"Is the destiny of man guided by some transcendental entity? Is it like the hand of God guiding man to his destiny? Is it like a writer freely letting crap flow the tip of his pen to add some level of philosophical depth to what might otherwise be a senseless amount of violence to come? There is only one thing that is certain: that man truly has no control over his own destiny."

"Zorlo, what the hell are you talking about?" Monroe asked him as he crossed his arms, quirking an eyebrow at the Aura Master.

The fencer turned around and looked down from his perched branch and thought for a moment. "Nothing," he responded as he took a step from the branch and slowly created steps as he walked down on the air steps he created. "Anyway, what's up?" the green haired man asked, looking at the blade Quincy.

"I was just coming to make sure you didn't plan to be late to that tournament that's coming up. After all, what good would it serve me to win without you being their to get your face kicked in?"

"Whatever you say, Monroe," Zorlo responded as he started to walk off. The Aura Master stopped briefly and looked back at the dark clad man. "Where is Zachary?"

"Already there, I assume," the former bounty hunter responded as he looked back over his shoulder at Zorlo. "After all, he's only going to get some training in. I'm sure he knows that he doesn't have a chance against anyone who's as mighty as I am."

"Keep telling yourself that, Monroe. I've got reasons beyond fighting to be there. Anyway, I'll meet you once you get there," the fencer said as he held his hand up and a door erupted from the ground. "Hope you don't decide not to come," the Aura Master stated as he walked through the door, the door vanishing after he stepped through it.

"Whatever you say, Z," the dark man stated as he leapt upwards into the trees and bounded towards the closest exit. He had to get to Tybalt quickly.

o=)---------- Tybalt-Inner City ----------(=o

Zachary took a few steps into the inner part of the city before one thing became strikingly obvious... he was lost. The red haired warrior looked around like a lost puppy in a park, but quickly shook that feeling off. Monroe and Zorlo were sure to be there soon. For now, he had to locate the arena. Hopefully, that would be easier than it seemed.

As he pushed through the crowds of people, the ice mage quickly located something of interest: a long line of people. "That can mean only one thing..." he muttered to himself as he started to push through people. This might take some time, which would be rather annoying. "I have to get there. I can't let..." Zachary stopped as he looked another entrance. The participant entrance. "Lucky I found that..." Zachary muttered as he walked off towards the entrance.

o=)--------- Tybalt-Outer City ---------(=o

The woman pulled her cloak tighter against her body. It had been a long trip. A very long trip for her indeed, but she had a reason to be there. The tournament was drawing near, and she had to get there. She was so close she could feel it. That and she had her armor nice and ready to go. Aside from her spear, her armor was already packed and placed where she could get to it.

The purple haired woman strode with pride and strength. Few people would have known that she was a woman, with how she had padded herself beneath her cloak. Her thick goggles and her hanging, purple hair were indicators that she wasn't from here. Still, she didn't care if they knew.

Emile held up one of the small items and looked at it with a smile. These transportation devices were cheap and effective, mostly since she could move her armor without trying in them. "I'm almost there," she told herself with a smile as he approached the sign in area. Now was the time to shine. She'd prove her combat prowess and win this tournament. After all, no one could overcome her armor. Such strength, to her knowledge, didn't exist.

She took her first steps into the participant area and smiled.

o=)---------- Participant Waiting Area ----------(=o

It was quite a sight to behold, Zorlo had to admit that. There were some powerful looking fighters here, including a purple haired woman that seemed to carry herself as if she were trying to be a man. Zachary stood off to the side, observing the others that entered into the building, and Monroe was busy... doing whatever it was he did.

"Guided by fate," the fencer whispered as he looked around. After all, he knew, somehow, that man would be here. That was, after all, why he had come.

Monroe waited atop the entrance area, looking out into the distance. He knew that there was a chance that the man he was looking for would be here too. After all, their kind didn't like to hide. Especially not after word spread of that tournament and the entrance of ogres into Rubato. "I doubt he's anywhere near as strong as Z said he is. Or as strong as Z heard he was from Cadenza. Doesn't matter, I'll stop him."

Zachary moved quickly, brushing into the heavily padded woman. The two stopped and exchanged glances for a moment. The woman's reflective goggles made it hard to look into her eyes, but Zachary could tell there was something... extreme about this woman. Something that made him hope he'd fight her. "See you out there," he muttered to her.

"Same to you, kid," she responded, trying to make herself sound older and tougher than she was. After all, this was Emile's chance to shine. She wasn't about to let some red haired guy stop her now!