Biljana Bloodrose

I’m exhausted…

The thought echoed in my mind as I stood along the main route.

These past weeks had been relentless. Sirod and I had barely rested, working day and night to ensure the academy would be ready. It was a massive responsibility, one entrusted to us by Lord Vahmir himself.

But it couldn’t be helped.

All the lords were occupied — their attention focused on receiving and managing the visiting royal families.

A sudden blast of trumpets pulled me out of my thoughts.

“The royal family of the Nishin Kingdom! We welcome the Zhen-Gwan family!”

I straightened instinctively.

Nishin… first?

That was unexpected.

The main road of the capital stretched for nearly two thousand meters, and today it was completely packed. Not a single empty space in sight. People filled every corner, every balcony, every rooftop.

I had to push slightly through the crowd just to catch a glimpse of the arriving procession.

I had never left Charta before.

This… was my first real look at the outside world.

And it wasn’t just the upcoming battles that drew people here.

It was everything else.

The traditions.
The clothing.
The food.

A chance to witness other cultures without ever leaving home.

For many… this festival was more than a competition.

It was the world, brought to them.

At the center of attention stood the Nishin representatives.

Two magnificent horses led the procession — their brown coats gleaming like polished gold under the sunlight. Around their necks hung ornate golden ornaments, shaped into twin eastern dragons — the unmistakable seal of the Zhen-Gwan family.

Behind them, they pulled a grand carriage.

It was draped in deep red fabric, embroidered with the same golden dragons, their forms coiling in elegant, almost hypnotic patterns.

I tried to catch a glimpse inside, but the curtains only revealed silhouettes.

At the front, however, stood a man impossible to ignore.

He was large — heavily built — yet carried himself with a kind of refined presence that made his size feel intentional rather than excessive. His robes matched the carriage: red and gold, decorated with intricate patterns of two dragons intertwined in a yin–yang formation.

Despite the complexity, it was… pleasing to the eye.

Balanced.

His face was full, his eyes narrow, with a light beard and long mustache framing his expression. On his head rested a rectangular black hat adorned with golden details.

At his side stood three young figures.

Akio. Yong. Rishi Zhen-Gwan.

The candidates.

Behind the main carriage, several smaller ones followed, each carrying attendants and guards.

It was an impressive display.

And not a subtle one.

I exhaled quietly.

Every nation… would try to showcase its wealth and power like this.

As the Nishin carriage disappeared along the long route, swallowed by the excited crowd, another announcement echoed through the capital.

“The representatives of the New North region — welcome!”

I turned my head, expecting another grand display.

Instead… I paused.

Their approach was nothing like the Zhen-Gwan family.

Only a single carriage.

It was pulled by a lone black horse — massive, its coat so dark and polished that the sunlight reflected sharply off it, almost blinding to look at directly.

The carriage itself was plain.

Covered in simple grey fabric, with no visible markings, no ornaments, no attempt to impress.

The curtains were drawn tightly, blocking any view inside.

Nothing could be seen.

It felt… deliberate.

As the carriage advanced, a man suddenly crossed the route.

The guards tensed, but the carriage came to a brief halt.

Without a word, the man was allowed inside.

The carriage resumed its movement as if nothing had happened.

I frowned slightly.

The man had concealed himself well — I couldn’t make out his face.

But something about him…

Felt wrong.

With that, all the expected parties had arrived.

I let out a quiet breath, relief settling in my chest.

Nothing unexpected had happened.

Everything had gone… smoothly.

For Opeur, only Alfrid Brussia had been sent to supervise the festival. No additional delegates. No royal presence.

At least, none that we knew of.

The festival would begin tomorrow.

I looked once more at the now-settling crowd, the banners, the distant carriages disappearing into the capital.

I only hoped…

Everything would go as planned.