Desert Flannel: Spathodea! Spathodea! Where, where did she go?!
???: It was like a long slumber, or a view of the garden behind the wall.
A new voice is heard coming alongside a gust of cold wind, blowing away the thick steam.
???: But now, I finally get to see the sun again. The world out there has completely changed.
The person made of fire opens her eyes. They are also filled with flame.
???: But you remain the same, Flammy, my dear friend.
???: You found me, and put an end to the long, dark dream. You set me on fire again, bringing me back to what a flame should be like.
Spathodea: Welcome to the end of the 20th century, Ulu.
Spathodea: For you, this is an interesting era with many many new things. Well, I think we can learn them together later, one by one!
Spathodea: While for my dear brave friends ...
Spathodea: Welcome to the Uluru Games, my dear brave friends!
The giant heavy gate opens with winds blowing out from inside.
The team members go through the gate one after another. Ezra, however, remains still like a statue.
Spathodea: What are you waiting for?
Ezra: The conjuring of the entrance to the Uluru Stadium is sourced from a fantastic arcane ritual. Instead of a summon, it's closer to a sacrifice ...
Ezra: The fire element also plays an important part in this sacrifice. In Spathodea's case, Ulu is her flame.
Ezra: Will it have anything to do with the unique condition Ms. Spathodea has? Unlike other "reincarnators," she still has a clear memory of this life, despite her young age.
Ezra: Or, it's because that two light spots of hers—the older self and the modern self—are not that different, so she's spared going through any drastic changes, and the reason behind it might be ...
Spathodea: Ezra!!!
Ezra: ...! Yes, I'm here!
Ezra blinks several times, like a frightened animal, slowly looking up from the notebook.
Ezra: What can I do for you, Ms. Spathodea?
Spathodea: I'm waiting for you.
Ezra: Ah, I see. Sorry, I was too involved in taking notes.
Ezra: I will pack and return to Laplace as soon as possible. But before that ...
After looking around a few times, Ezra pats his chest.
Ezra: I have to clean up the spores and the mess we made in the battle first; otherwise, they may change the environment here.
Spathodea: Oh, c'mon, you weirdo!
Spathodea: You're leaving now, after all our effort? I can never understand you!
Ezra: Aren't you waiting for me to leave?
Spathodea: Of course not! I'm waiting for you to join us. We'll go into the Stadium together!
Spathodea: I ...
Spathodea: Come to think about what I have suffered: coma, hallucination, confusion, thirst, misconception that I was almighty, and then, as you can see, I fell into a coma again after my sudden disappearance.
Spathodea: I think you're right. I do need a doctor by my side!
Ezra: But mankind cannot enter the Stadium. We all know thaaaaaat ...!
An arm suddenly yanks Ezra into the gate.
Spathodea: Ugh blah blah blah! Please, the Stadium has never shown itself to any humans before!
Spathodea: When life gives you cake, just dig right in!
After the girl hops through it, the magnificent gate closes with a mighty snap.
Ezra: Strewth! This is the Uluru Stadium?
Vertin: It's even more splendid than I thought, and ... more comfortable and pleasing.
Ezra: Comfortable and pleasing?
Ezra: I don't feel the same way as you do.
Ezra takes a few steps ahead and matches them with deep breaths.
Ezra: But not in the sense that this place doesn't look beautiful to me, on the contrary, it's stunning, but physically I don't feel anything special.
Desert Flannel: Maybe because you're a human. Hey, wait!
Ezra: Mmm! Not so fast, be careful! Ms. Desert Flannel, you will fall!
Desert Flannel: I won't, I won't!
Desert Flannel stretches herself and suddenly steps firmly on the ground, running like an arrow toward Spathodea, who has already reached the other end of the field.
Desert Flannel: I'm feeling as light as the wind and even more energetic than when I finished a big meal of steak and cakes!
Desert Flannel: I may fall anytime anywhere, but not now, not here!
Ulu: This is exactly what arcanists should feel.
Ezra: Ms. Ulu! Ah, pardon me. May I call you that?
Ulu: Go ahead if you want, child.
Ulu: But of course, I would appreciate it if you call me Madam, since I'm a few hundred years older than all of you. Besides, I am the most sacred flame of the Games ... Hmm?!
Spathodea: Hah! I won! Been a long time since I had so much fun running!
Despite interrupting the conversation, Spathodea seems unfazed and keeps asking questions endlessly.
Spathodea: Ulu! Is that a lawn? We didn't have anything like that before! And those benches!
Ulu: Things change, Flammy.
Ulu: In the past hundreds of years when you were absent, countless changes happened to the Uluru Games.
Ulu: New lawns and benches had somehow appeared in the Stadium, but none of these changes was made by arcanists.
Ulu: Those actually made by arcanists were new events, new rules, and new management. These are the changes that really made the Uluru Games different.
Spathodea: I see. No wonder I've never seen Ice Racewalking in my memories! Let me see, so there was no Stone Throw Divination or New Tridecathlon either ...
