Chapter 40: First Match.
The sky above Duskwatch was ablaze with sunrise as the Dark Mage Tower’s carriage rolled
through towering gates into the Imperial Arcane Arena—a colossal structure that seemed to float
upon shimmering currents of magic.
Its outer walls were formed of gleaming white stone interlaced with veins of glimmering silver runes. Tall arches soared overhead, inscribed with sigils that pulsed faintly like a giant beating heart. Floating crystalline orbs cast shifting patterns of colored light across the pale marble floors.
Inside, stands rose in spiraling tiers around an enormous central arena. Thousands of seats were
already filling with spectators in fine robes, murmuring in eager anticipation.
Banners of every Tower—scarlet for Fire, pale blue for Ice, emerald for Earth, gold for Wind, oceanic teal for Water, and inky black for the Dark Tower—fluttered in invisible currents of magic high above the arena.
A palpable tension thrummed through the air, as if the entire coliseum were holding its breath. The
very atmosphere seemed charged with mana.
The Dark Mage Tower squad entered through a great obsidian archway. Velexaria led them, her
dark robes flowing like living shadow.