With Alaric's support, Kazuki began to feel a sense of purpose that had been missing before. During the next few matches, he and Alaric worked to scout for potential allies among the competitors. Alaric introduced him to a few promising candidates, each with their own unique skills and backgrounds.
One afternoon, as they were discussing strategy, a voice called out from behind them. "You two seem awfully serious for a tournament. Shouldn't you be enjoying the festivities?"
Kazuki turned to see a tall, slender woman with fiery red hair and sharp green eyes approaching. She wore a flowing robe adorned with mystical symbols, and a smirk played on her lips. "I'm Lyra, an elemental mage. I couldn't help but overhear your talk of alliances."
Kazuki exchanged a glance with Alaric before responding. "And you're interested in joining us?"
"Maybe," she said, crossing her arms. "But first, I want to see if you're worth my time. A friendly duel, perhaps? Nothing serious."
Kazuki raised an eyebrow, intrigued. "You want to fight me? Here and now?"
Lyra shrugged, her smile growing wider. "Why not? It'll be fun, and you'll get to show me what you've got. Plus, I'm curious about your abilities."
Alaric stepped in, his expression stern. "Lyra, this is a tournament. We're trying to unite forces, not make enemies."
"Oh, relax," she said, rolling her eyes. "It's just a friendly spar. Besides, if he's as good as you say, it'll be worth my time."
Kazuki felt a thrill of excitement at the prospect of a new challenge. "Alright, let's do it. I could use a little practice."
The three of them moved to an open area away from the crowd, where they could have some space to spar. Kazuki squared off against Lyra, who began to conjure small flames at her fingertips.
"Let's see what you've got!" she said, launching a fireball toward him.
Kazuki dodged to the side, narrowly avoiding the spell as it exploded against the ground. "Not bad!" he called back, gathering his own mana and channeling it into a quick strike.
The two began to spar, exchanging blows and spells, each testing the other's skills. Kazuki was surprised by how adept Lyra was at combining her elemental magic with her agility, making her a formidable opponent.
They danced around each other, fire and fists colliding as the energy between them crackled. Lyra's laughter rang out, a sound of pure enjoyment as she pushed him to his limits. Kazuki, too, was having fun, embracing the challenge she presented.
As the duel went on, he could feel the crowd beginning to gather, intrigued by the spectacle. Kazuki landed a solid blow against Lyra's midsection, causing her to stagger back, but she quickly retaliated with a burst of fire that forced him to leap to the side.
"Not bad, but you're going to need to do better than that!" she teased, her eyes gleaming with excitement.
"Alright, then!" Kazuki called back, determined to prove himself. He concentrated, gathering all the mana he had practiced harnessing. With a swift motion, he formed a small barrier before him, blocking her next fireball just in time.
The crowd erupted in cheers, and Kazuki felt a rush of adrenaline. This was exhilarating! The more he fought, the more he wanted to push himself.
After a fierce exchange, they both stood breathing heavily, a sense of mutual respect forming between them. "You've got some skills," Lyra admitted, a genuine smile crossing her face. "I can see why Alaric was interested in you."
Kazuki wiped the sweat from his brow and grinned back. "You're not so bad yourself. Want to join our alliance?"
Lyra nodded enthusiastically. "Count me in! I'll bring my elemental magic to the mix. Together, we can take on whatever the demon king throws at us."
Alaric stepped forward, clearly pleased. "The more allies, the better. We need all the strength we can muster."
With the trio solidifying their alliance, Kazuki felt a growing sense of camaraderie. It was clear that the tournament was bringing together a diverse group of individuals, each with their own skills and motives.