd like to remind everyone, that the brackets were decided completely at random!"

Keenio sat down, and then Elizabeth spoke next.

"The reason these brackets are so random, is because a true warrior should be able to overcome any obstacle, with any skill, and so this will force you to all think creativity.." she continued, "..all of you will have to adapt to your opponent's skills and battle prowess. Think strategically, and use any and all skills at your disposal, and fight as hard as you can!!"

She then sat down too, and Selene sat next to her. Then Veronica stood up.

"So without further ado, let the Tournament of Champions Begin!!!"

With those words, Keenio, Veronica, and Elizabeth held their hands to the sky, and the drums beat their wonderous tones again. As the contestants returned to the gate. Then all fell silent once more.

"First Match!" Keenio called out, "Akida verse's Zalpa!!"

The tone in his voice gave a surprising ring. He wasn't expecting this in the very first round. As quickly as he said the words. The 2 contestants entered the Colosseum, their staves and hilts shimmering in the sunlight.

As they stood before each other, the thousands of viewers roared in excitement, people changed both their names. Especially when it came to the viewers who knew that Zalpa had trained her. Keenio was in shock, he expected this match to be in one of the later rounds, big never did he think it would be the opening round. It was too perfect, to calculated to him it seemed. And Keenio let his surprise take over, and fell silent for a moment.

"Are you sure these brackets are random?" Keenio asked Elizabeth, "this feels like it was staged.."

"No.." Elizabeth answered with unbridled honesty, "..I am just as surprised as you are..."

In the waiting room of the colosseum, Theseus watched on a screen hanging from the wall.

"You have to be kidding me, these two? In the first round?" He questioned himself, "..well, I wasn't expecting that..."

"Who do you hope will win?" A strong familiar brawny voice sounded form behind him, "isn't Akida your sword sibling? And isn't Zalpa her master?"

Theseus turned around and was ecstatic. Towering over him, was his gentle giant of a friend, his blonde hair, blue eyes, chin scar, and the golden pendant around his neck was all the proof he needed. It was his wall of a friend, Balthazar.

"Balthazar?! You're here too?!" He stood up, and extended his hand, "but I didn't hear Keenio call your name..."

He smirked, "that's because, I'm this years honorary champion.. the one that whoever wins this tournament has to face in the final round.."

Theseus was in shock. In no world could he have predicted this.

"How the hell did Keenio get you to participate?!"

"He didn't.. his pretty friend, Elizabeth asked me. On his request might I add."

"Damn it.. they could have told me.."

"It's fine.."

Balthazar sat next to Theseus, and still he towered over him. Everyone in the room stared at his huge bulging muscles. He was in such unparalleled shape. And his X shaped scar over his left muscly chest only added more to his physical intimidation.

"I haven't seen you since I gave you the information on Rebecca's murderer..." Theseus huffed, "did you track him down?"

"..I tried... Believe me.." his smile faded into a face of pain, "but I couldn't reach him in time. From what I understand, Critias Roxwall, fled Pangea, headed north to some Island I've never even heard of.. Alabon, or something like that..."

"Do you mean Avalon?"

"Yes.. Avalon.." he nodded, "that's the word, but I don't know how I'd even get there..."

"Well, if you need to reach Avalon, I think I may be able to help you..."

"How so?"

"Keenio will be headed to Avalon tomorrow, he spent all morning working on a way to get there swiftly without delay..."

"Is that so?"

Theseus and Balthazar looked at each other. Balthazar needed this, and so did Theseus. So he made a suggestion.

"If you win the tournament, you can request any wish from Keenio that is within his power to grant, and I'm sure, that fits.." Theseus answered, "if I win, I'll even ask for you to join us on his quest, and then, I will help you claim your revenge. After all.." his face soured too, "I feel like it's my duty to help you take Critias' life.. I am partially to blame after all..."

"I tell you this every time I see you.." Balthazar continued, " Rebecca's death wasn't your fault. The blame falls to me and me alone..."

