Mia’s group reached the plaza right before the time set for the welcoming ceremony. 

Even though all four participating sects competed with each other, they were still just a group of vassals within the greater Bahran Kingdom. As such, some degree of formalities was bound to happen. 

‘So we are the last ones to arrive,’ Mia thought the second her group reached the plaza. 

It was a wide, open space located at the eastern gate of the outerpost. 

‘If I recall correctly, it has something to do with how they settled those lands,’ Mia thought, trying to connect the bits and dots that she knew. 

According to the myths, the Tuxi sect colonized those lands by spreading from the east. As such, they kept it as a tradition to greet their guests in the eastern side of the city, as if to show them the safe parts instead of the frontier. 

This was one of the three representational areas of the entire sect grounds. And the visitors from the three other sects already formed three out of four walls of the square surrounding the tribune in the middle of the open space. 

‘Calm down, girl,’ Mia thought when she noticed movement to her side. ‘Don’t let them make you do anything stupid,’ she thought, following after Dirk and Kathia. 

Mia was the strongest in her group. As such, she was the one who stood by her former classmates. 

She simply had the greatest shot at stopping their schemes in case of anything happening. 

Thankfully, the next first part of the ceremony went without any trouble. Mia’s group and Dirk’s duo formed up properly, closing the uneven square despite their differences.

For the next few minutes… nothing happened. 

The area remained calm and silent as if uttering a single word would put shame on one’s sect. 

And in this eerie, dignified silence, a group of elders suddenly appeared in the middle of the square. 

They stood upon the wooden tribune erected in advance, facing all four sides of the square, four sects that made up the majority of the kingdom’s power. 

For a moment, the dignified atmosphere persisted. And then, the group of elders suddenly started to quickly exchange greetings and exchanging small talk. 

‘Is that how average this day is for them?’ Mia thought, keenly observing every last detail of the situation. 

“Today is the day of the arrival!” Mia’s elder suddenly stepped out, taking the initiative to push the proceedings. “May our hospitality see to your every need!” he shouted, moving his eyes all around the plaza. 

‘Damn,’ Mia clenched her teeth, her eyelids dropping down as she looked at her own elder. ‘Knowing how they likely have one or two arrogant fucks,’ Mia’s face tensed up, ‘there are so many ways to understand those words wrong,’ she thought, already making peace with the soon to be turmoiled future. 

‘You were told to offer us any hospitality we require,’ Mia voiced out a line that she could swear she would hear soon. ‘Now lie down and spread your legs!’ she finished her thought, using it to fire her emotions up. 

It was a small trick, preconditioning herself for the fight so that she would be ready if anything were to happen. 

‘But more importantly,’ Mia thought, scanning the guests with her eyes. 

And surely enough, Jenne was here. 

The man was standing his ground, to the left of the row opposite Mia’s sect. He held his eyes straight, refusing to angle them even a bit. 

‘That’s one determined look on his face,’ Mia thought, her mood worsening even further. 

She expected the man to make all sorts of faces. But the one he ended up performing spelled trouble. 

His robes were simple. A plain but clearly well-taken care of. The complete opposite to how he used to dress back at the Skyladder sect. The air around Jenne was different as well, devoid of the oppressive tone it had before. 

“With that said, you guys are free to enjoy your two days off!” Mia’s elder shouted while sending his hands high up above his head. “Present the flags!” the man shouted before clapping his hands. 

A small group of young disciples appeared to the back of all square’s sides. 

Each of the groups then raised up the flag depicting the colors of each respective sect. 

‘And now we are nearing the end,’ Mia thought, rolling her eyes. 

This entire thing was nothing more but a waste of time for her. 

Sure, it was great to see what kind of man she was going against during the tournament. But that could be done in a matter of seconds; there was no need to waste so long on such a pointless procession!

Mia gulped down her saliva, forcing her annoyance down her throat. And then, she took a step forward, leading her entire group to do the same. 

“Tuxi sect!” she shouted, following the procedure she learned just the night before. “Seven excelling disciples!” Mia continued to shout, wording out the exact sentences she was supposed to say. “We pay respect to the brothers in arms!” she finished her shout, this time accompanied by the rest of her group. 

Then, Mia took a step back and turned silent.

“Urbi Sect!” A young man stepped forward from the group to Mia’s left. 

He was well and richly dressed. What’s more, he clearly felt comfortable in his high-class uniform, proving that it wasn’t first for him to wear it.

“Five excelling disciples!” The young man kept on his shout only to raise his chin. And then, his entire group shouted the motto of their sect. 

“Unity called us forth!” the men screamed out before taking a step back and awaiting the others. 

“Dastria Sect,” a melodic, female voice suddenly crossed the air. It was strangely relaxing and soothing, yet alerting at the same time. 

“Eleven excelling disciples,” the female announcer sang, only for her entire group to follow, “may the growth be with you all,” the entire eleven of the female disciples of the Dastria sect sang in their pristine voices. 

Listening to the call felt like having one’s brain washed off by clear water directly from a wild stream.

“Oloan sect,” a calm, confident voice tore through the air, forcing Mia to move her eyes towards its source. 

And it was no one else but Jenne who called out for his entire group. 

“Seven Excelling disciples,” Jenne added before taking a deep breath and shouting in unison with the rest of his group. 

‘We came to honor the call!”

That was the end of the ceremony. 

Once all the sects presented their participants and adhered to the historical foundations and traditions, everyone was free to leave. 

And for the next two days, they were free to do whatever they wanted within reasonable limits. 

“Now then,” Sander muttered, approaching Mia’s side. 

“Jenne Oloan, Oloan Sect!” Jenne called out, taking everyone by surprise. His voice was clear, his eyes filled with determination. 

Instead of taking a step back just like the rest of his group, he paced forward, nearly halfway to the tribune in the middle. 

“I hereby call forth Mia of Tuxi sect, promoted from the Skyllader sect!”