Tournament Of The Righteous

The dawn of the Festival of the Forgotten bathed Mhlaba Town in radiant light, casting golden hues on its fortified walls and filling the air with an electric sense of anticipation. The streets were alive with color and sound, as banners of crimson and gold fluttered in the breeze, leading a sea of pilgrims and spectators towards the grand arena of the day—the Colosseum of Mhlaba.

Rising majestically from the heart of the town, the Colosseum was an architectural marvel, a testament to the Citadel's enduring strength and faith. Its towering stone walls, adorned with intricate carvings and symbols of the Codex, loomed over the throngs of the faithful. The roar of the crowd echoed through its arches, mingling with the solemn chants of monks and the distant toll of ceremonial bells.

As the gates of the Colosseum swung open, the eager audience surged forward, filling the vast arena with a hum of excitement. Inside, the Colosseum was a blend of sacred tradition and ancient grandeur. Rows of tiered seating circled the expansive central field, where the day's trials would unfold. At the far end stood a raised dais, flanked by statues of revered figures from the Codex, their stone gazes overseeing the proceedings.

Standing atop the dais was the Priest of Aegis, resplendent in robes of deep crimson and gold, the colors of authority and divine judgment. His voice, rich and commanding, boomed across the Colosseum as he addressed the assembled masses, setting the stage for the Trials of Faith and Knowledge.

"Faithful of the Citadel," he proclaimed, his voice amplified by the acoustics of the arena, "we gather today to honor the Festival of the Forgotten, a sacred commemoration of our past, a testament to our resilience, and a crucible for those who seek to rise. Here, within these hallowed walls, we shall witness the strength of our beliefs and the might of our defenders."

The crowd fell silent, the gravity of the occasion pressing upon them. The participants—each a Man of God or a Guardian of Aegis—stood at the ready, their expressions a mix of determination and reverence. They had journeyed from all corners of the Citadel's realm, each driven by the hope of proving their worth, of ascending in rank, and of earning the respect of their peers.

The first day of the tournament, known as the Trials of Faith and Knowledge, was a crucible designed to test intellect and spirituality:

As the Priest of Aegis concluded his address, the participants took their places, and the trials commenced. The sun climbed higher, casting dramatic shadows across the arena, as each challenge unfolded beneath the eyes of judges and spectators alike.

The Festival of the Forgotten had begun, a grand spectacle within the Colosseum's storied walls. Here, faith and skill would be tested, and those who prevailed would emerge not only as victors but as elevated champions of the Citadel's enduring legacy.

Muke stood in the crowd of participants waiting for the match board to be posted. Today was the day; it was time she proved the naysayers wrong. Muke was a Guardian recruit, but today she wore light leather armor of her own. She looked gorgeous, her chocolate skin shining with a gold tint when hit by the sun. She was slender and well-endowed, her body marked by a few battle scars and lean muscle—a true warrior.

Muke had a goal to win this tournament. She had a lot to prove. A woman being a Guardian was a rarity, but there were always exceptions. Muke wanted to be an exception; she was not going to be told what she could or could not do. To be honest, Muke wanted to spite her parents in the competition.

Muke was born to a rich family and had everything since birth. She was smart, beautiful, and kind. But her flaw was being stubborn, perhaps her greatest strength. Muke didn't want to be caught in the arranged marriage her family planned. She denied the marriage, but her father gave her an ultimatum: become a Guardian, or get married. Now here she was, fueled by nothing but pettiness.

Muke was not opposed to marriage. She would marry once she found the perfect guy, but she didn't want to marry someone she didn't love. She was beautiful; at least she should get to pick a man who was worthy of her. Maybe here she would find him; maybe a gentleman would impress her. But she was not here for that.

Muke took on being a Guardian as a way to be petty, but she found out she was good at fighting. So she was here to kick ass and take names. She was going to crush skulls and egos; she was so excited. Her eyes were sharp as daggers as she looked around and saw the other participants, feeling annoyed. She saw two in particular who just pissed her off. These two were a Novice and an Acolyte.

"Am I in the wrong tournament? This is the Guardians Tournament, right?"

She looked around some more and saw other participants wearing armor and holding weapons. She felt relieved; she was in the right place.

She threw another glance at the two outcasts. They were relaxed like nothing was going on, and the Acolyte looked like he was asleep. Muke felt her blood boil, but she calmed herself down.

"Maybe they are in the wrong arena."

Muke thought of telling them, but she honestly didn't care if they got disqualified. She just focused on herself.

The matchups were finally posted. There were fifty matches in the first round. The first matches were Strategic Combat Simulation: within a marked section of the arena, participants commanded units in elaborate tabletop exercises, navigating hypothetical battles that tested their strategic minds. Their leadership and decision-making were under scrutiny as they moved miniature armies across simulated landscapes.

Muke was crushing her opponent. As a rich lady, she was very smart, and it was easy for her to win such simulations when she was good with strategy games. Muke won with a landslide against someone called Ken. The man was not impressive at all; he was okay-looking but was trash in this simulation. She didn't want weak men.

Looking around to see if she was the first to finish off an opponent, she was disappointed. The Acolyte was first and looked asleep again. This really ground Muke's gears.

"Who is this man?"

She wanted to defeat him and show him who's boss.

---

On the other hand, Nkazi was having a hard time with the first challenge. He was good at fighting, but strategy was not his strong suit. However, he managed and won. It was exciting. The Colosseum had a lot of people watching; although it was not full since people preferred fights, there were still those who understood that being able to fight wasn't enough. They enjoyed seeing the strategy simulation unfold.

Nkazi finally won; it was a tough win, but he eventually did. To advance to the next stage of the tournament, participants had to win two out of the three challenges.

---

It was time for the second part of the day: the Codex Quiz. On a platform near the arena's edge, a rigorous quiz challenged participants' knowledge of the Codex and historical events. Speed and accuracy were key, with points awarded for swift, correct responses in a format reminiscent of ancient scholarly competitions.

It was like taking candy from a baby for Muke. Trivia was her thing; she had read a lot of books out of boredom. She got most of the answers right and left her opponent crushed under her boot of intellect—they didn't stand a chance. This time, she held the record for quickest completion. She couldn't help but glare at the Acolyte, who had fewer points than her, though he won his round. It felt refreshing to defeat the sleeping Acolyte, who was already dozing again when she looked over.

---

Now it was time for the last event of the day: Ritual Protection. In a staged area resembling a sacred site, Guardians demonstrated their ability to protect rites under simulated threat conditions. The audience watched as they responded to mock intrusions, judged on effectiveness, protocol adherence, and composure.

The participants did their best, but one stood out. The Acolyte had unorthodox methods, was swift, and solved the problems effectively. He was composed; although his methods were odd, he got the job done. Winning felt bitter to Muke when she thought about being bested by an Acolyte. The day's rankings were now out: fifty participants remained from a hundred.

Out of the fifty eliminated, ten could redeem themselves and enter the next stage after defeating their fellow losers. Now there were sixty participants moving on to the next round.

---

Nkazi was originally eliminated in the tactical and intellectual trials. But he could redeem himself and get another chance. He would not waste it; he was almost eliminated in the first round. That would have been embarrassing.

But now he was ready; the hardest part was over for him. Tomorrow would be the day he shined.