The monarchs turned their gaze to another ring where a robust, austere-looking man sat in a meditative posture. He wore a dark blue robe decorated with golden runes that glowed faintly, like stars in the night sky. His face was marked by deep scars, and his eyes shone with an unearthly silver light.
As the young contestant Alina stepped forward, the man opened his eyes and slowly stood up, smiling.
"Alina," he said, his voice deep and resonant. "I am Karlos, the Runemaster."
Alina just gripped the hilt of her sword tighter, breathing slowly, her gaze fixed on her opponent.
Karlos raised an eyebrow and sighed. He raised his right hand, and the runes around him began to glow brightly. The ground split into floating segments, forming stone platforms on different levels, connected by unstable bridges of magical energy. Dry cracks echoed as the slabs rearranged themselves in the air, throwing up luminescent dust.
