Dorin felt a rumbling around him as they entered the dome. Others had followed after them, but they had all taken paths that led away from their apparent goal. His surroundings were dimly lit by the occasional torch, but there was nothing but dirt and openings to other passages within the dome.
"How much longer?" Prat asked.
"You've waited your whole life for this." Morah said. "Take in the moment while you still can."
Soon enough they saw they exit, which brightened rest of their path.
"It's best to stay silent." Morah stopped, gesturing for them to step onto the platform in front of them. "Your future may depend on it."
Lonn was first, jumping onto the platform. Cheers erupted, and he nearly stumbled back before Morah pushed him forward.
Dorin joined the rest of the group, and they found themselves surrounded on all sides by a screaming crowd.
"Welcome to the Tur Colosseum." Another familiar voice. "As your Spire, I wish you all good luck."
Dorin felt his stomach drop as more memories returned. He knew that he was doomed once more.
The Spire sat in the front row, on the opposite side to where they entered. The stands full of people grew as tall as they could on the sides of the dome, and barely any seats were left empty.
"Sparks, begin your bids." The Spire said.
'Nothing he says ever makes sense.' Dorin thought.
The front row that surrounded them suddenly erupted into action. People were shouting, throwing out coins and pieces of paper.
"Two bishops for the tall one."
"I'll give a rook."
"Two rooks."
"Two rooks is our winner." The Spire said. "We'll save him for last."
Their shouts eventually settled as they sat back in their seats. Dorin felt Rae move behind him, "What is happening?"
"I don't know, Rae."
The Spire arose from his throne. "The bids are in. Candidates, step up into the holding on your left."
Dorin looked, and there were steps leading up to a walled in area with incredibly thin windows.
"People of Tur." The Spire spoke with authority. "Humanity is on the brink. Many of you have lost family, friends, or worst of all, hope. I believe that after today your hope will return stronger than ever, for a new spark will be named by the end of the day."
The audience clapped and whistled, and the Spire put up his hand to calm them. "We will of course start with testing our candidates against beasts. Our first participant is named Rae, and his bid is one of the smallest we've ever seen here. Two pawns."
Boo's erupted from the crowd, and Dorin turned to Rae who seemed terrified.
"Get out there, Rae." Ara said, walking up to him. "This is your duty."
Dorin stepped between them, but he felt a hand on his shoulder.
"It's okay, Dorin." Rae said.
Dorin watched as Rae stepped into the pit. He started slow, but he exuded the confidence of someone who's only choice was to overcome the odds. He knew it well.
"Do me well, boy." A large man with fading hair shouted from across the pit. It was the first time Dorin had seen someone grow so fat that he couldn't tell where his neck ended and face began.
Neck-face threw out his ego, which rolled right in front of Rae. Five streaks of earth circled above him, before merging together in his hands as a large black hammer with dark spikes on flaring from each end.
"A five, well done Tordi." The Spire said. "He may actually stand a chance of making it past the first round."
The sound of a drum startled Dorin, pushing him off of the wall he was resting on to look through the tiny window. Cheers from the audience came before he could get his face back on the wall.
Once Dorin could see again, he watched as a large horned goat with a black coat chased Rae around the pit. The black hammer had sunk into the dirt where Rae had once stood.
"Is he really struggling against a mortal beast?" Lonn said with a chuckle.
After a while of running, Rae eventually faced the beast. As its horns neared him, Rae grabbed ahold of them before jumping on its back. It bucked back and forth, but Rae managed to hold on.
In its rage, it eventually twirled close to the hammer, and Rae tumbled off. He grabbed its handle, and Dorin grimaced as he watched him struggle to lift it from the ground.
"How can he expected to be humanity's hope if he can't even hold a weapon." Ara said.
"Shut up." Dorin said. "I doubt any of us but Lonn would be able to lift something like that." He didn't want to compliment Lonn, but Dorin didn't even trust his own strength to wield such a hammer.
Just as the goat was about to gore him with its horns, Rae lifted the hammer up. It uppercut the goat's jaw, sending it flying back into the middle of the pit. As his weapon hung in the air, Rae rushed towards the stunned goat and let the hammer fall on its head.
The crowd went silent after minutes of jeering, and a scattered applause followed.
"Another sound investment by yours truly." Tordi pulled on his clothes, letting them snap back onto his body which jiggled in response.
"Well done, Rae. You are now one step closer to becoming a spark." The Spire clapped along with the crowd, showing a wicked grin.