A/N: This takes place about 100 years before Glitches and Codes, just to clarify the timeline a bit. 

"Out, out! We don't have all day, Rhenans! The Icehearts are waiting!" An Ice Guard yelled.

It was almost a relief when the cargo hold of the spaceship popped open and a sliver of light began to shine through. We had been in complete darkness for the entire eighteen hour journey to Kilaenas, packed together even tighter than we had been on the trailer. I found myself squinting and shielding my eyes as the door opened further, trying to get accustomed to the light. 

Now, for the first time, I got a clear look at Toya, who was pressed against me to my left. She was much, much too small for someone her age- the effect of years of starvation. A long, thick scar ran down her face from her forehead to where her face met her brown hair. Like most Rhenans, she was very tan. 

Since we were at the very back of the ship, I knew it would be a while before we could reach the ladder to climb out of the hold, so I occupied myself by picturing her with beautiful, porcelain Lessaenite skin, like I had done with myself many times before. I was surprised, even with her scar and small stature, she looked so dignified. I could've mistaken for her for a daughter of a clan Chief, or even a princess. 

"Come on," Toya nudged me as the weary warmatchers in front of us reached the ladder, clearing a path for us to do the same. 

As we approached the ladder, entering the light, she gasped with recognition. 

"Wait a second...I've seen you before. You're Cascadia...as in Cascadia Ervine!?" Her eyes seemed to bulge out of their sockets. "Raliyel Novisty's cousin?? That's amazing! Your family's almost noble, right? You could get us all out of here!" 

My heart ached when I saw the genuine hope in her eyes. I didn't know how to tell her that even though my family was wealthy for Rhenans, we didn't have any power to stop these things. 

"I'm so sorry," I whispered as we climbed up into the light. "We can't. We're powerless, just like the rest of Rhena. Just because our Auras are weaker and our skin is darker, we're worthless," I gritted my teeth, tears stinging my eyes. 

"No, you're not powerless, Cady," Toya smiled. "You're the cousin of an Iceheart, in the warmatches! The Icehearts will love you! You could survive this!" 

"Me?" I snorted as we emerged on the upper deck of the ship. "No way." 

"There's a chance," Toya shrugged, striding confidently through the open hatch. "There's always a chance."

Kilaenas City literally took my breath away. I knew it was a provincial capital, so it'd be pretty developed, but I never expected what I saw that day. Glass skyscrapers rose up all around me, disappearing into the clouds that dotted the perfect blue sky. Gigantic holograms popped up out of nowhere, advertising all sorts of products and displaying the occasional piece of Iceheart propaganda. If this was the capital of Kilaenas, I couldn't even fathom what Glaisse, the capital of the entire Lessaenite Empire, would be like...

A long line of Kilaenaians stood on either side of the long concrete strip that led from the special warmatch landing platform to the Grand Kilaenaian Warmatch arena in the center of the city, waving flags, hooting and hollering.

I almost laughed out loud at their foolishness. Here they were, important, valued citizens of the Empire cheering for a bunch of smelly, sweaty Rhenans, most of whom would be dead in a month. 

But, I shouldn't have been surprised. That was the magic the Icehearts had woven around the warmatches. 

"Look at all these people cheering us on," Toya laughed as we walked slowly and pompously across the strip. "I've done this so many times, and it still makes me feel like an Iceheart." 

"Me too," I sighed dreamily. There was a surgery to turn a Lessaenite into an Iceheart. Why couldn't there be a surgery to turn a Rhenan into a Lessaenite? 

 "Hey, you okay?" Toya tapped my shoulder with concern as we neared the arena. 

"Yeah, yeah, I was just thinking," I smiled softly. 

"Good," she let out a sigh of relief. "I was worried there for a second. You looked so distant, I thought you might've gotten sick. Don't be sick: it means certain death." 

"Well, it's not like anyone ever wants to be sick," I laughed. 

"But I'm serious," Toya said darkly. "It's super unhygienic in contestant quarters. If someone looks unwell, don't try to help them. Stay away from them if you want to go back home." 

"Mmhm," I nodded. She was right: I would need to harden my heart if I wanted to live through this. Only between six and ten of us would have that privilege, depending on how many Mercy Tickets the Icehearts bestowed. 

We entered the arena through a back door that led straight into the middle, surrounded by more Ice Guards than I had ever seen in one place. The stands were already packed, other than the VIP section in the middle, which was surprisingly empty. Just looking at the two ostentatiously decorated thrones sent chills down my spine. Even when unoccupied, they exuded a feeling of power and arrogance. 

Instead of the usual colossal fighting ring, a circular stage occupied the center of the arena. After we had been herded onto it, colorful lights began to shine down on us from various angles as the familiar Interplanetary Warmatch theme song, This is My Battle, started to play. I felt myself inadvertently humming along as Elynne Yulah's sonorous voice filled the space. 

For this is my battle, my final fight.

I'll march through the dawn until the fall of night. 

There's no stopping me, no holding me back.

'Cause this is my battle, and I'm not coming back! 

"Greetings, citizens of the Lessaenite Empire!" A Lessaenite woman in a blue skirt suit and black high heels walked onto the stage in front of us as several Auraview cameras focused in on her. "Welcome to the annual Warmatch Interplanetale, held in Kilaenas City's very own brand new Grand Warmatch Arena! I'm your host, Lasydra Kay. Today I am here in the arena with our current field of sixty contestants for the first stage of the warmatches: the Picking. As we all know, only six of these contestants will remain after the competition. Yes, that's a jaw-dropping 90% death rate right there!" She paused for the copious applause before lifting her microphone back up to her face. 

"Each of the Empire's ten most influential Icehearts will choose the six members of their team, based on strength, previous experience, and other statistics. The more powerful the Iceheart is, the better their team's chances are at the prize. However, before we begin, I would like to introduce our distinguished guests. Ilsa Veren, first female Supreme Commander of the Ice Guard!" 

The audience applauded as a hard-looking Iceheart woman in a decorated Ice Guard uniform walked out of the curtains that lined the back of the arena, taking her seat directly behind the thrones. 

"Raliyel Novisty, Second in Command of the Scientist Clan!" 

Raliyel! 

I mentally called out to her, praying that she would notice me as she strode out of the curtains, sitting to the left of the thrones. However, she was too far away to see the individual contestants. 

"And now for our Council of Icehearts! Derwel Yulah, Chief of the Artist Clan! Armetorius Kandain, Chief of the Mystic Clan! Princess Dolores Soren, Chief of the Keeper Clan! Selaeyah Valior, President of the Iceheart Department and Chief of the Scientist Clan! Enden Myers, Chief of the Warrior Clan!" 

The crowd cheered with far more enthusiasm than before as the Chiefs entered the arena in a perfectly straight line, sitting in a row in front of the thrones. 

"Finally, the ones we've all been waiting for..." Lasydra paused for a second. "King Fenorel and Queen Saralee, rulers of Lessaenes!" 

A pompous fanfare played over the speakers and confetti cannons shot streamers at the thrones as the monarchs came into view, wearing matching blue capes and silver crowns. Queen Saralee looked very happy. Too happy. 

That couldn't be good. 

"Now, we are ready to begin!" Lasydra beamed. "In the name of Lessaenes, I declare that the Warmatch Interplanetale of the year 2901 has officially commenced! As usual, our lovely Queen gets first pick. Good luck, contestants! Today may very well decide your fate."