A scene Merlin had never seen before now unfolded clearly before her eyes—a vast tournament ground bustling with people lined up according to their respective clans.
The sheer number of participants surprised Merlin, igniting her enthusiasm as she scanned the crowd, searching for Sujin.
"We part ways here. Our clans are different, so we need to join our respective groups," Zaky explained to Merlin, encouraging her to join the Blue Clan group.
"But I'm not competing," Merlin replied casually, certain she wasn't participating.
"Are you serious? You already have a participant card, so of course, you're competing," Zaky said, his tone a mix of disbelief and skepticism. His confidence in Merlin wavered as he began to worry that she might not have the skills he had assumed she did.
Merlin held out her card. "Here."
"Right. Well, see you later. Join your clan," Zaky said as he hurried off to lead his group, knowing he couldn't afford to be late.
Left alone, Merlin stood awkwardly, observing the four neatly arranged groups. She didn't know which one was hers, so she remained stationary, watching the others organize themselves.
Lucy, sensing Merlin's cluelessness, felt compelled to intervene. Transforming into a small, adorable cat, she approached Merlin.
"What are you doing here?" Lucy asked, fully aware that Merlin was lost and unsure which group to join.
"Oh, Lucy! You startled me! Where have you been?" Merlin exclaimed, asking a question irrelevant to the current situation.
Lucy sighed, exasperated by Merlin's obliviousness. "Follow me. I'll take you to your group," she said, annoyed yet determined to help.
Merlin followed Lucy toward the Blue Clan group. Before the tournament officially began, a ceremonial opening was scheduled, presided over by the King himself, requiring all clans to line up.
"Wow, the companion beasts here are so cool. I'm jealous of their owners," Merlin remarked, marveling at the various creatures accompanying the participants.
Unbeknownst to Merlin, companion beasts were invisible to all but their masters. Exceptions existed for those beasts who willingly chose their masters, like Lucy, who could be seen by others. However, such bonds were rare; only three living companion beasts were known to exist—Lucy, a tiger belonging to the King of the Eastern Kingdom (a Blue Clan member), and a raven owned by the King of the Western Kingdom (a Black Clan member).
Merlin, unaware of these complexities, thought of Lucy as an ordinary shapeshifting cat, unable to grasp the significance of her new world compared to the one she had left behind.
The ceremony began, and the King delivered a speech to inspire and encourage the participants. His presence, accompanied by his massive and majestic tiger, left the crowd in awe. The King's blue eyes added to his commanding aura, captivating all who beheld him.
"Why does the King have blue eyes? Is he from the Blue Clan too?" Merlin asked Lucy.
Lucy, perched on Merlin's shoulder in her small cat form, rolled her eyes. "You're asking the obvious. Of course, he's from the Blue Clan! Honestly, you're hopeless sometimes," Lucy muttered, exasperated.
Merlin nodded, filing the information away. The King held little relevance to her; her focus remained on finding Sujin.
Merlin had spent the past year training in solitude after leaving the Academy, preparing for this moment. However, she still lacked basic knowledge of the Academy's systems and rules. Her studies were limited to books on swordsmanship, inner energy, and medicine, leaving her unaware of her own inner energy color or the proper use of a companion beast.
If Merlin ended up fighting without this knowledge, she would be at a severe disadvantage. Fortunately, with over a hundred participants, the odds of her being called first seemed slim, giving her a temporary sense of relief.
The King concluded his speech, officially opening the tournament. The crowd erupted into cheers as the participants took their places along the arena's perimeter.
The first round was set to begin with a random draw of names. Each pair would battle, progressing through subsequent rounds until a single winner was crowned. The rules were simple: stay within the designated area, and no killing. A surrender would signal the end of the match, with the other declared the winner.
The official drew two names from the box and announced them loudly.
"The first match will be Haiji from the White Clan versus Merlin from the Blue Clan!"