Reaching Immortality (book two)

Chapter 19. Tournaments are a must ya know!

In the elemental nations, there is a kingdom.

From the side, the kingdom looked like four mountains cradling a forested valley, with floating islands and waterfalls. Besides the islands littering the skies(which were floating with the help of an intricate barrier seal array), you would think it was a normal valley.

That is until you reach the large red gates at the base of the valley, indicating something more beyond its large imposing form. (These gates were built by giants)

When opened, the gates revealed a well worn stone path, with floating orbs on either side leading the way through impossibly tall cedar trees. If you stepped through, and looked left or right, you would find that it wasn't possible to see through the gaps between the trees. There was only darkness and tangles of thorny fauna and roots.

The walk up the path is a creepy, yet magical experience. You can hear the tinkling laughter beyond the darkness, but it is not known if it is the laughter of the foxes, or the fairies that have been known as protectors of the elemental nations.

It could very well be both, but you'd best hope it wasn't the foxes. They do enjoy their tricks.

A thirty minute walk will gently guide you into the loyalty trials, if you haven't been born into the kingdom, or already lived there. In these trails you will be tested on your ability to make peace with your enemies and forgive those who have wronged you.

The test is different for everyone.

Succeeding, teleports you into the middle of the village hidden behind the misfits that can do cool stuff. Otherwise known as Orochi-Palace by its inhabitants that find the real name a mouthful. There is a fountain there, with water spouting from an umbrella, not one drop hitting the stone beauty protected underneath.

The Revolutionary Shinigami King.

Above there are people of various races flying by themselves or with the help of different flying pets. Going down the wide street to the north brings you to a colourful marketplace where rows upon rows of shops and other fun places are.

Going south leads to the beautiful wooden architectural homes of the villages more humanoid races. Here you can find parks, and magically lit streets in between the occasional cedar tree. (There were even apartments inside the trees for the flying species).

West leads to the wide river, with bridges connecting one side to the other. Beyond those bridges are the mystical animals, all taken care of by the animal tribes.

East leads to the large palace hidden in the largest mountain, where all the gods and goddesses live along with their loyal servants.

Looking around the fountain you can see an exotic maze of gardens with flowers and fruits of all kinds. Free for anyone if they want a taste. Beyond the buildings and before the mountains, you can see the tall forests where all the other tribes reside. Even the mountains have homes for those who prefer darker places, though there are some available with balconies for the richer flying species.

There is said to be mermaids in the mountains, but no one ever really sees them. (They live in an underwater city with the Sanbi in his giant mountain lake)

Above, on the floating islands are various establishments. One has a swimming hole with a water fall that drops all the way to the beginning of the river for all the children in the valley. (Which is dangerous! There's already been 73 deaths! Quit jumping off the damn waterfall!) Another has the academy, as well as dorm rooms for those who were sent by their parents from one of the thousands of minor villages around the elemental nations.

Not everyone can get a chance to become another race, and not everyone can get into the academies that gift out races to graduates and their families. What do these children learn in the academies?