Ezra: Ice Racewalking is not a traditional sport in Australia. It originated from Northern Europe and became popular in cold countries.
Ulu: That's right. Ice Racewalking was introduced to the Games in 1926.
Ulu: If my memory serves me well, it was introduced by the St. Pavlov Foundation. On one hand, they hoped to show the internationality and inclusiveness of the Games; on the other ...
Ezra: On the other?
Ulu: Well ... it took the place of Fire Racewalking.
Ezra: I see, I read it somewhere before. At the beginning of the 20th century, after St. Pavlov Foundation took over the Uluru Games, some challenging and relatively dangerous sports were canceled.
Ezra: This was also the turning point of the Uluru Games. From then on, the Games declined in popularity, and fewer and fewer athletes came each year.
Spathodea: Humph, these people ... No, these idiots! They know nothing about the essence of arcanists' sporting event!
Spathodea: Where on earth can you find an arcanist who would burn their own legs in Fire Racewalking?! Everyone knows you'll be fine as long as you believe the fire is harmless!
Ezra: But, in point of fact, fire is dangerous.
Ezra replies in a whisper and looks up, checking the roof from left to right.
Spathodea: But think about it. It's unbelievable! Given your short fuse, I can't believe you just let them cancel your favorite event, Ulu.
Ezra: Short ... fuse?
Spathodea: Yeah, you heard it right! She's got the hottest temper! Burns like herself!
Ulu: Ahem! AHEM!!!
Ulu: Things change, Flammy! I ... have already spent over a thousand years in this world. I'm no longer the young, hotheaded flame of your age!
Ulu: Even your grandmother should call me Grandma now!
Spathodea: Grandma? So they can just take away your favorite event just because you're old now? I don't understand!
Walking a few steps away, Spathodea clenches her fists in anger.
Spathodea: Anyway, Flammy is back! It's time arcanists took back the Uluru Games from the Foundation! Let's design a new list of events that fit real arcanists!
Spathodea: We'll start from Fire Racewalking. There are woods here. Ulu can start some bonfires with them ...
Desert Flannel: Will the Foundation agree to this? They seem difficult to deal with.
Ezra: It's hard to take it over from the Foundation, but if we have all the security-related facilities prepared, and apply to host the event through Laplace Scientific Computing Center ...
Vertin: Considering Spathodea's identity, we do stand a chance.
Vertin: But the paperwork we are going to deal with ...
Spathodea: Oh, c'mon! COME ON! You are not supposed to talk about paperwork in the sacred Uluru Stadium!
Spathodea: Instead of a bunch of weak office workers who would pant from climbing a few stairs, what I need is some real athletes who can help me complete the Fire Racewalking!
Spathodea: I don't mind whether they are cute or weird, I only need them to be energetic! This is the only thing we ask of athletes in this sport ...
Desert Flannel: Great idea. But the only inconvenience is that we are in the middle of the desert, a place where only flies visit.
Desert Flannel: And as I checked my contact list, I saw only ... client, client, and client ... the ordinary ones and the ones I once stood up. Where are we going to find the athletes?
Vertin: Well, I happen to know many arcanists who meet your need.
Vertin: And they happen to be here right now.
Spathodea: What? How come I can't see them anywhere?
Spathodea: Hmm? Why are you opening the suitcase? Are you gonna organize your stuff here?
Open the suitcase, place it on the ground, and knock on the edge. A knocking sound echoes in the black space.
Vertin: Anyone care to have some fresh air?
The other three standing around the suitcase look more puzzled. Spathodea tentatively opens her mouth but shuts it once again.
Soon a clear clip-clop comes from the bottomless suitcase.
Darley Clatter: neigh
The first thing they see is a silky, shining horse with a mane fluttering in the wind.
Darley Clatter: The fresh smell of grass with smoked fragrance! There is no doubt that it tastes better than gilded carrots!
Darley Clatter: And, look at this army of royal guards!
Darley Clatter: They must be here to greet the Great Darley Clatter!
Desert Flannel: Royal guards? What is he saying? Aaah ... no kidding, is that giant creature covered with spikes his "Royal Guard"?
Thorny Lizard: roaring
A deep, angry roar comes from the depths of the Stadium.
Ulu: That's the thorny devils, the enormous creatures born in the burning sand of the Stadium. They used to be mounts for the players, but looks like they have forgotten their master after all these years of slumber.
Ulu: Enough talk. Let's put them back to dust and ashes.
COMBAT
Desert Flannel: Yes! Another great victory! And I dedicate this win to Ms. Spathodea!
Spathodea: And to Ms. Desert Flannel!
Surrounded by the fiery atmosphere, the girls raise an invisible glass to each other.
Desert Flannel grabs Spathodea's wrist and lifts it up like a referee, calling out to the suitcase, out of which more arcanists pour out.
Desert Flannel: Now, people ... those of you who are not afraid of fire and wish to walk among the flames, please register here!