Arc 2: The Tower of Power
Nora
This nervousness is eating me up inside. I fought in some of the wars led by my father, yet I still feel even more nervous now.
I have to pass all the tests, protect my sister as much as possible, and defeat anyone who stands in my way. I might face powerful enemies. I wonder what I will do if everything is in vain... Will I return home defeated? Run away as a deserter? Or face my fears head-on, expecting punishment? What am I even thinking at a moment like this... The weight of being compared to the perfection that is Asura is truly consuming me. I'm not like my sister; every ounce of power I've gained came from hard work, not natural talent. For that and many other reasons, I have to prove to others that I'm capable—or I'll be treated as "a mistake."
I was on the ship's deck, leaning on the wooden railing, looking at the horizon. It was around seven in the morning; the wind was cold, and I was still sleepy. I hadn't eaten anything—not even bread... What's wrong with me?
"What's troubling you?" Helena came toward me, carrying a clear drink.
"Helena... We're getting closer to our goal, but what if we don't make it?" I asked as I took the drink from her hand.
"Don't worry, we're in this together, okay?" Helena said, radiating her usual cheerful aura.
"You're right. Let's do our best." I put the cup to my lips and started drinking what I thought was water. Cough... cough... What is this? Is this cachaça?
"It's good, isn't it? This drink comes from Gracya—I don't know which kingdom exactly…"
"I have a feeling you're going to kill me someday."
We were approaching the island and would soon dock at the southern port of the city.
"Disembark! Port of Belo Farol, one kilometer ahead!" the sailor shouted for everyone to hear.
As we arrived, we noticed how diverse the world was. To the west of the island, past some mountains, the vegetation was dead, as if there had been a fire. Further east, it was snowing. It was as if the island's climate was changing on its own. But amazingly, in the city near the center, precisely around the great tower, it was sunny. What kind of weather is this?
"Grab your things; we're heading to the city to register for the tournament," Nora told Helena as she tied her shoes.
The port was truly busy. People from all over the world gathered there: dwarves from the Sunset Lands, elves from the Vernumbra continent, ferals from Gracya... It was a place where, in a way, everyone was still equal.
As we walked toward the city of Belo Farol, we heard various comments like:
"Are those the Shisui sisters?""They're still children but fought in the border war.""This year will be incredible.""There are many renowned clans.""Maybe we don't stand a chance; we're wasting our time.""They're really beautiful."
"We're attracting attention; I don't like this," said Helena, blushing.
"Let's go straight to the tower; it should be about time."
There were no walls surrounding Belo Farol. On the contrary, it was an open and welcoming city that had never experienced war. Many refugees had come to the island for that reason, so various peoples inhabited it.
Commotion
When we reached the city center where the tower entrance was located, we saw a gigantic blue barrier surrounding the tower, blocking the view inside. What could it mean? Many people tried repeatedly to enter the barrier, but out of fifty who tried, only two or three succeeded. Those who failed were immediately struck by an electric shock and thrown backward with force. Many fainted.
"What is going on?" Nora said aloud.
"This barrier is preventing us from entering. It's been up for three days," answered a stranger beside us.
"It's a mana barrier with its own aura. If you don't have an aura equal to or stronger than it, it's useless," Helena explained — smart girl.
"So we just have to match our aura to the barrier's? That's not so hard." Nora said as she walked toward the barrier.
"Give me your hand, Helena. Try to match your aura to mine."
"All set. I think we're equal now."
People were impressed instantly. Our aura was powerful and could be felt for kilometers. Once ready, we stepped forward together and easily passed through the barrier.
After crossing, there were at least seventy people on the other side—ferals, humans, dwarves, and elves. At that moment, all eyes turned to us, and I felt a bit embarrassed.
"When I served in the border war, I developed a sensory and tracking skill, so I can tell the power level of everyone here. They are all really strong, without exception. But there is that one person."
Nora was observing someone sitting alone, away from the others—a young man wearing a black coat and dark pants with a white band covering his eyes. For some reason, she couldn't sense his aura.
continued...