Competitors

The day of the competition finally arrived, and with it, an air of anticipation so thick that it felt like a second layer of the town's usual humidity.

The first match's opponents were set, and stakes were high—losers of this round would be eliminated, while winners would advance to the next stage.

Ivaim leaned against the wooden railing overlooking the preparation grounds, his arms crossed and his posture relaxed, though his mind was anything but.

'Hm. I wonder what kind of skills my opponents have...' he mused, his sharp gaze scanning the bustle of competitors below.

The competition organizers were careful not to reveal the matchups until the day of the fight.

This tradition wasn't born from fairness but practicality so that no blacksmith could create personalized, opponent-specific equipment in advance.

However, it wasn't considered cheating to gather intel on the competitors beforehand.