I had rescheduled the other events that were supposed to take place today. Gwen had compiled a report showing what people were watching, and 90 percent of those attending today had focused on the Hindel battle.

That wasn’t surprising since this was the first time they had participated in any events that showcased their abilities. The uncertainty and novelty almost demanded the attention of the gathered Elves.

Who wouldn’t want to brag that they had a ringside seat to a Hindel competition where the Consort of an Alpha was chosen? But it wouldn’t serve my goals to have the other contestants ignored or suffer a loss in betting income because no one was bothering with anything besides the Hindel.

Especially since I had instructed my people to turn over all proceeds from the Hindel tournaments to the Hindel so that they would earn all the profits from their events.

I might have let the other contests continue, even taking a hit to income, if the rest of the day hadn’t been scheduled to showcase the abilities of aerial skills and flying beasts. A demonstration of acrobatics and combat techniques was a great draw. Even the most jaded person was impressed at maneuvers a cultivator, and his bonded could perform.

That event required the entire arena, even with the shift to infrastructure and spatial expansion the Arena master was able to make. Most of my new House and Dojo members were Beast Tamers, and I had supplied them each with a flying companion for their first bond.

I admitted to myself that I rescheduled the flying event because of pride. My people had worked hard, and for people like Siam, they deserved the opportunity to compete and prove themselves.

“The competitors will draw names to determine brackets and opponents,” Akil, Alpha’s aid, informed us as we watched one after another of the ten finalists approach a person I assumed to be responsible for maintaining the rules for the event.

The Hindel in charge was sized and shaped much like a walrus mixed with a human. The primary difference was where the front flippers would have been a human torso, arms, hands, and head were added—a centaur version of walrus and a human. Their forearms had ventral fins running along the undersides, and their fingers had webbing that could be engaged or retracted to make swimming more efficient.

The Alpha was only one of a few of the Hindel that had the size and bearing of a walrus. The rest of the Hindel, including the contestants, were more the size and shape of sea lions, although they also had the same centaur-like quality. None of them had the tusks that would mark them as true offshoots of walruses, but the lack of ear flaps, the ability to walk on their front arms and hands, even if clumsily, aligned with my expectations.

“The matches will occur simultaneously. There will be a five-minute break after the last bout is finished to allow the contestants from each pair to restore their Qi pools and tend to any wounds they might have taken. It is crucial to win your duel as quickly as possible. That would give you more time to recuperate and restore your Qi between bouts.

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“The first person to win in this early bout has statistically gone on to win the entire competition,” the Alpha added.

“Although, there are a few well-documented cases where the first person to lose in round one has gone on to win, tales of perseverance that have become almost myth and legend among our people.”

“Everyone loves the underdog,” I mused. “There is a familiarity and connection we experience when we hear those stories—an ability to see ourselves in someone that overcomes hardship and claims the prize.

“I think it is an integral part of what defines us as intelligent and sentient species. That drive is almost an emotional imperative to identify yourself with the hardship of others and respect those individuals that beat the odds to become more.

“We have those types of stories, too,” I continued. “Cultivators that had poor quality Spirit Roots but were still able to fight and climb their way to greater Realms. Often without the support of Sects, Clans, or Houses. The most popular stories include those people who were forced to harvest their own resources, discover or create techniques on their own, and people who mastered professions despite the lack of resources.”

“False comfort for the poor or untalented,” Wu Chen interjected. “These people, untalented and cursed with poor Spirit Roots, that manage to advance to the highest Realms are an aberration.

“They give hope to people that will never come across a Heavenly opportunity to advance. Sometimes, no matter how hard you work, you cannot change what fate has in store for you. Spirit Root, Affinity, and Cultivation technique are what truly matters.”

“You may be right,” Alpha conceded, “but what does it hurt to hope? And for those that grasp and cling to their goals, those that scratch their way forward and make their own Heavenly opportunity? Isn’t that proof that the Heavens can reward perseverance and dedication.”

Wu Chen didn’t respond to the Alpha’s question, but he seemed to consider and reflect on what she said. Better than to have dismissed her words out of hand. His mood became reflective as he thought about her words. It might be the first time he, as a Prince of the Cai’Li empire, really considered the plight of the average person.

He was too protected, first in the palace and then in Dragon Spire Sect, to have encountered or interacted with the less talented. That was a failing of the empire, I thought. How could you become a good ruler if you dismissed the majority of your people? Or never met and interacted with them?

I hoped never to fall into that trap. Discounting people and ignoring talented individuals was a waste of not only their talent but the gifts the Heavens had blessed me with. Gwen was a perfect example of a young woman who had little talent for cultivation but was intelligent, dedicated, and loyal. Even without the perks, cultivation would have given her; she had become as instrumental to me as Zui had.

The slips were drawn, and an announcement was made informing the audience about who would be fighting. Most of the names meant little to me. The only one I knew was Li’Uin, the young Hindel who had impressed me in the first round.

His attention to detail was leagues beyond his competitors, but I had no idea how that would translate into this round or the next if he made it. He might have been so talented with Qi constructs because that was where he had focused most of his training.

That would be regrettable, and I would be disappointed if he turned out to be a one-trick pony. I was surprised when I realized that. When did I become so invested in a Hindel I hadn’t met? I wondered if Karma was at play and if the two of us were fated to have an interaction that would reverberate between our two people.