There were arrows throughout the wooded park telling them where to go for the Tournament. The trio, Zi, Ajax, and Krea, followed the arrows to a small ticket stand with a portal next to it.
Someone in front of them tried to jump through it without paying and bounced back onto the ground.
"You have to pay sir, sorry." Said the attendant.
"Oh c'mon!" They said frustrated.
They threw some change on the counter and a couple dollars out their pockets.
"Will this do?"
The attendant squinted and counted the money. They gave some change back. They continued squinting at the guest as they jumped through the portal.
Someone startled me as they pushed Ajax out the way then said-
"Got your ticket bro?"
"HECK YEAH!" Said Ajax really loud grinning.
Ajax jumped up as his cousin high-fived him but they were holding up the line forming behind us.
Me and Krea just went up and got our tickets and all of us went through into the arena. These guys are something else.
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We all got seats next to each other. I wore my purple shades so I, Zi, didn't get dizzy at all on that little ride through the portal.
Ajax cousin was a really hype guy. I could tell they were related, ha! They both wore cargo shorts, but one wore a graphic T-shirt and the other a collar with dark shades.
Soo me and Krea sat in the middle and our guys on the outside of us, respectively. The holograph in the middle of the big circular arena didn't show anything. It was just a flat neon blue circle on the ground. We were early.
There were a lot of mysticals already here and magic was just in the air. This was my first time being to one of these matches. I was so excited! I looked at Krea next to me and she was too! We both giggled and the guys smiled.
"Hey I'll treat you ladies to some sweets!" Said Ajax cousin smiling big. "My name is Kow by the way."
Krea said "Sure thanks!" She flipped her hair.
"Yea thanks!" I said popping up and looking at Ajax.
He shrugged his arms out and smiled. His cousin seems like a lady man! Krea may really like him...
Orange ooey gobs appeared in our hands in a party bag with a straw to drink the sweet substance and rock candy to complement it with a little spoon.
The stage and podium appeared midair with a leaderboard above it. I quickly scanned the names of the people up there. We were going to see two matches today in the third round.
This is what it said:
Round 3
Congratulations to the Winners!
1. Tricyl vs Ladiuh
2. Zef vs Weat
Objective
Rally the orb back and forth with your opponent without it touching your side! Whoever scores ten points win!
Oh this was going to be great! I thought.
The announcer suddenly appeared on stage. It was Meeve!
"Okay everyone quiet down! Welcome to round 3 of the Mystical Trials Competition! Please give it up for Tricyl and Ladiuh, as they will start off in match 1! Zef and Weat will be next!"-
The two girls appeared on stage in their battle outfits. The stadium cheered them on!
Zi and Krea looked at each other with gaping mouths and wide eyes. They didn't see her during pre-qualifiers. I mean they were knocked out pretty quick. They quickly fixed their faces as they realized the familiar face of Tricyl. She was drama, part of Crew Ariy. They kind of have beef... She really made it this far...
-"Match 1 will now begin! By the way, their objective is to score ten points by rallying an orb back and forth against each other."
Tricyl clenched her lips. Ladiuh crossed her arms. Both of them looked fierce and ready to battle it out.
-"You can catch the orb with your hands, you can use one of our rackets. It cannot touch your side on the ground or your opponent will score a point. Is everything clear?"
They both said "yes".
-"Then let the match begin! First one to ten wins!" Meeve said with a smile.
The contestants were suddenly transported to their own world. The neon blue holograph turned 3D and filled the stadium. The world they was in hosted a court with a net in the middle. There were rackets on both sides for them to use. Tricyl did not get a racket. Ladiuh picked one up and twirled it around.
"Oh this is going to be good!" Said Kow smiling hard.
"Yeah bro!" Said Ajax dapping him back.
Me and Krea were just sitting there quietly.
A countdown timer appeared above the net starting with the number 10. All we heard was-
"Take your position."
They stepped forward on their sides. An orb was floating underneath the timer.
10
9
8
7
6
5
4
3
2
1
They were posed and ready. The orb suddenly went to Ladiuh's side. She jumped up and hit it as fast as it came over. She was wearing a pink jumpsuit with black trim. She had black hair in a ponytail.
Tricyl was half body! Her bottom half was a dashed-lined coiled, like a snake. It scraped the ground as she slid to her right. She caught the orb in the air then threw it down over the net. She scored.
The orb went back to the middle and then drifted to Tricyl's side. She took it and threw it down again. Ladiuh jumped up really high really fast, and swung her racket before it even could really descend. It hit the orb and it was easy for Tricyl to grab and throw back.
Ladiuh managed to jump and hit it. Tricyl was pro at this. She could catch orbs all day, but this wasn't the blue plasma she usually throws.
The orb curved and surprised Tricyl. Before she could get to it, it landed on her side. She looked at the orb rolling away and frowned. Ladiuh scored a point.
People were cheering in the stadium. I felt something on my shoulder. I rubbed off a leaf. I looked up and saw poison girl and what's her name, annoyances that hang with Tricyl, sitting a few seats above us.
"Look, don't start with me!" I said.
Krea looked at me and looked up too. She frowned, unaware of what happened. She raised her eyebrows at me.
Saeyeira said "You know Tricyl will win this. Too bad y'all didn't make it."
"I heard y'all got smushed." Said poison girl.
We both rolled our eyes and flipped our hands out. We turned back around to view the match. Ajax and Kow were just enjoying the show. Boys...
It was half time and the score was 7-9. This was a close one. Tricyl was gliding around her area, balancing a blue and black plasma ball. Ladiuh was lightly jumping, kicking out her legs.
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Ajax took us back to dorms after the match ended. Kow went about his business.
"C'ya Zi! Nice to meet ya Krea." Said Ajax waving goodbye.
"Bye Ajax!" I said.
"Thanks for taking us back and nice meeting you too!" Said Krea.
Tricyl won. Match 2: Zef vs. Weat was next.