"Even still..." Theseus frowned, "..I feel like I could have made a difference.."

They focused on the screen intensively. Silencing themselves, ready to see the match unfold.

Akida versus Zalpa. The master, against the apprentice. The colosseum stands were in uproar, excited, surprised, that's what everyone felt who watched them.

But to Akida, at least, to her, it was opportunity, a chance to prove her strength to everyone. She was ready to show everything Akida had learned. She wanted to prove herself to her master, her tuder, her friend. Zalpa was all of those things, as well as a father figure.

The citizens fell silent, as these 2 mages circle each other. Their staves firmly in hand.

Their eyes were focused on each other. And the mental battle between them began.

Zalpa was wanting to see what Akida was about to do, and likewise Akida was doing the same. Readying for a counter that would never come.

The crowd grew ever more quiet. Waiting, eager to see how these sorcerers were going to battle.

After what seemed like mere seconds, but was actually minutes, the first spell was cast.

Without muttering a chant, a magical circle began forming around Akida. A kind of containment spell, that slowed her movements and reaction time.

In response, Akida stomped her staff to the ground, and the ring was dispelled, fading into a glittering dust. As she turned her hand, the dust began to solidify, and harden, spinning within the  movements of her hand, as it floated to the jade stone ontop of her staff.  A soft humming sound vibrated the air around them.

With a swift and delicate flick of her wrist, she staff turned, pouring the bolts way as it shot across the sky, spiraling directly back at Zalpa.

In that speed, Zalpa had to think quick, and he summoned a magic shell around himself as the bolt fractured upon the crumbling shell.

Zalpa the. Widened his stance, and carved a wide arc infornt of him with his wooden staff. And a spinning sphere began to blink and glow, growing rapidly, 

As he pulled back his free hand, away from the sphere, it appeared to mimic his movements fluently,  it was obviously a kind of wind and lightning magic, but it didn't seem like a normal spell.

He pointed and thrusted his staff forward, and the sphere spiraled wildly, hurling itself and all its power to Akida.

It was too fast for her to raise a shield, or even counter attack, so Akida staggered, shifting to the side, as the sphere buzzed past her and into the ground, with a loud banging sound.

Akida was shocked, surprised that she even dodged it, even though it was only by a hair.

She said nothing, and shifted her stance, gripping her staff with big hands and pointing it's jade top to the sun. She closed her eyes and focused, digging deep into the magic that swelled within her.

Her aura began to manifest herself, it appeared like a misty outline, shimmering in rays of blue, green, red, and brown. The most began to swirl in waves around them.

As the magic manifested, she narrowed her focus, and the aura creeped back into her body, up to her shoulder, through her elbows and wrists, then it traveled form her fingers, super her staff, through the jade stone, and then created  a beam that fed the air just above it, as an ovaled orb began to form.

The orb burned with the elemental magics of fire, wind, water, and earth, their colors manifesting and growing, on the for of storms that shocked the middle.

Within seconds the orb doubled, and then tripled in size.  Looking stronger and stronger and stronger.

The orb appeared to levitate her, higher and higher, until she was hundreds of feet in the air.

The orb gree larger and larger, with more and more power.

She looked deep into Zalpa's eyes, and then hurled the Massive sphere into the ground.

As Zalpa witnessed the orb diving into him from above. He stabbed his staff into the ground, and a large magic circle began to rotate around them. Zalpa held up his hands, his palms and fingers stretched as wide as possible, his fingers in 90 degree angles.

He summoned a large flat surface of magic, it looked allot like his magic shells he would usually manifest, only it was flat and straight.

Zalpa muttered a chant, and the magic sphere was absorbed upon contact. And it flowed into Zalpa, creating a cloak of magic energy.

He too took to the sky, as his staff phased into his hands. Then he hurled bolts of fire at her.

As the Flaming bolts made contact, Akida summoned a fog that sureoinded her, and all the bolts disappeared with in its wall of smoke.

