2025-08-04 14:23:00The tournament director's office was a study in controlled chaos. Maps and brackets covered one wall, while another displayed profiles of every competitor. Miko spotted his own, noticeably thinner than the others.
"Asterion," the director greeted without looking up from his desk. "Sit."Miko sat in the chair across from him, waiting as the director finished writing something in a leather-bound journal."Do you know why you're here?" the director finally asked, setting his pen aside."At the tournament? Or in your office specifically?"The director's eyes narrowed slightly. "Both, I suppose.""I received an imperial summons to compete," Miko answered carefully. "As for being in your office, I was hoping you'd tell me."The director studied him, fingers steepled beneath his chin. "Tell me about your tournament experience.""I don't have any.""None whatsoever? Not even academy competitions?""No,
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Chapter 171
The competitors' pavilion hummed with conversation, all of it centered on the morning's matches. Miko sat alone at a corner table, still in his tournament attire, muscles aching from his victory. Garcia had pushed him hard in the second round, but he'd managed to prevail, securing his advancement to the next stage. "Mind if I join you?" Miko looked up to find Liam standing beside the table, two cups of steaming tea in hand. "Please," Miko gestured to the empty chair. Liam set one cup in front of Miko before taking a seat. "You've caused quite a stir," he said, nodding toward the other competitors gathered in small groups throughout the pavilion. "The mysterious AAU operative defeating Garcia in straight rounds." "Where are Anna and Akiya?" Miko asked, deliberately changing the subject. "Anna's analyzing match recordings. Akiya's scouting your potential next opponents." Liam leaned forward, low
Chapter 170
Morning arrived with the distant roar of the crowd already filling the arena. Miko had barely slept, the anonymous warning playing on repeat in his mind.He'd shown the note to his team over breakfast."Could be anyone," Liam had said, examining the handwriting. "Someone trying to psych you out, or maybe a genuine warning.""Either way," Anna had added, "it confirms what we already suspected. Your ash element is drawing attention."Now, as Miko waited in the preparation chamber below the arena, those words echoed in his head. The room was designed for final equipment checks and mental preparation—bare stone walls, a simple bench, and a water basin. No distractions.The door opened, admitting Hayes of all people. He wore his standard AAU uniform, looking completely out of place among the tournament pageantry."Coordinator," Miko stood, surprised. "I didn't know you were coming.""Official AAU representation," Hayes r
Chapter 169
The tournament director's office was a study in controlled chaos. Maps and brackets covered one wall, while another displayed profiles of every competitor. Miko spotted his own, noticeably thinner than the others."Asterion," the director greeted without looking up from his desk. "Sit."Miko sat in the chair across from him, waiting as the director finished writing something in a leather-bound journal."Do you know why you're here?" the director finally asked, setting his pen aside."At the tournament? Or in your office specifically?"The director's eyes narrowed slightly. "Both, I suppose.""I received an imperial summons to compete," Miko answered carefully. "As for being in your office, I was hoping you'd tell me."The director studied him, fingers steepled beneath his chin. "Tell me about your tournament experience.""I don't have any.""None whatsoever? Not even academy competitions?""No,
Chapter 168
The imperial capital gleamed in the midday sun, all white marble and gold trim. Miko had visited before on AAU business, but never during a major event like the Champion Tournament. The streets teemed with visitors from across the empire, vendors hawking everything from commemorative medallions to miniature figurines of famous competitors."This is insane," Akiya muttered as they pushed through the crowd. "It's like a festival, not a tournament.""For most people, it is a festival," Liam replied. "The actual matches are just the centerpiece."Their carriage had been forced to stop several blocks from the tournament grounds due to the crowds. Now they walked, luggage in hand, fighting through the sea of spectators."There it is," Anna pointed ahead where the tournament arena rose above the surrounding buildings—a massive structure of stone and steel, ancient in its foundations but modernized over generations.As they approached the competitors' entrance, a harried
Chapter 167
Miko stared at the imperial notice in his hands, reading it for the third time as if the words might change."This has to be a mistake," he said.Hayes shook his head, arms crossed over his chest. "No mistake. The empire doesn't make those."The notice was printed on the kind of paper that cost more than a week's meals—thick, cream-colored with gold leaf around the edges. The imperial seal at the bottom was pressed into red wax, official and impossible to fake.By decree of His Imperial Majesty, the Annual Champion Mage Tournament will commence in two weeks' time. All nominated mages are required to attend. Failure to participate will be considered an act of disrespect toward the empire.Below that, Miko's name was written in flowing calligraphy."But the tournament isn't supposed to happen for another three months," Miko said, looking up from the paper. "And why me? I've never even competed in regional tournaments."Hayes's expression remained unchanged. "Orders are orders, Asterion.
Chapter 166
Miko walked across the Academy grounds with his head spinning. Nothing made sense anymore.He pulled out his travel records from his jacket pocket and looked at them again. The same thing he'd seen five times already. Him and his team had never made it to Lunaris. Their last recorded trip was weeks ago. On patrol."What the hell," he muttered.He tried to remember. Had they actually gone to Lunaris? Or was that part of the dream too? The lines between reality and the shared vision were getting blurred. He didn't know what was real anymore.Where had the dream started? When had reality ended?His head hurt from thinking about it.The sound of an engine made him look up. A car was driving through the Academy gates. A real car with wheels and everything."It's been long," Miko said to himself.Most times when they traveled anywhere, they used carriages. Cars were rare at the Academy. Too expensive. Too complicated. The sight of one was unusual enough to make him stop and stare.The car p
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