Time to Fight

The day of the tournament had finally arrived. And, as expected, I was completely nervous.

The city streets were all decorated for the celebration, so packed that it was hard even to walk. Flags flew from the rooftops, and merchants advertised their special products. Even children wore small toy armor.

I was completely unaware of this side of the event. Even knowing its importance to the city and the magic school, I didn't expect such popular fervor. And seeing all of it, knowing that I would soon be the center of attention, only made my nerves churn even more. My legs were like jelly, and a nagging nausea rose in my throat.

The feeling didn't improve at all as I approached the grand arena, located in the heart of the central square. A massive crowd flowed into the stands, while I, feeling like a fish out of water, searched for the participants' entrance.

My name was on a giant list attached to the outer wall, but no one recognized me. In a way, it was a relief. While fans surrounded other competitors before even entering, I had the luxury of invisibility. I could focus only on the fights, without distractions.

When I finally found the competitors' entrance, I spotted Darin and Lyra near the gate. It was strange to see them together, but against all expectations, they were talking animatedly. Darin even seemed capable of articulating whole sentences near her, though Lyra was clearly leading the conversation.

As I approached, both noticed my presence, flashing huge smiles.

"Our star has arrived."

Darin seemed excited, completely oblivious to my inner nervousness. In a way, his carefree enthusiasm brought me a glimmer of calm, as if this were just another normal day.

"Remember what we trained, and everything will be fine."

Nina, on the other hand, was more reserved, yet firm. Which didn't mean she didn't care. But she knew that hard work would bring results. I just needed to trust myself more.

I was happy to see them right before the fight. If I had entered alone and waited until my name was called, I probably would have gone crazy with anxiety. However, someone was still missing. I couldn't detect the presence of a certain person.

"Have you seen Nina?"

"I haven't seen her since we arrived," Darin replied.

It wasn't surprising. Nina was a more reserved person, so it would be natural for her to avoid such chaotic, crowded environments. I couldn't blame her, but even so, her absence left me with an empty feeling. Her presence always calmed me down in a way I couldn't explain.

"Don't worry," Lyra said, noticing my restlessness. "I bet she's rooting for you."

She was right. Nina had been crucial in getting me here. Without her help, I wouldn't have learned magic, challenged Lyra, or even been at this school. And although my ultimate goal was to study to find my sister, along the way, I had developed an unexpected bond with that pointed-eared girl. The idea of one day having to leave everything behind... of leaving her... caused a lump in my throat.

Once I ensured everything was fine with my sister, I would have no reason to stay in this world. I knew this was just a fleeting phase, just one step on a path until I could return to how things were before, to my normal life on Earth.

But when I thought about the possibilities and the future, Nina's image always came to mind, as if each day I stayed in this world, the harder it would be to say goodbye to it.

Not the time for that. I had a battle ahead of me. The first of many, and any mistake meant the end of the line.

"Don't you two need to grab seats in the stands?"

"Will you be fine on your own?"

Lyra had become a great friend, always worrying about me. Of course, her reputation was at stake since she had trained me. I just didn't feel very comfortable when she treated me this closely in front of Darin, as I could feel his death stare cutting me alive.

"Go on. Find a good spot to watch me win."

The two walked away, and I tried to project a confidence I didn't feel. Alone, the buzz around me seemed to amplify, and the weight of the expectation started to crush my shoulders.

That's when, almost ready to enter the tunnel that led to the arena, I saw her. Nina was leaning against the wall, as if waiting for me.

"Took you long enough, huh? I was starting to get bored here."

Her characteristic provocative tone snapped me back to reality.

"I was with Darin and Lyra. I thought you were with them."

"They were... so excited. I didn't want to get in the way."

I suspected that wasn't the whole story. The noise and the crowd probably made her retreat. But I shouldn't push too hard. Maybe she still wasn't ready to be so close to others.

"Anyway, thanks for coming."

"Of course. Just don't embarrass me, okay? I expect you to win."

"I have no intention of losing."

She tried to hide a smile, but I already knew every micro-expression on that face. Just seeing her seemed to calm my heart. I could now dedicate my focus entirely to the fight.

"Thanks, Nina."

"For what?"

"Nothing. Just thinking out loud."

She wrinkled her nose but didn't insist. As she left to find her seat in the stands, I stood still for a moment, watching her silhouette disappear into the crowd.

I wanted to thank her for who she was. For being here. For making me want to win not just for my sister, but to see that proud smile of hers, or that usual "hmph" of disdain that, I now know, hides so much.

The arena's noise, which had previously felt like a hurricane of anxiety, suddenly transformed into something different. It was no longer just the sound of pressure or others' expectations. It was the sound of the place where I needed to prove my worth, not only to those few people who had trusted me, but to myself.

A deep sigh escaped my lips, but this time it didn't carry the weight of despair. On the contrary, it was a sigh of focus. My hands, which had been trembling, closed into firm fists. The nervousness hadn't disappeared, but now it had a rival: determination.

Alright. Time to fight.