Today of all the days was not the best day to throw a tantrum. Wing shot to his feet and dashed out of his room even before the first light of day touched the tips of the Giant Tree.

   "Juniel!" Someone whispered through thin walls.

   Jei momentarily arose from her slumber and tapped on her sister whom she shared a bed with.

   "Someone is calling you."

   Juniel was staring at the window already as if she had known that someone would come looking for her that night. She wrapped a coat of fur around her shoulders and crawled out the window like a thief in the night.

   "So, you really did come," she said to the young boy.

   "What do you mean?"

   "Nothing... It would be better to go to the City of Fire first before heading to the Palace."

   Wing raised a brow. How had she known he was planning to ambush Zhen at the Palace.

   "What will we do in the City?"

   "We will call upon a girl I met. There, she will challenge you to a fight. And you shall fight her."

   "Why?"

   "Because you will want to."

   Juniel and Wing headed towards the City on a boat already tethered and prepared to be rowed.

   As they entered the City, the lights flickered, lighting a girl buried in the shadow of the tall mangrove structures of the city. She looked half asleep, her hair tied in a mess, and her obi was slightly too loose.

   "Welcome," she said groggily. "I woke up early like you said."

   "Yes, thank you," Juniel said.

   "You told her we would be coming? When?"

   "Many nights ago, I was told. And she also said we would fight. So, I prepared by weapon with the help of His Honor."

   "You told Lord Tigran?"

   "That I will be challenging someone in the future. Like you warned me, I did not tell a soul of your sight... until right now."

   Tip blushed realizing her faux pas.

   Wing could not follow their conversation, but agreed to the duel nevertheless.

   "We shall fight at the arena. It will be empty today, just as was foreseen. Lord Tigran has asked that all competitions seize during the seven days."

   "Good. Lead the way," Juniel said and pulled Wing along.

   The road to the arena was twisted, but nicely paved. The City was built by the Ignis people with the help of Solum. They were the most futuristic of all the different areas of the Giant Tree. The most stylish was the Palace and the most innovative were the huts carved into the tree. connected by semi-floating bridges. The simplest were the huts of the floating city.

   "I've never been here before."

   Wing brushed past the two girls and gawked at the vastness of the arena dug through the ground and surrounded by layers of seating arrangements. No one was there, but he could understand how surreal it was.

   "You hold competitions here?"

   "It is a place where we determine our ranking."

   "The elders determine our rank by the hunt," Wing told them.

   "The Unda do not engage in fighting, only when we must."

   "That's true. I've never seen Jei fight before."

   Tip didn't know who Jei was, but didn't ask. Instead, she took a fighting stance and beckoned Wing to come at her.

   Immediately, the two began to exchange blows. It was like what she had seen in her sleep.

   The two drew on their magic, releasing fire and earth towards each other, dirtying the arena, and their clothes, and marring their skins until only ash filled the air.

   Juniel covered her nose after retreating to a faraway seat. 

   As the day arrived, light shining and the darkness receding, both Tip and Wing continued to relentlessly attack one another.

   Tip landed a punch right at Wing's jaw, throwing him off his feet and knocking the wind off him. His eyes glowed for a moment as he caught himself just before landing on the ground. It should've hurt him, but the wind caught his fall.

   "A mix?" Tip said, tensing even more. "Then, I shall hold back no more."

   "You were holding back!" Wing exclaimed.

   Without ceremony, Tip began to rain down a series of fireballs at Wing, followed by fire punches and using her walking staff as an extension of her reach. The barrage of attack left no space for Wing to retaliate, only to defend.  It was no way to fight.

   Wing tried to cast shield after shield using his wind, but they were instantly broken by the mild attacks of Tip's staff.

   Desperate to get even one attack in, Wing threw in his best earth attack while simultaneously throwing his whole body for a forced attack. However, Tip found her own type of wind magic using her weapon to catapult her upwards to dodge his attack at the last minute.

   She had to take a deep breath while Wing wheezed to catch his.

   "I'm supposed to be strong," Wing said between breaths.

   "So am I," Tip informed him.

   "You both are," Juniel agreed. "However, your strengths depend on your experiences. Tip has been battling in this arena since she was eight. On the other hand, Wing, you've been sheltered by brother-in-law all this time. How do you think you'll ambush the Palace when you can hardly fight one of its warriors?"

   "I'll think of some way!" Wing said, storming away.

   "Thank you for playing along," Juniel walked beside Tip.

   "I have owed you all my life. This is but a ripple in that debt."

   "I didn't save your life to hold it against you."

   "Still, I wish to repay you."

   They were silent for some time until Tip dared to ask.

   "Will you be assisting him in his attempt to break this tradition?"

   Juniel nodded. "I will attempt to teach him what I saw in our future."   

   From afar, Cini watched the three, wondering if they'd succeed on the last day. He hoped they would, but he knew better.