When the smoke faded away, Akida appeared to had pull a quick disappearing act. She was nowhere in sight.

The viewers roar in awe, and Keenio gave a strong smirk, as if approving of something dark.

Zalpa looked around him,but before he had a chance to turn around.

Thudd!!

For a split second everything went black and Zalpa found himself buried into the ground, his face scratched and cut. Stinging with pain.

"Ouch!" Zalpa cried out, gripping his busted jaw. ,"what a dirty trick.."

He placed his hand in his face, and used the white glow of healing magic to make his wounds vanish into nothingness.

Akida still was hoveeing just above the ground.

The two of them continued their battle, countering flurries of spells back at each other. Spell after spell, after spell, the countered each other, never giving into each other's onslaughts.

As Theseus and Balthazar watched in the same excitement as the audience, Theseus began to feel many mixed emotions.

"Wow.. she really improved, it looks like they are both about even.."

"That's true.." Balthazar spoke, "at this rate, I don't know who will win."

Back in the battle,
Akida and Zalpa were locked in another stalemate.

They were using their magical energys to create walls of magic, that were pushing into each other.

Their voices were strained, in sync they let out a battle cry.

The walls push into each other harder, and cracks began to form, and the walls crumbled away into nothingness.

Both of them fell to the ground. They were growing fatigued from the mental focus of magic. They were heaving vioently. They were now running on fumes.

After moments of strained grunts, they began to try picking themselves off of the ground.

They struggled, they appeared to barely be able to hold their staves. Their muscles were twitching and pumping from exhaustion.

Their clothes and armor were all dirty, messy and torn. But the battle had to end, and it had to end soon. They were exhausted, struggling to stand, they could only hunch over for now.

They both knew, only 1 more spell could be used. And that spell would take everything they had just to manifest.

Seeing that this final spell wouldn't be able to hit each other at this distance, they slumped forward into each other, struggling in pained waddles they edhes closer and closer, until they were 3 feet away from each other.  And they stabbed their staves to the ground behind them.

They surrounded themselves with a spell ring, engraved with the markings of an ancient scroll. They chanted in unison, making the spell stronger, manifesting their aura in waves and waves of eruption.

The rings spun faster and faster, closing into their caster, as if swallowing them.

The audiences roared in excitement, fighting the shere thumps of wind that was disturbed form the spell.

When the magic rings imploded into the caster, the very earth seemed to stand still. In that split moment, the battle was finish.

They picked up their staves, and slammed them into the ground.

Just thing a loud booming sound erupted into the air like a volcano.

Wind seemed to burst in a strong pound. And it felt like an earthquake.

As the audience watched, 2 creatures made from the raw power of their magic, pressed into each other.

They focused, and the creatures kept pushing against each other, and you could feel the strain Zalpa and Akida were feeling, just by looking at them.

It was a battle of wills now.it fell to who could outlast each other.

The crowd erupted in screams of cheer, the names Akida, and Zalpa were heavily chanted.

Either of them could be the winner, but the strain grew worse and worse on them.

Zalpa's muscles began to feel like collapsing. And his magic began to fade back into him. He tried to hold on, for a moment his magic appeared to be pushing back hers.

But it only lasted for a moment, as the exhaustion finally gave way. And he fell to the ground.

The magic they generated vanished. And Akida remained standing. For a moment everything was silent, the crowed was trying to figure out how to react it seemed.

Finally the sound of clapping hollowed the colosseum. And as everyone looked up, they found themselves directing their eyes to Keenio.

He was smiling charmingly, with an honest smile.  As he continued clapping, the audience slowly began to.  Becoming a thunderus aploze.

"Lady's and Gentlemen!!" Keenio called out, and they fell silent again, "the winner, of the first match of the Tournament of Champions, is Akida!!"

Akida felt adored by the public. And have a proud bow. And so the Tournament of Champions began, kicking off the Festival of Victory!!"